Originality
The Hocus Pocus of Intellectual Property in Halloween Costumes
"God, it’s brutal out here!" Unpacking Olivia Rodrigo’s million-dollar royalty payouts
“You Own It, You Better Never Let It Go”: Distinguishing Permissible Borrowing from Copyright Infringement in Music
“You Own It, You Better Never Let It Go”: Distinguishing Permissible Borrowing from Copyright Infringement in Music
Can alterations in the sonic bed, piano figures, guitar and string lines in a musical composition save it from damages for copyright infringement of the original? The High Court of New Zealand rules “No” in its decision Eight Mile Style, LLC v. New Zealand National Party. The dispute arose after the New Zealand National Party […]
Zara: the Repeat Offender
Zara: the Repeat Offender
With ever-changing trends, the cost of keeping up with the latest fad can quickly add up for style-conscious consumers. As such, many well-known clothing retailers have adopted a business model called “fast-fashion”. Retailers –including Zara and H&M– offer the trendiest clothing garments and accessories at a low price in order to cater to the consumer […]
Bigger Picture, Bigger Frame? Dr. Saptarishi Bandopadhyay's Recast of Narrative in Copyright and Disaster Photography
Bigger Picture, Bigger Frame? Dr. Saptarishi Bandopadhyay's Recast of Narrative in Copyright and Disaster Photography
On February 8, Osgoode Hall Catalyst Fellow, Dr. Saptarishi Bandopadhyay, presented his ongoing project that involves the critical examination of the relationship between copyright laws and disaster photography. Bandopadhyay holds a Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) and LLM from Harvard Law School and has studied disasters in the borderlands between Pakistan, India, China and the […]
No Laughing Matter: Copyright Protection for Jokes
No Laughing Matter: Copyright Protection for Jokes
Some people just can’t take a joke. Other people have taken jokes, and it has landed them in court. Two recent American copyright cases offer an opportunity to look at the difficulties of protecting comedy routines with copyright.
When Life Gives You Lemons, Make (Your Own) Lemonade: Beyoncé Sued for Her Latest Album Trailer
When Life Gives You Lemons, Make (Your Own) Lemonade: Beyoncé Sued for Her Latest Album Trailer
Beyoncé’s Lemonade left a sour taste in at least one person’s mouth. Matthew Fulks, a Louisville-based filmmaker and creative director at the WDRB Kentucky news station, is taking the singer to court for copyright infringement. The plaintiff claims that Lemonade, Beyoncé’s trailer for her latest album, copies “visual and sonic elements” from his short-film “Palinoia.”
Stairway to Infringement
Stairway to Infringement
Intro: “The Hook” This summer, an American jury found that “Stairway to Heaven” [hereafter Stairway] rockers Led Zeppelin did not infringe the song “Taurus” [hereafter Taurus], performed by the band Spirit. The plaintiff, Randy Wolfe—or rather, a trustee for the trust which owns the late Wolfe’s copyright—was Spirit’s songwriter, guitarist and vocalist, and the copyright […]
The Artificial Intelligence Revolution
The Artificial Intelligence Revolution
A few thoughts on Prof. Jean-Gabriel Castel’s talk, Fully Autonomous Artificial Super-Intelligence: Is it a threat to the human race or a blessing? How can it be controlled? Introduction Before they died, my parents told me stories of how the world once was … They remembered a green world, vast and beautiful. Filled with laughter […]