Every founder starts in the same place: an idea. It might be a product concept, a brand name, a software workflow, or a design that feels genuinely new. And often, the first instinct is to guard that idea closely, not to share it, not to build too publicly, and not to move until it’s “protected.” […]
Category: Copyrights
Betty Boop Enters the Public Domain in 2026: What Creators and Brands Need to Know
On January 1, 2026, a significant shift occurred in U.S. copyright law when a large group of works first published in 1930 entered the public domain. Among them was the earliest appearance of Betty Boop, one of the most recognizable characters in American animation history. While headlines quickly proclaimed that “Betty Boop is now public […]
Rudolph, the Grinch, and IP: Who Owns Our Favorite Holiday Characters?
Every December, familiar faces show up everywhere: Rudolph’s glowing nose, the Grinch’s sly grin, and that ever-watchful Elf on the Shelf. For most of us, they’re just part of the holiday magic. For brand owners and lawyers, they’re also valuable intellectual property. This post kicks off our December series on holiday trademarks, looking first at […]
Hollywood vs. Machines: Disney and Universal File Copyright Suit Against Midjourney
The red carpet has officially rolled into federal court. In a move that could reshape how copyright law applies to artificial intelligence, Disney and Universal, two giants of global entertainment, have sued the AI image-generation platform Midjourney. Filed on June 14th in Los Angeles, the lawsuit alleges that Midjourney enables users to generate strikingly realistic […]
AI-Generated Content and Copyright Ownership
The Evolving Landscape of AI-Generated Content and Copyright Ownership The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has unleashed an unprecedented wave of innovation, profoundly impacting various industries, including the creative arts and content generation. As AI tools become increasingly sophisticated, capable of producing everything from compelling prose and striking visuals to intricate musical compositions, key questions […]
The Impact of Deepfake Technology on Copyright Infringement Claims
Deepfake technology, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to create hyper-realistic but entirely fabricated media, has raised significant concerns across industries, particularly in intellectual property law. With deepfakes, it’s now easier than ever to manipulate audio, video, and images to make them appear as though they are authentic, leading to an increased risk of copyright infringement. […]
Thomson Reuters vs. ROSS Intelligence: A Pivotal Copyright Case for AI and Legal Tech
In 2025, one of the most significant intellectual property (IP) lawsuits in the legal tech industry is unfolding between Thomson Reuters and ROSS Intelligence. The case has captured the attention of both the legal and technology sectors, as it brings into question the boundaries of copyright law in the context of artificial intelligence (AI) and […]
Apple Prevails in “Tetris” Movie Copyright Lawsuit
Apple Prevails in “Tetris” Movie Copyright Lawsuit, as the tech giant recently emerged victorious in a copyright dispute over its 2023 “Tetris” movie. The lawsuit was filed by tech journalist Dan Ackerman, who claimed that the film plagiarized his 2016 book, The Tetris Effect: The Game That Hypnotized the World. Ackerman argued that the film, […]
Starting A Business in 2025: When to File for a Copyright or Trademark
Intellectual property (IP) is one of the most valuable assets a business can own, yet it is often overlooked until a legal issue arises. Safeguarding your trademarks and copyrights is essential to maintaining your competitive edge. As a new business owner, you might wonder whether you need a copyright, a trademark, or both. Following are […]
Yours? Mine? Ours? What to Know about Copyright Protection for Joint Authors
If you find yourself working on a project with one or more collaborators, you may wonder about your rights under copyright law. When two or more authors contribute to a final work, each joint author has rights under copyright law in their individual capacity. Creation of a Joint Work A “joint work” is defined under […]