Wrongful Death Lawsuit | Digital Platform Regulation | Global trends Introduction: Tragedy Driven by Algorithmic Design When 15-year-old Zackery Nazario tragically died in Brooklyn attempting the viral “subway surfing” challenge in February 2023, his mother Norma Nazario filed a groundbreaking wrongful-death lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court against Meta (Instagram), TikTok’s
Tag: tiktok
Child’s Play or Brand Crisis? Crisis Management for Toy Companies in the Digital Age
Brand Protection | Corporate Crisis Law | Business Introduction: When Toy Trouble Goes Viral In the digital age, the line between a marketing success and a reputational crisis is razor-thin—especially for toy companies navigating the high-stakes world of children's products. A single TikTok video alleging inappropriate content, a social media backlash
From Barbie to Calico Critters: How Toy Brands Navigate the Fan Economy
Trademarks | Entertainment & Media | Brand Protection Introduction: When Play Becomes Platform What once began as playtime now dominates the digital landscape. Toy brands like Barbie, Calico Critters, LEGO, and American Girl have transcended the physical toy aisle, becoming viral staples in online storytelling, satire, cosplay, fan art, and even
When AI Meets IP: Who Owns the Algorithm’s Art?
Artificial Intelligence | Intellectual Property Law | Technology Introduction: The New Creators Have No Pulse In the past three years, artificial intelligence has evolved from an experimental novelty to a prolific creator—generating poems, symphonies, digital paintings, codebases, and video games. Whether it's a TikTok filter that renders dreamlike animations or a
Streaming Wars and Trademark Licensing: The Netflix Effect on Brand Franchising
Media & Entertainment Law | Society | Tecnology Introduction: When Streaming Meets Franchising In the golden age of streaming, intellectual property isn’t just the fuel for content—it is the content. As platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, and Max compete to build global empires, their weapon of choice is the franchised
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
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
Meta & TikTok Face Wrongful-Death Suit Over Teen’s ‘Subway Surfing’ Death
Platform Liability | Algorithmic Targeting | Section 230 Challenge A New York state judge has allowed a wrongful-death lawsuit to proceed against Meta Platforms (Instagram/ Facebook) and ByteDance (TikTok) following a tragic fatality. The case raises critical questions about social media platforms’ role in exposing minors to dangerous viral challenges and
Technology’s Role in the Teen Mental Health Crisis: Why Laws Are Needed to Prevent Harm
In recent years, mental health issues among teenagers have reached alarming levels. Depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and self-harm are just a few of the serious conditions affecting a growing number of young people. As experts and advocates work to understand and address this crisis, one undeniable factor is emerging: social
Ireland’s €530M Fine Against TikTok: A Turning Point for Data Sovereignty & China’s Influence
Ireland’s Data Protection Commission has handed TikTok a €530 million fine—the largest to date related to GDPR violations involving China. The decision stems from unlawful data transfers of EU users to Chinese servers and insufficient transparency around these practices. But this is more than just a privacy enforcement action; it’s