Fair Use | Stone Law, P.C.

California Court’s Finding of Fair Use for Nicki Minaj Affirms Public Benefit of Artistic Experimentation

September 29, 2020

In a ruling earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Virginia A. Phillips of the Central District of California granted partial summary judgment in favor of Onika Tanya Maraj, who performs…

Illegal Circulation of E-Newspapers Online and Through Messaging Apps: Implications for Copyright and Contractual Violations

June 27, 2020

Stone Law, P.C.

Copyright, Fair Use, Litigation, Patent

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On March 25, 2020, the Indian government declared lockdown throughout the country, and we could not have anticipated the number of issues across all sectors that would surface in such…

Seventh Circuit Finds Gatorade’s Use of ‘Sports Fuel’ in Its Slogan Constitutes Fair Use

August 7, 2019

Stone Law, P.C.

Business, Fair Use, Litigation, Patent, Trademark

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The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit last week ruled that well-known sports drink maker Gatorade’s use of the slogan, ““Gatorade The Sports Fuel Company” beginning in…

Not Here to Start Trouble: Court Rules Documentary’s Use of Super Bowl Shuffle Was Fair Use

June 8, 2019

Stone Law, P.C.

Business, Copyright, Fair Use, Litigation, Patent

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The Eighties are in! A contagious wave of nostalgia has infected popular culture with period TV series, from shows like Stranger Things to rebirths and reboots of the era’s shows…

Other Barks & Bites for Friday, March 15

March 15, 2019

Stone Law, P.C.

Business, Copyright, Fair Use, Litigation, Patent, Trademark

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This week in Other Barks & Bites: the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office promotes Scott Boalick to Chief Judge of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB); the agency also…

Musically Inclined: The Music Modernization Act of 2018

November 9, 2018

Stone Law, P.C.

Copyright, Fair Use, Patent

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When Congress permitted sound recordings to be copyrighted over four decades ago, it didn’t extend that coverage to pre-1972 recordings. This issue, and the piecemeal nature of licensing for digital…

Costumes and Copyrights: Can you afford to wear that?

July 18, 2018

Stone Law, P.C.

Copyright, Fair Use, Patent

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There’s a season every year where individuals dress-up in homemade costumes and gather for tricks, treats… and comic books? That’s right, it’s comic-con season! Many fans proudly wear costumes that…

Google Seeks Dismissal of Google Books Lawsuit

July 31, 2012

Stone Law, P.C.

Computer Law, Copyright, Fair Use

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On July 27, Google Inc. asked U.S. Circuit Judge Denny Chin to dismiss a lawsuit from the Authors Guild over the company’s plan to digitize books and provide excerpts through…