So here’s a copyright infringement lawsuit involving the makers of Monster Energy Drink in which they are the ones being sued and not the ones claiming ownership of an incredibly common word. Instead, the beverage company is the target of a lawsuit brought by the Beastie Boys, who claim Monster cobbled together dozens of their tunes to create promotional videos. [More]
Copyright Infringement Universe Collapses In On Itself As Beastie Boys Sue Monster Energy Drink
By August 9, 2012
Judge Sides With Comcast Against “Shakedown” Porn Lawyers
By June 20, 2012
Last week, we told you about Comcast’s refusal to comply with subpoenas for lawyers for porn companies who wanted the cable company to identify the customers behind IP addresses believed to have illegally downloaded copyrighted material. Now the judge in the case has sided with the Kabletown crew, quashing those subpoenas. [More]
eBay Says Selling Download Codes Is Copyright Infringement
By April 18, 2012
Stephen buys Blu-rays, but has no use for the free Ultraviolet download codes that come with the discs. So he turns around and sells them on eBay, because, hey, money! Only eBay shut down his last auction, claiming copyright infringement. Copyright infringement? In our brave new world, just because you purchased something and are holding it in your hand, that doesn’t mean you can sell it. Apparently. [More]
Judge Slashes RIAA's $675,000 File Sharing Award To $67,500
By July 10, 2010
A federal judge yesterday bench slapped the Recording Industry of America, calling a jury’s $675,000 verdict against file sharer Joel Tenenbaum both eye-popping and unconstitutional. The judge struck a strikingly populist tone in reducing the verdict to $67,500, arguing that the same legal reasoning that protects large corporations from excessive punitive damages also protects “ordinary people” like Tenenbaum. [More]
Say 'Auf Wiedersehen' To Hitler War Room Parodies
By April 22, 2010
Striking a decisive blitzkrieg to an internet meme that had gotten old fast, Constantin Film has asked video hosting sites to take down all the re-subtitled Hitler videos of the war room rant scene from Downfall, TechCrunch reports. [More]
Walmart Won't Let Family Print Photos Of Dead Relative For Funeral
By November 18, 2009
After the death of a relative, Mike put together a photo tribute for the funeral, in order to “remember the good times,” he says. Only a Walmart cashier put a stop to his purchase. Here’s what happened. Do you think Walmart was in the right?
30 Songs? That'll Be $675,000
By August 1, 2009
A Boston jury yesterday ruled that file sharer Joel Tenenbaum would have to pay the Recording Industry of America $675,000 for sharing 30 copyrighted songs. The hefty award was all the more surprising because Tenenbaum was represented by a crack team of legal eagles from Harvard’s law school. The trial didn’t unfold nearly the way they planned…
The Hits Keep Coming: Hot Topic Is Selling Another Eerily Familiar Design
By January 5, 2009
Hot Topic Steals Yet Another Design And Sells It As Its Own
By December 31, 2008
Once again, Hot Topic is selling someone else’s art as original work. The mallternative retail chain purchased the supposedly original design from Newbreed Girl, which has its own history of ripping off designs.
The Methods That Target DMCA Violators Are Flawed
By June 17, 2008
When we read stories like Tanya Andersen’s and consider the countless others who have been wrongfully targeted by trade groups like the RIAA, it becomes evident that the system by which DMCA takedown notices are issued is very far from perfect. For the uninitiated, DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) takedown notices are official statements which assert that an artist’s or company’s intellectual rights have been violated (i.e. copyright infringement) and often threaten legal action against an individual. In a study conducted by the University of Washington, researchers proved that this system is seriously flawed, according to the New York Times. In one experiment, the team received takedown notices from the MPAA which accused 3 laserjet printers of downloading the latest Indiana Jones movie and Iron Man. More, inside…
Arizona Judge Rejects RIAA's "Shared Directory = Piracy" Argument
By May 1, 2008
Although it won’t affect other cases, the RIAA was handed a small smackdown this week when a U.S. district judge rejected their request for a summary judgement, and ruled that putting song files in a shared directory was not enough proof that infringement had occurred.
Universal: Background Music In Home Videos Constitutes Copyright Infringement
By July 26, 2007
Look at this kid dance and smile as he revels in his mother’s blatant copyright infringement. The song fueling his happiness, Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy,” is owned by Universal Music Group, whose lawyers are not dancing, smiling, or happy.
