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Hot Copyright Issues in 2021

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Copyright Issues that may Change Copyright Law as We Know It Without a doubt, we are at the precipice of a digital and internet revolution. The year 2020 gave us a pandemic that not only changed our lives and the way we usually do things but also paved the way for the internet to transform in ways we could not have imagined. Now it is 2021, and it seems like the surprises keep coming. As copyright infringement lawyers and creative artists, we can try to prepare for some of the potential changes ahead, especially those that might affect our communities...

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Nirvana v. Marc Jacobs Copyright Infringement Case Rages On

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Nirvana V. Marc Jacobs - A Copyright Infringement Battle and The Smiley Face That Started It The ongoing copyright battle between designer Marc Jacobs and rock band Nirvana has yet to come to a close. Jacobs recently countersued Nirvana, LLC, claiming that the copyright it claims to hold, is invalid. The original lawsuit in question was filed in 2018 by Nirvana against Jacobs. The lawsuit emanated from Jacobs' "Bootleg Redux Grunge" clothing collection featuring a design that looks similar to what has become the iconic Nirvana X-eye smiley face. Jacobs replaced the eyes of said smiley with Jacobs' initials and...

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Photographer Filed Copyright Infringement Against Bleacher Report

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Understanding Copyright Law and How You Can Protect your Work On August 20, 2020, Professional Sports Photographer Howard Shatz filed a case against the sports website Bleacher Report for allegedly using his photographs without his permission. Shatz claimed that the website, through the persons, groups, or corporations comprising the same, copied and reproduced his exclusive photographs, putting them up on their website without any form of recognition or attribution as to his name or ownership. Shatz claimed that Bleacher Report also tried to conceal the fact that they violated his copyright. As of this date, Shatz's case is still pending...

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Photographer Sued Diesel and Terry Richardson Over Alleged Copyright Infringement

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Photographer Sued Diesel and Terry Richardson Over Alleged Copyright Infringement There is a fine line between inspiration and plain old theft - especially when it comes to photography and pictures. Haleigh Nickerson, a photographer, digital artist and a woman of color based in Los Angeles, sued Diesel and Terry Richardson for willful copyright infringement. In 2016, Nickerson created her "Sista Soulja" image, which was subsequently included in an LA art show. The picture was featured along with other similarly themed images under the title "Girls Who Dance in Dissonance." All the images show a woman of color in front of...

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Man Sues Netflix for Using is Photography on “Stranger Things”

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UK Photographer Sues Netflix For Using His Photo on Hit Series "Stranger Things" Sean R. Heavey was watching Stranger Things on Netflix when he saw a cloud that looked utterly familiar - similar to a supercell thunderstorm that he shot across the Montana prairie in 2010. It appeared that Heavey's photo was used to create a scene on the hit show and was even used as concept art by the crew. When Heavey wrote to Netflix, the company, through its lawyer Jarin Jackson, informed him that the cloud in the photo was not protected by any copyright, stating that the...

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Houston Photographer Filed a Copyright Lawsuit Against NFL Star for Posting on Instagram

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Photographer Sues Deshaun Watson for Copyright Infringement on Instagram Be careful of what you post on Instagram - even if the subject of the photo is you. Deshaun Watson, the quarterback for the Houston Texans, is learning this the hard way. A Houston-based freelance photographer has sued Watson for the alleged unauthorized use of his photos. The lawsuit stems from Watson's posting of pictures of himself on Instagram- photos that another person took. Watson had not secured permission to use those photographs. Aaron Sprecher, an independent contributor to The Associated Press, said that Watson infringed on his copyright when Watson...

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Copyright Lawyers Help Photographers and Others Understand DMCA

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How Does the DMCA Affect Photographers' and Creative Professionals' Copyrights? You have surely seen the letters "DMCA" somewhere when you were buying music, downloading a movie from the Internet, or even while uploading your own work to an online platform. It is not surprising, considering that the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) covers the use of copyrighted materials online. The DMCA was enacted in 1998 to address issues related to copyright in the growing community of online platforms and ultimately protect copyright holders in today's fast-paced technology-filled world. The DMCA is a US law that implements various intellectual property treaties...

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Collecting Copyright Damages for Unauthorized Use of Photographs and Other Work

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Collecting Damages For Copyright Infringement of Photos and Other Work If you are a professional photographer or creator of original content, you may be entitled to substantial damages if someone violates your copyright. Speak with our copyright lawyers today to assess your rights. Do you earn a living as a creative artist? A photographer, illustrator, writer or other creator? If so, you should know some basics about copyright law and what remedies you have when someone violates your copyright. If you think someone is violating your copyright, you might be able to file a claim and seek damages for infringement....

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Stopping Copyright Infringement and Remedies

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What is Copyright Infringement, and What are Its Remedies? Copyright is one of the trickier parts of being a content creator. With the advent of social media and various platforms for content sharing, it is still quite surprising that creators are still unaware of copyright infringements and the many ways that they can protect their works. If you are a photographer, videographer, graphic artist, or any kind of content creator, then read on to see how copyright infringement may occur and how you can use various remedies to ensure that you preserve your rights. What is Copyright? Simply put, copyright...

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Licensing Agreement and Copyright Lawyers

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Can a Licensor Sue a Licensee for Copyright Infringement? There are times when content creators such as videographers or photographers license out their works. Licensing material is a good income stream for creative professionals, especially since a licensing agreement allows them to license their work to various people and platforms of their choosing. But what happens if there is an alleged copyright infringement even with the licensing agreement in place? How can the licensing agreement protect the creators? What is a Licensing Agreement? A licensing agreement is a contract between the copyright owner, the content creator, and another who wants...

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