Dear Doc: A few years ago, you wrote about a copyright law suit where the judges’ opinion in the case took care to point out that among the purchasers of the art work accused of infringement were some famous people. Does that make a difference in how cases get decided? Signed,Instagram Follower Dear IF: The […]
All posts by: Lawrence Husick
Dear Doc: I know this is not strictly a copyright question, but it seems to me that I now spend my time Zooming, having Zooms, meeting friends for Zoomtails, Zoomshipping, and so forth. I even Zoom when I am on some other system, like FaceTime. Is Zoom in legal trouble here? Signed,Generically Worried Dear GW: […]
Dear Doc: It seems to me that every time I try to find out about intellectual property licensing, I end up more confused than ever. Are you able to help? Signed, Bothered and Bewildered Dear B&B: You are correct. Licensing is a complex area of business and of the law. Unfortunately, it is in the […]
Dear Doc:How can federal “troops” (aka officers from Customs and Border Protection) just show up in cities to protect courthouses and other federal property, launch tear gas, and arrest people? Isn’t there something about limited jurisdiction and federalism that makes such things illegal?Signed,Anonymous Protestor Dear AP: You might think that these officers showing up in […]
Dear Doc: Last month, you explained how to avoid legal issues concerning the use of music in podcasts. While that was interesting, many more ugly “lawyer letters” stem from use of images on websites and newsletters. Do you have any sage advice on how not to be on the receiving end of a nasty-gram from […]
Dear Doc: During this social isolation, I’ve started a new hobby…I’m a podcaster! I record myself saying fascinating things and then I publish the audio files on the Internet. Lately, I’ve learned that podcasts are more interesting if you use music to mark “intros”, “outros” and transitions. Please tell me that I’m not going to […]
Dear Doc:I know that self-isolating and social distancing has changed what each of us does every day. What has the Doc been up to, and what’s new in intellectual property?Signed,Concerned Reader Dear CR: Don’t worry too much about the Doc. He’s been keeping busy in some interesting ways lately… First, a client of LW&H has […]
Dear Doc: Is the song “This Land is Your Land” in the Public Domain? Signed,A. Singer Dear A: Back in 2004 the website JibJab posted a video in which John Kerry and George W. Bush had a rap-battle to the tune of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land.” Kerry called Bush a “right wing nut job” and Bush […]
Dear Doc: The most basic feature of the design of the World Wide Web is the hyperlink, which allows a browser to display elements of content stored on a web server. The great power of the Web is that the content need not be stored on the same server that hosts a page. Displaying content […]
Dear Doc: I hear that in the Tax Cut and Jobs Act (the “Trump Tax Law”) inventors, authors, and other creators of intellectual property got screwed, contrary to the intent of the Founders, as expressed in Art. I, Sec. 8, Cl. 8 of the United States Constitution. What’s up with that? Signed,Screwed-Over Inventor Dear Screwed: Yup! You’re […]