CDAS Mourns the Passing of Author and Illustrator Tomie dePaola
Our sincere condolences go out to Tomie dePaola’s close colleagues, including literary agent Doug Whiteman and personal assistant Bob Hechtel, his friends, and generations of fans throughout the world. We know his legacy will live on in the imaginations of young readers everywhere who are charmed by his words and images.
Moving the Needle Part II: Court Inks Decision in Favor of Defendants in Solid Oak Sketches, LLC v. 2K Games, Inc. (S.D.N.Y.)
Four years ago, we reported on a headline-worthy copyright infringement lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York dealing with tattoos in video games. The case was brought by a licensing entity for tattoo artists against the makers of the popular NBA 2K games over depictions of real-life basketball
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Congratulations to IDW and the whole creative team on “Locke & Key” being renewed by Netflix for Season 2
“Locke & Key,” which premiered in February, proved to be a sensation worldwide. Read all about it here.
Frederick Bimbler reminds us to tune into Friday’s Hulu debut of “Baghdad Central,” starring CDAS client Waleed Zuaiter.
Earning rave reviews, the six-part thriller “Baghdad Central” has been called “refreshingly original,” and Zuaiter’s role, one that finally “does justice to his star quality and soulful eyes.” Read The Guardian’s review here, and tune in.
Gray v. Perry: The Pendulum Swings on Copyright Infringement Verdict against Katy Perry
Following hot on the heels of the Ninth Circuit’s en banc decision clearing Led Zeppelin of copyright infringement allegations relating to the classic “Stairway to Heaven” (which we reported here), a California federal judge last week overturned a jury’s finding of copyright infringement against Katy Perry regarding the pop hit “Dark Horse.” Songwriters still nervous
Marc Hershberg was cited in the Fordham IPM&E Law Journal
“Anything You Can Use, I Can Use Better: Examining the Contours of Fair Use as an Affirmative Defense for Theatre Artists, Creators, and Producers,” by Benjamin Reiser, Fordham Intellectual Property Media & Entertainment Law Journal, Vol. XXX, No. 3 (2020). Find the article here.
Ninth Circuit Rules in Favor of Led Zeppelin, Laying A New Foundation for Music Cases to Follow
When the full Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on en banc rehearing issued its opinion in the appeal of the widely reported Led Zeppelin Stairway to Heaven case on March 9, 2020, the court took a substantial step in providing guidance for future copyright infringement claims based on allegations of “substantial similarity” between songs. The
Judy Blume’s “Summer Sisters” Being Adapted by Writer Liz Tigelaar for Hulu
Congratulations to Andrea Cannistraci client and award-winning author Judy Blume, who is executive producing the resulting limited drama series, entitled “Best Day Ever“ along with Tigelaar and Stacey Silverman.
Judge in Amateur Photojournalism Case Rejects Lack of Originality Argument
In a decision that will likely be seen as a victory for photojournalism, a judge in the Eastern District of New York recently rejected the legal argument that an iPhone photograph, taken by a passerby who was in the right place at the right time, lacked originality. The decision represents a turn away from what
Nancy Wolff Fields Questions from the Digital Media Licensing Association (DMLA) on Copyright & Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Having recently attended a symposium co-sponsored by the United States Copyright Office and the World Intellectual Property Organization on Copyright & Artificial Intelligence, Nancy noted that as AI infiltrates modern life, the effects on the content licensing industry, creators and copyright will be enormous. Read all about it here.