How Tattoos Could Ruin Copyright Law
Did you know that a temporary tattoo almost blocked a major motion picture from coming to theaters near you? In Whitmill v. Warner Bros. Ent. Inc., No. 4:11-cv-752 (E.D. Mo.…
Could Netflix’s ‘Cuties’ Be Prosecuted for Being Child Porn?
The French film “Cuties”, which won an award at Sundance Film Festival, is about an 11-year-old Senegalese girl living in Paris who rebels against her religious, oppressive family and joins…
Music Sampling Should be Fair Use
In 2019, Lil Nas X’s song “Old Town Road” became the longest-running song on the Billboard 100 Hot List in history. “Old Town Road,” a song best labeled as “country-rap,”…
Can the NBA Stop the Stream?
Following a coronavirus hiatus, the NBA returned to action on July 30, 2020. In a logistical miracle, the league successfully created a “bubble” at the ESPN Wide World of Sports…
Big and Little Figures: How Image Rights Enrich Some and Neglect Others
Sports and intellectual property law are deeply intertwined. While people playing out in the park might not draw any attention, the globalization of organized sport has garnered the focus of…
Neiman Marcus Battling Copyright Infringement and Cultural Appropriation
With thousands of designers for consumers to choose from, designers and retail stores today are on a quest to set themselves apart through unique options. Neiman Marcus is one of…
Effects of an NBA Post-Season Strike on the CBA
On the morning of August 26th, 2020, sports fans thought they had seen everything. But as they tuned in to watch Game 5 of the NBA playoff series between the…
The Intellectual Property Legacy of Justice Ginsburg
On Friday, September 25, 2020, the legal world lost the iconic Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the Supreme Court of the United States. Justice Ginsburg had a long and prolific…
Sorry, Bron. “Taco Tuesday” Not Yours to Trademark.
I’ve got to be honest. When I first heard that Los Angeles Laker LeBron James was trying to trademark the term “Taco Tuesday,” I had to roll my eyes a…
Do Patents Incentivize University Researchers? (Spoiler—Not Really)
Professor Lisa L. Ouellettea at Stanford Law recently published an article titled “How Do Patent Incentives Affect University Researchers?,” and it prompted me to reflect back on my experiences with…