We use cookies on this site to enable your digital experience. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our cookie policy. close
Newsletter RSS

Mealey's Copyright

  • February 20, 2019

    10th Circuit Upholds Refusal To Reconsider Default In Copyright Case

    DENVER — In a Feb. 15 decision, the 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals found that an Oklahoma federal judge did not err in denying a motion to reconsider his earlier entry of a default judgment and injunction against a pro se defendant accused of copyright infringement (Christ Center of Divine Philosophy Inc. v. Ellen Victoria Elam, No. 18-6089, 10th Cir., 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 4628).

  • February 20, 2019

    Copyright Dispute Over ‘Stay With Me’ Properly Dismissed, 6th Circuit Says

    CINCINNATI — Efforts by a pro se Colorado man to overturn a Tennessee federal judge’s denial of his request for entry of a default judgment against three music industry defendants were unsuccessful Feb. 15, when the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals deemed the argument moot (Mark Halper v. Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, et al., No. 18-5915, 6th Cir., 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 4720).

  • February 20, 2019

    Movie Studios Seek Access To VidAngel’s Counsel’s Memo Over Copyright Defenses

    LOS ANGELES — Arguing that VidAngel Inc. waived any attorney-client privilege in a memorandum authored by its lawyer by referencing it as a source of its advice-of-counsel defense against willful copyright infringement, a group of plaintiff movie studios asked a California federal court on Feb. 14 to compel the online movie-filtering service to submit the memorandum and any other documents related to its defenses (Disney Enterprises Inc., et al. v. VidAngel Inc., No. 2:16-cv-04109, C.D. Calif.).

  • February 15, 2019

    Judge: Copyright, Trade Secret, Antitrust Claims Dismissed But May Be Amended

    SAN DIEGO — The owner of a sole-proprietorship failed to sufficiently state a claim for relief for copyright infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets or antitrust and unfair trade practices against her former collaborative partner and others, a federal judge in California ruled Feb. 13 in granting a pair of dismissal motions (Sara Elizabeth Siegler v. Sorrento Therapeutics Inc., et al., No. 18-1681, S.D. Calif., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23779).

  • February 14, 2019

    Jurisdiction Lacking Over Copyright Row, Oklahoma Federal Judge Finds

    OKLAHOMA CITY — Allegations that a Virginia author engaged in copyright misuse when submitting takedown notices to online vendors of e-books indicating that a three-part romance series infringes her copyright were dismissed Feb. 13 by an Oklahoma federal judge (Quill Ink Books Ltd. v. Rachelle Soto, et al., No. 19-920, W.D. Okla., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23095).

  • February 13, 2019

    Candle Maker Alleges Company Stole Marks, Sues For Infringement, UCL Violations

    LOS ANGELES — A candle maker on Feb. 11 sued another candle company in a California federal court, asserting claims for copyright and trademark infringement and violation of California’s unfair competition law (UCL), alleging that the company made and sold candles using its artwork and federally registered proprietary names (Indio Products, Inc. v. CSP Yemaya International, Inc., et al., No. 2:19cv1018, C.D. Calif.).

  • February 13, 2019

    Copyright Infringement Claims Against Architects To Proceed In Illinois

    CHICAGO — Although rejecting allegations that an architect removed copyright management information (CMI) from copyrighted house plans, an Illinois federal judge on Feb. 11 agreed to allow a plaintiff to move forward with claims of willful infringement (Design Basics LLC, et al. v. WK Olson Architects Inc., et al., No. 17-7432, N.D. Ill., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21873).

  • February 12, 2019

    Pennsylvania Federal Judge: State Court Complaint Preempted By Copyright Act

    PITTSBURGH — A state court declaratory judgment complaint was properly removed to federal court because the filing contains allegations of ownership of various intellectual property that would be preempted by copyright law, a Pennsylvania federal judge ruled Feb. 11 (Four Quarters Interfaith Sanctuary of Earth Religion v. Kate Gille, et al., No. 19-12, W.D. Pa., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21516).

  • February 12, 2019

    ‘Hot News’ Doctrine Cited In New Copyright Infringement Complaint

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — An internet-based subscription news and research service on Feb. 7 accused Bloomberg L.P. of copyright infringement and misappropriation of proprietary information under the common-law “hot news” doctrine in a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (DBW Partners LLC d/b/a The Capitol Forum v. Bloomberg L.P., et al., No. 19-311, D. D.C.).

  • February 12, 2019

    Nike Asks High Court To Deny Petition Over Copyright In Michael Jordan Photo

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nike Inc. filed a brief in the U.S. Supreme Court Feb. 6, opposing a petition that it says “does not remotely warrant certiorari,” arguing that a photographer who alleged copyright infringement of his picture of Michael Jordan has failed to establish that any protectable expression was copied (Jacobus Rentmeester v. Nike Inc., No. 18-728, U.S. Sup.).

  • February 12, 2019

    After Certiorari Denial, Media-Monitoring Service, Fox Settle Copyright Suit

    NEW YORK — In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision not to hear a case centering on a copyright fair use defense, Fox News Network LLC and an online media-monitoring service it sued for infringement settled their remanded lawsuit, as a New York federal judge on Jan. 22 approved a confidential settlement and stipulated permanent injunction (Fox News Network LLC v. TVEyes Inc., No. 1:13-cv-05315, S.D. N.Y.).

  • February 7, 2019

    Oracle Copyright Claim Over Software Support Fails In California

    SAN FRANCISCO — In a summary judgment order originally issued Jan. 29 and unsealed, with redactions, on Feb. 6, a California federal judge found that Oracle America Inc.’s allegations that Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Co. committed copyright infringement by providing software patches and other technical support for Oracle’s “Solaris” software fail (Oracle America Inc. v. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, No. 16-1393, N.D. Calif.).

  • February 6, 2019

    Copyright Claims Over Literary Works Properly Dismissed, Panel Says

    NEW YORK — The Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Feb. 1 affirmed a New York federal judge’s finding that a novel and manuscript are not substantially similar (Charles C. Green v. Chad Harbach, No. 18-2078, 2nd Cir., 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 3633).

  • February 1, 2019

    Artists, Property Owners Debate Protected Status Of Aerosol Art In 2nd Circuit

    NEW YORK — A property owner and developer filed a reply brief in the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Jan. 18, arguing that the Visual Artist’s Rights Act of 1990 (VARA) does not apply to temporary or ephemeral art and seeking a reversal of a damages award for the destruction of an aerosol art display on his property (Maria Castillo, et al. v. G&M Realty L.P., et al., No. 18-538, 2nd Cir.).

  • January 31, 2019

    Expert Opinions Admitted In Lawsuit Over Trademarks, Copyrights For Greeting Cards

    BOSTON — A Massachusetts federal judge on Jan. 29 allowed testimony from competing experts in a dispute over whether a maker of greeting cards falsified documents in a trademark and copyright row with another card company (LovePop, Inc. v. Paper Pop Cards, Inc., No. 17-11017, D. Mass., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14035).

  • January 29, 2019

    New York Federal Judge Reconsiders, Reinstates Claim Getty Infringed

    NEW YORK — A New York federal judge on Jan. 24 reconsidered his October grant of summary judgment in favor of Getty Images US Inc. on allegations of copyright infringement (Zuma Press Inc. v. Getty Images US Inc., No. 16-6110, S.D. N.Y., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12415).

  • January 28, 2019

    Rhode Island Federal Judge: ‘Game Of Life’ Was Work For Hire

    PROVIDENCE, R.I. — In Jan. 25 findings of fact and conclusions of law, a Rhode Island federal judge rejected a request by the heirs of a toy developer for a declaration of their entitlement to termination rights under Section 304 of the Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. § 304(c), to the “Game of Life” board game (Markham Concepts Inc., et al. v. Hasbro Inc., et al., No. 15-419, D. R.I., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12112).

  • January 25, 2019

    Google Asks Supreme Court To Consider Fair Use Defense In Oracle Java Dispute

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Google LLC on Jan. 25 filed its second petition for certiorari in a long-running copyright dispute with Oracle America Inc., asking the U.S. Supreme Court to decide what constitutes fair use in the context of software development (Google LLC v. Oracle America Inc., No. 18A417, U.S. Sup.).

  • January 24, 2019

    Trade Secret, Copyright Suit Defendants Ordered To Turn Over Email Attachments

    SHERMAN, Texas — A federal judge in Texas on Jan. 22 ordered defendants in a trade secrets misappropriation and patent and copyright infringement lawsuit to turn over nine email attachments that were previously withheld from discovery requests, rejecting the defendants’ argument that the documents are not relevant to the plaintiff’s claims and are protected trade secrets (Performance Pulsation Control Inc. v. Sigma Drilling Technologies LLC, et al., No. 17-0450, E.D. Texas, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10166).

  • January 24, 2019

    Virginia Federal Judge Dismisses ‘Stream Ripping’ Copyright Case

    ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A Russian national on Jan. 22 won dismissal by a Virginia federal judge of copyright infringement allegations levied in connection with his two websites devoted to “stream ripping” (UMG Recordings Inc., et al. v. Tofig Kurbanov, No. 18-957, E.D. Va., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10975).