<em> Tribe of Two, LLC v. Vidal </em>
The Federal Circuit affirmed the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board’s decision in Tribe of Two, LLC v. Eritaj Design Corporation dismissing Tribe of Two’s opposition to Eritaj’s Trademark.
OpenAI Seeks Dismissal of New York Times Copyright Infringement Lawsuit
OpenAI filed a motion to dismiss a December 2023 lawsuit from the New York Times. The initial suit claims OpenAI infringed The Times’ copyrights by using millions of their articles to generate news answers for users who illegally accessed those articles.
Idol Images and the Plight of Technology
K-pop Idols, members of global music groups, have some of the most fragile reputations. With the rise of social media and AI technology, false information and impersonations have run rampant. How can labels and artists ensure their right of publicity is untarnished?
Is Fast Fashion Destroying the Industry?
Fast-fashion companies have been using other designers’ clothing and accessories, recreating the items, and selling them at a much lower price. While trademark and copyright law are sometimes helpful in addressing these issues, the world has started to see a shift in how companies are addressing this problem.
Is History Repeating Itself? The Metaphorical Burning of Alexandria 2.0
In Hachette v. Internet Archive, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed a District Court's decision against Internet Archive (“IA”). IA scanned physical books to loan digitized copies to its users through their Open Library Project, claiming fair use of the materials. The Court ruled in favor of the publishers’ claim for copyright infringement.
<em> Contour IP Holding LLC v. GoPro, Inc. </em>
The Federal Circuit reversed the district court ruling, determining that claim 11 of the ‘954 patent and claim 3 of the ‘694 patent were directed to patent ineligible subject matter under 35 U.S.C. § 101 and remanded for further proceedings.
Musi Inc. v. Apple Inc.: Alleged Copyright Infringement
Musi Inc. is suing Apple for removing the app from the App Store. Was Apple justified in its removal of Musi, or was Musi correctly operating within Youtube’s terms of service?
AI-Inventions, Plant Patents, and the Forever-Spinning Plum
We’ve been here before. In the 1930’s, Congress decided that plants were patentable subject matter. Since then, we’ve pushed the boundaries of what can be patentable. But now that we’re faced with AI-inventions, we have choked on the idea that an invention was created using bits and not biotics.
How Long Can Congress Fake It to Make It Before Regulating AI Deepfakes
AI generated media is becoming indistinguishable from reality. Prior to the 2024 presidential election, there was a concern that AI deepfake videos and audio could spread misinformation that would tarnish election results. Some argue that AI deepfake videos are always protected under the First Amendment, and others believe they should be regulated. Now that the election has concluded, how should Congress act on these concerns in preparation for the 2028 election considering AI technology will further develop.
All I Want for Christmas Is… to Stop Getting Sued
Mariah Carey is being sued for copyright infringement relating to lyrics in her infamous song All I Want for Christmas is You—for the third time.
<em> Sanho Corp. v. Kaijet Tech. Int'l Ltd., Inc. </em>
A recent Federal Circuit decision has narrowed the public disclosure requirement for obtaining patents. The requirement now limits what qualifies as “reasonably available to the public” under the prior art requirement for obtaining a patent. A private sale was not found to meet the narrowed requirement.
Cybersquatting Back on the Rise
Cybersquatting persists globally, challenging corporations and trademark holders. This practice spurred legal developments like ACPA and UDRP. As major companies implement proactive policies, new challenges emerge with gTLDs, typosquatting, and blockchain domains. Balancing trademark protection and online innovation remains crucial as digital landscapes evolve and require adaptation in practice and in law.
Who Owns The Copyright For AI-Generated Thanksgiving Recipes?
New York Times food writer Priya Krishna used OpenAI products to generate new Thanksgiving recipes and images, prompting the question: who owns the copyright for these recipes? According to OpenAI’s terms of use, Ms. Krishna owns them, but in reality, copyright for machine generated content is more complicated than that.
Redefining GI Distinctiveness to Aid Consumer Protections and Cultural Cooperation
This blog aims to address current issues facing foreign Geographical Indicator (GI) trademark recognition by the USPTO. It also seeks to explain why the USPTO should adopt a wider stance and recognize foreign GI marks more readily.
Protecting the Creative Outlaws: Graffiti in the United States
As an explosive cultural phenomenon that actively shapes the urban environment, graffiti has a conflicting relationship with the law. This blog explores the relationship between the outlaw nature of graffiti and the intellectual property laws that attempt to provide protection thereof.
The “Rage” Continues: Who Owns the Bob Woodward Trump Interview Recordings?
In January 2023, Former President Donald Trump sued veteran journalist Bob Woodward over the release of audio recordings coming from interviews Trump gave with Woodward. If this suit makes it to court, key questions impacting journalism will be addressed, including who owns an interview, assuming an interview is copyrightable.
A.I. Essays: Fraud in the Classroom or Final Frontier of Authorship?
AI writing tools like OpenAI’s GPT-3 and Google’s Lambda are transforming essay writing by generating coherent, human-like text in seconds, raising concerns about plagiarism and the integrity of academic work. While current copyright law does not protect AI-created works, debates around intellectual labor, creativity, and machine-driven outputs are intensifying. Critics worry that AI enables users to bypass the intellectual effort required in writing, while supporters argue it can make education more accessible and level the playing field for students with fewer resources. As AI evolves, it challenges institutions to rethink the boundaries of creativity and ownership.
<em> Andy Warhol Foundation v. Goldsmith </em>
Outside the U.S. Supreme Court, the public line elongated as more spectators joined and waited on the chilly morning of October 12th. Around 10 A.M., the Court heard the oral arguments in an art appropriation case, Andy Warhol Foundation v. Goldsmith. The Court granted certiorari and reviewed the holding of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit. The petitioner Andy Warhol Foundation challenged the lower court's decision in fair use defense. That evening, AUWCL hosted the "I.P. at the Supreme Court series: Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts v. Goldsmith." The panelists carefully surveyed the oral arguments and the 2nd Circuit's decision. This article provides readers with the background of the 2nd Circuit decision and some principal precedents that contoured the fair use doctrine.
Copyright’s Potential Infractions on the Right of Publicity
The intersection of copyright for tattoo artists and the right to publicity remains unresolved, with courts struggling to balance these rights. Tattoo artists seek copyright protection for their designs, while individuals and corporations with tattoos argue they control their own image under the right to publicity.
Senator Tillis’ Attempts to Change Patent Subject Matter Eligibility
U.S. Senate Collection