copyright – Page 2 – Dunner Law PLLC

Jan 13 | 2016

“Happy Birthday To You” and the Digital Black Hole

When independent filmmaker John Smith decided to make a documentary about the history of jazz in New Orleans, Louisiana, he never anticipated that his inability to track down the creators of the songs in the documentary would hinder its publication.…

Sep 03 | 2015

Doing Business Abroad? Make Sure to Safeguard Your IP First

For any company conducting business abroad or thinking of doing so, this post is for you. Imagine this scenario: You want to sell your products in foreign markets. Eager to explore opportunities in Asia, you put your team to work…

Aug 27 | 2015

Fried Chicken and the Limits of Copyright Protection

You cannot copyright a chicken sandwich. If that seems obvious, it should be. So it is all the more surprising that a panel of three federal appellate judges needed to reiterate that point in a recent First Circuit decision. Nevertheless,…

Apr 29 | 2015

Using Without Asking: Applying Copyright Law to Online Educational Course Materials

It is commonplace nowadays for universities to utilize online course delivery or university-supported Course Management Systems to engage with students. U.S. Copyright law includes provisions specifically for teachers so that under certain circumstances, they can use copyrightable works of others…

Mar 21 | 2015

Who Owns the Academic Work? Copyright Considerations in the University Context

In the university world, academic works carry substantial value. It comes as no surprise then that ownership of these works is a hotly debated issue between university administrators and faculty members. The debate boils down to the desire to own…

Mar 03 | 2015

One Step Closer to a 21st Century Copyright Office – The House Judiciary Committee Hearing on Copyright Reform

On Thursday, February 26, 2015, Lisa Dunner, in her capacity as Chair of the ABA Section of Intellectual Property Law, testified before the House Judiciary Committee at a hearing entitled “The U.S. Copyright Office: Its Functions and Resources.” As copyright…

Jan 26 | 2015

Forget Patent Trolls…Focus on Convicts

While discussions about patent reform heat up in the United States, patent trolls are proliferating in an unexpected forum in China: prison. Under Chinese law, a prison sentence can be reduced if the prisoner develops a patentable technology. While the…

Jan 12 | 2015

Cracking Down on Counterfeits – How Trademark Owners Can Protect Themselves from Sellers of Counterfeit Products

Trademark owners worldwide invest substantial resources to build up the goodwill of their brands, and the success of trademark owners often hinges on consumers associating their brands with high quality products. As the digital marketplace continues to develop, even the…

Dec 22 | 2014

Trade Secret Liability for the Sony Hacks

In the wake of one of the most devastating corporate hacks in history, Sony Pictures Entertainment (“SPE”) has been forced to watch a torrent of secret documents, lurid exchanges, and employees’ personal information flood the far reaches of the internet.…

Sep 22 | 2014

The Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices III – Bridging the Gap Between Copyright Law and Our Rapidly Evolving Digital Environment

Is a monkey selfie protectable under U.S. copyright law? What about murals painted by elephants? Thanks to the U.S. Copyright Office’s August 19, 2014 release of the public draft of the Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, Third Edition (“Compendium…