Copyright Law | Media & Entertainment | Business Introduction: When Enforcement Becomes Extortion A high-stakes copyright battle is unfolding in Canada's federal courts. A consortium of film studios, operating under monikers such as Millennium Funding and Rambo V Productions, has launched a CAD 400 million lawsuit against Bell Canada, alleging the telecom
Tag: copyright
Clashing Over the Crease: Utah Mammoth Sue Bag Maker in Trademark Dispute
Trademark Law | Sports & Entertainment | Business Litigation Introduction: Branding on Ice As the NHL’s newest franchise, the Utah Mammoth is already making headlines—not for their play, but for a trademark dispute that pits the team’s identity against a hockey equipment bag manufacturer. In a recent lawsuit filed in federal
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
Reviving Dormant Characters: Copyright Duration and Renewal Pitfalls
| IP Law | Branding & Copyright | Media & Entertainment Introduction: The Resurrection Business of IP Hollywood is full of reboots, and the public domain is full of possibilities. From forgotten 1940s comic book heroes to mid-century pulp detectives, dormant characters are being dusted off, reimagined, and re-commercialized. Yet beneath
From Parody to Piracy: Legal Boundaries for Generative AI in Pop Culture
Copyright | Media & Entertainment | Technology & AI Introduction: Pop Culture, Remixed by Machines From AI-generated songs that mimic Tupac or Taylor Swift, to art that reimagines Spider-Man in the style of Van Gogh, generative AI is reshaping how we experience pop culture. With the click of a prompt, creators can
What Counts as “Transformative Use”? A Fair Use Primer for Influencers
Media & Entertainment | Intellectual Property | Influencers & Creators laws Introduction: Fair Use in the Age of Filters and Fandoms Whether it’s remixing a song on TikTok, parodying a famous brand in a YouTube sketch, or using film clips in commentary on Instagram Reels, today’s digital creators often rely—intentionally or
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
“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
Denmark’s Groundbreaking Move: Copyright for Faces and Voices
Copyright Rights | Enforcement & Exceptions | Global Trend Denmark’s Legal Shield Against Deepfakes In a pioneering move to safeguard digital identity, Denmark is redefining copyright law to give every individual legal ownership over their own physical likeness—face, body, and voice. As AI-generated deepfakes proliferate, this legislative reform marks a historic step