Category / Legal Blog Posts
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Graffiti Artists’ VARA Copyright Win Gets Tacit Thumbs Up from SCOTUS
A collective of 21 New York graffiti artists at a Queens warehouse known as the 5Pointz complex can rest easy now that the U.S. Supreme Court declined last week to hear an…
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Led Zeppelin’s Copyright Battle of Evermore Concludes with Win
The band Spirit’s six-year copyright infringement case against Led Zeppelin ended with a whimper last week when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to grant certiorari to hear their appeal, effectively letting stand…
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Coronavirus Ban on Film Production Lifted in California
Film production has been allowed to resume in California by state authorities under new health protocols meant to minimize transmission of the coronavirus. Actual film shoots, however, will be subject to approval…
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![Copyright attorney Michael J. Thomas]()
Review of Supreme Court Copyright & Trademark Cases in 2019
In its current term, the U.S. Supreme Court took on three copyright and trademark cases. One reason this term has been noteworthy so far is because for the first time in over…
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What’s in a Name? A Trademark & Branding Primer for Start-Ups
Nothing gets a start-up or any newly-launched business endeavour stumbling out of the gate worse than failing to heed the five branding tips that are the subject of this post. These five…
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Zeppelin Accuser Will Get Second Bite at Copyright Infringement Apple
The estate of the deceased guitarist from the band Spirit will get a second chance to prove that Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” infringed Spirit’s 1967 instrumental “Taurus” after the 9th Circuit Court…
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Depp Oral Contract with Entertainment Lawyer Invalid, Says CA Court
In an oral opinion regarding an oral contract, a California state court judge ruled that a percentage fee deal between Johnny Depp and his long-time and now former entertainment lawyer Jake Bloom…
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Honey Badger Trademarks Allowed by Court to Live and Fight Another Day
The 9th Circuit recently overturned a summary judgment ruling against the creator of a viral video, allowing his trademark infringement lawsuit over the video’s equally viral catchphrase to continue. The Honey Badger…
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“Work Made for Hire” Pitfalls for Independent Film Makers
The Situation You’re an independent film maker and you need to hire talent, a cinematographer, an editor, and other skilled individuals whose jobs entail potential creative input. However, you’ve heard that if…
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![Copyright attorney Michael J. Thomas]()
Circuit Split Over Copyright Registrations to Get SCOTUS Attention
The U.S. Supreme Court has decided to weigh in on a circuit split that has been brewing for years regarding interpretation of the statute governing standing to litigate copyright infringement claims, 17…
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Website Accessibility & ADA Lawsuit Update for Small Business Owners
Problems (most notably lawsuits) arising from the interplay between website accessibility for the disabled and the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) continue to threaten small business websites in 2018 as in years…
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Three Reasons Your Start-Up Might Not Get VC or Angel Funding
Does this scenario sound familiar? You’ve spent months woodshedding either alone or with partners on an idea that you’re sure will take the marketplace by storm. You finally get it off the…
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Result in Zorro Copyright Case is Music to Playwright’s Ears (Mostly)
Playwright Robert Cabell must be singing the refrain from a Meatloaf classic because he won two out of three issues on summary judgment in a copyright infringement case over his musical based on…
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The Saga Continues: LucasFilm Countersued For “Sabacc” Ad Reference
The release of the next installment in the Star Wars universe, “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” is right around the corner, but the next episode in the continuing saga over the trademark…
