Invasion of the Bot E-Snatchers? Not Quite.
Automated software programs, or “bots,” have been in use since the early days of the internet, perhaps most notably by search engines and online market aggregators to power their services.…
Online Subscriptions: The Key to Fighting Piracy in the Internet of Tomorrow?
I recently came across The New York Times article “How the Internet Is Saving Culture, Not Killing It,” by Fahrad Manjoo. Being that I’m fascinated by the idea that the…
Is Marilyn Monroe Generic?
Marilyn Monroe was—and continues to be—one of the most iconic actresses in the world. And while there is no doubt that Marilyn Monroe is a household name, is it possible…
3D Printing as a Copyright Infringement
South Africa has achieved another technological milestone. The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s renewable energy laboratory recently constructed one of Africa’s largest 3D printers. With the emerging market for 3D printing, there…
The Raiders Are Likely Moving to Las Vegas, but Who’s Paying for It?
After several years of speculation, it appears that the NFL is finally ready to gamble on the Las Vegas market. In January 2017, the Oakland Raiders filed relocation papers with…
Sports Blackout Rules in the Age of Cord-Cutting
Watching sports on television used to be a simple proposition. You had a basic cable package that let you to watch your local team on its television partner’s channel and…
Capitol Records, LLC v. ReDigi Inc. and the Future of Digital Resale
In 2013, the Southern District of New York decided a case, Capitol Records, LLC v. ReDigi Inc., that effectively eliminated a consumer’s ability to resell lawfully owned digital goods. Now…
Disparaging Trademarks and Free Speech – Will the Supreme Court Strike Down the Disparagement Clause?
15 U.S.C. 1052(a) and its validity was examined in Lee v. Tam. The question is, will the Supreme Court strike it down? The statute in question is the “disparagement provision” of…
Artists Urging Reforms of the DMCA Safe Harbor: ‘Our Culture Is At Stake’
Last month, T Bone Burnett, a legendary musician, songwriter, and record producer, submitted a five-minute video to the U.S. Copyright Office calling for reforms in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act…
Stephanie Lenz, the Dancing Baby, and the Changing Landscape of Fair Use on YouTube
Last month marked the 10-year anniversary of the day that Stephanie Lenz uploaded a twenty-nine second clip of her one-year-old dancing to YouTube. The seemingly innocent video picked up very…