Copyright News

Appeals Court Agrees: Aereo's TV Streaming Service is Not a Copyright Infringement

Posted by Mandour & Associates on April 08, 2013

tv_remote_control.jpgIPNews® - The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals upheld New York-based Aereo's right to stream live local television programing. 

The broadcasting companies are claiming that Aereo is exploiting a loophole in the copyright law, while consumer groups are ecstatic.  Meanwhile, Aereo has plans to roll out its service across the nation.  To continue reading, click: Appeals Court Agrees: Aereo's TV Streaming Service is Not a Copyright Infringement

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Penguin's Copyright Claims Dismissed over Rivals Miniscule Profits

Posted by Mandour & Associates on March 15, 2013

books shelf.jpgIPNews® - Penguin Group USA, Inc.’s copyright infringement lawsuit against a small nonprofit online library was dismissed by a New York federal judge last week, after the publishing company was unable to satisfy jurisdictional requirements.

Penguin filed a complaint against the nonprofit online library American Buddha in 2009, after the publishing giant discovered the website was offering unauthorized copies of books it publishes.  Despite the alleged infringement, a New York federal judge said the court did not have jurisdiction over the case because the Arizona-based company’s profits were not substantial enough for the court to employ the long-arm statute.

To continue reading, click: Penguin’s Copyright Claims Dismissed over Rivals Miniscule Profits

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Major ISPs Agree to Six Strikes Anti-Piracy Copyright Policy

Posted by Mandour & Associates on March 04, 2013

download.jpgIPNews® - Interest groups for the film, television and music industries have teamed up with Internet service providers to instate a new program to help prevent unauthorized downloading of copyrighted material.

Under the new program, which began February 26th, copyright owners will seek out the IP addresses of users sharing copyrighted material without authorization and report the IP addresses to the appropriate Internet service provider.  The Internet service provider will then issue consequences up to and including reducing a user's Internet speed for an unspecified amount of days.

To continue reading, click: Downloading Copyrighted Material Could Slow Your Internet Speed

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DC Comics Sues Batmobile Maker for Trademark and Copyright Infringement

Posted by Mandour & Associates on February 05, 2013

batman-keys.jpgIPNews® - A custom car designer asked the California Central District to throw out DC Comics Inc’s lawsuit alleging he infringed on its trademarks and copyrights by selling replica Batmobiles.

Gotham Garage owner Mark Towle argued that DC Comics knew he had been building Batmobiles since 2003 and yet never told him to stop or informed him that he was infringing on its trademarks and copyrights.  He also argued that the lawsuit should not be allowed to proceed as the company did not suffer any damages from his sales of the Batmobile.

To continue reading, click: DC Comics Sues Batmobile Maker for Trademark and Copyright Infringement

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Fox and Dish Network Debate over DVR Copyright Infringement

Posted by Mandour & Associates on January 25, 2013

tv setup.jpgIPNews® - Fox Broadcasting Co. lost the first round of its fight for an injunction against Dish Network Corp.’s over Dish's AutoHop DVR.

Fox claims that Dish’s DVR services, which allow consumers to record television and then automatically skip over commercials when watching shows, constitutes copyright infringement.  Dish counters that DVRs copy television programs for private use and are therefore protected under fair use.

To continue reading, click: Fox and Dish Network Debate over DVRs and Copyright Infringement

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Twitter Post Does Not Give News Services Copyright License to Use Photos

Posted by Mandour & Associates on January 16, 2013

twitter.jpgIPNews® - Agence France Presse and The Washington Post were found to have infringed a photographers copyright when they used photos that were posted to his Twitter account.

Photographer Daniel Morel was on the scene during the Haiti earthquake in January 2010.  Morel posted his photos from the aftermath on Twitter, which Agence France Presse claimed permitted it to use the photo.

To continue reading, click: Twitter Does Not Give News Services License to Lift Photos

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Sony Releases Bob Dylan Collection to Preserve Copyright

Posted by Mandour & Associates on January 09, 2013

sony.jpgIPNews® - In order to take advantage of changes in European copyright law, Sony released 100 copies of a compilation of previously unreleased Bob Dylan recordings.

The European Union recently increased the length of copyright protection from 50 years to 70 years, however, a recording must be published prior to the end of the 50 year deadline to get the extended protection.  Sony just barely made the deadline, getting copies of the unreleased material into a handful of stores shortly after Christmas.

To continue reading, click: Sony Releases Bob Dylan Collection to Preserve Copyright

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California Judge Rules Yoga Poses Are Not Protected by Copyright

Posted by Mandour & Associates on December 18, 2012

yoga.jpgIPNews® - On Friday a California judge ruled that yoga poses cannot be copyrighted.

Bikram Choudhury, creator of the Bikram hot yoga system, claims that he has the exclusive right to teach his yoga sequences.  However, U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright said that though Bikram can copyright the books and videos describing his methods, he cannot copyright the poses themselves.

To continue reading, click: California Judge Rules Yoga Poses Cannot be Copyrighted

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Reporter Did Not Infringe Copyright, but may have Misused Trade Secrets in NFL Draft Stories

Posted by Mandour & Associates on December 17, 2012

football.jpgIPNews®  - A Washington district judge threw out a copyright claim against a reporter who used National Football Scouting’s player grades in his blog, but he may still be on the hook for trade secret claims.

On dismissing the copyright claim, Federal District Judge Ronald B. Leighton said reporter Rob Rang’s use of the scores is covered under the fair use doctrine.  However, Judge Leighton did not reject the trade secret allegations, which will go to trial in February.

To continue reading, click: Reporter Did Not Infringe Copyright

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"Angry Birds" Toy Counterfeiter Slapped with Trademark and Copyright Injunction

Posted by Mandour & Associates on November 29, 2012

bird_crow.jpgIPNews®  - A California Federal Judge granted the owner of the popular “Angry Birds” brand an injunction against a California-based toy company.

Rovio, the owner of the “Angry Birds” franchise, accused Royal Plush of infringement, unfair competition, and unjust enrichment.  Rovio claimed that the toys made by Royal Plush were so similar to their own toys that consumers would not be able to tell the difference.  To continue reading, click: “Angry Birds” Toy Counterfeiter Slapped with Injunction

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