IP Law | Brand protection | Combating Counterfeits Introduction: Young and Ambitious A tearful teenager seated at her kitchen counter would not, at first glance, appear to pose a threat to one of the most valuable luxury automotive brands in the world. But when a homemade sticker shop run by a
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Copyright Terminations in Entertainment: What Every Studio Needs to Know
Copyright Laws | Media & Entertainment | Business Introduction: Creator CopyRights In the high-stakes world of film, television, and music, copyright terminations are becoming an increasingly urgent issue for studios and content platforms. As key statutory deadlines under Section 203 and Section 304(c) of the Copyright Act approach, a wave
AI Training and Copyright Infringement: What the Courts Are Starting to Say
AI Litigation | Technology | Business Introduction: Copyright Protections The explosive rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI)—from image generators like Midjourney to large language models like ChatGPT—has thrust a fundamental copyright question into the spotlight: Is it legal to train AI on copyrighted material without permission? Until recently, this question remained
Toying with the Law: The Sylvanian Drama Lawsuit and the Boundaries of Fair Use in Influencer Content
Fair Use Doctrine | Media & entertainment | Society When TikTok creator Thea von Engelbrechten, better known as the mind behind the viral account Sylvanian Drama, began producing skits starring Calico Critters figurines in offbeat, often darkly comedic scenarios, few anticipated a legal showdown. Yet, as of April 2025, her
Collateral Damage: Stellantis Financial Sues NY Auto Dealer Over $4M Inventory Line
Business Litigation | Financial Services | Automotive Industry A high-stakes legal dispute is playing out in federal court in Albany, New York, where Houston-based Stellantis Financial Services is seeking the seizure of millions of dollars' worth of vehicle inventory it claims was financed, sold, and never paid for. The lawsuit
The Lawless Pause: Trump’s TikTok Delay and the Return of the Dispensing Power
National Security | Global Trends | Constitutional Law In an extraordinary use of executive discretion, President Donald Trump has repeatedly directed the Department of Justice not to enforce a law he himself signed—the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary-Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA)—which mandates that TikTok’s Chinese parent, ByteDance, divest from the app
Diageo’s Legal Defense Strategy in Tequila Purity Lawsuit Aligns with Global Brand Integrity
Product Labeling Law | Consumer Protection | Business Litigation Global beverage giant Diageo North America Inc. has submitted its formal legal response to a high-profile class action lawsuit filed in U.S. federal court. The suit alleges that Diageo’s market-leading tequila brands—Casamigos and Don Julio—misled consumers by marketing their spirits as
Tuning Into Copyright: SOCAN Sues Festival d’été de Québec Over Unpaid Licensing Fees
“Sound Judgment”: Federal Court Lets Voice Actors’ AI Lawsuit Proceed
Technology | IP Law | Global Trends In a pivotal ruling addressing the growing friction between artificial intelligence and creative rights, a federal judge in the Southern District of New York has allowed portions of a class action lawsuit by two professional voice actors to proceed against AI voice-generation startup
“Paws vs. Prestige: PETA Takes AKC to Court Over ‘Deformed’ Breed Standards”
Animal Ethics Law | Pet Health Society | Civil Litigation On July 8, 2025, animal-rights organization PETA filed a groundbreaking suit in New York State Supreme Court against the American Kennel Club (AKC), targeting the breed standards for French bulldogs, pugs, bulldogs, dachshunds, and Chinese shar-peis. The lawsuit contends that