Industry Cases Of Note

The Ninth Circuit Holds That “Words” And “Short Phrases” Are Not Copyrightable, In Affirming Summary Judgment Ruling Against Alisa Apps In “Love Me Again” Copyright Lawsuit

March 23, 2019 | categories: Blog, Copyright

On March 14, 2019, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in Alisa Apps v. Universal Music Group, Inc., et al., affirmed the decision of the lower court granting summary judgment in favor of Defendants Universal... Continue Reading →

Katy Perry Loses Summary Judgment In “Dark Horse” Copyright Infringement Case, As Court Decides That Commercial Exploitation Not Necessary To Show “Widespread Dissemination” For Purposes of Proving “Access”

September 5, 2018 | categories: Blog, Copyright

            On August 13, 2018, the United States District Court Central District of California, in Marcus Gray, et al. v. Katy Perry, et al., denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment, which sought to dismiss plaintiffs’ action alleging that the song... Continue Reading →

Yes, You Can Have Your Cake, And Eat It Too: Successfully Voided Contracts Still Allow For The Recovery of Contractual Attorney’s Fees

July 31, 2018 | categories: Blog

On December 15, 2017, the Court of Appeal of the State of California, First Appellate District, in California-American Water Company v. Marina Coast Water District, et al., affirmed the trial court’s order requiring defendants to pay contractual attorney fees... Continue Reading →

Supreme Court To Resolve Split Among Circuits Regarding Requirement Of Copyright Registration

July 26, 2018 | categories: Blog, Copyright

            On June 28, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court granted review in the case of Fourth Estate Pub. Ben. Corp. v. Wall-Street.com, LLC, 856 F.3d 1338 (11th Cir. 2017).  The case should resolve the split that exists among the circuits... Continue Reading →

Concert Security in the Wake of Las Vegas and Other Tragedies

February 6, 2018 | categories: Blog

The last two years have seen some of the most horrific tragedies in musical performance history – 49 people were killed at an Orlando nightclub in a hate crime; The Voice contestant Christina Grimmie was gunned down as she... Continue Reading →

Composer Loses Bid To Terminate Copyright Assignment In Six Film Scores, After The Southern District of New York Found Them To Be “Works for Hire” Under Italian Law

January 11, 2018 | categories: Blog

On October 6, 2017, the United States District Court Southern District of New York in Ennio Morricone Music Inc. v. Bixio Music Group Ltd., denied plaintiff Ennio Morricone Music Inc.’s motion for summary judgment, which sought a declaratory judgment... Continue Reading →