Dear Doc: What’s new in your neck of the woods? Signed, Laurent Nom de Plume Dear Monsieur de Plume: It’s been a slow month for copyright law. Trademarks, however, have been a hotbed of ridiculosity. Exhibit One: John Wayne’s heirs have filed a law suit against Duke University (which was Trinity College until 1924 when […]
All posts by: Lawrence Husick
Robin Thicke and a Trial of Two Songs
March 30, 2015
Copyright
Ask Dr. Copyright … Dear Doc: You wrote about the legal fracas over the song “Blurred Lines” in a prior issue of your column. What’s up with that? Sincerely, Farel Thick Dear Sir: That case went to the jury about three weeks ago, and, true to the name of the song, it truly did blur […]
Katy Perry, Left Shark, and Copyright Deceptions
February 27, 2015
Copyright
Ask Dr. Copyright … Dear Doc: I watched the Big Game (a/k/a SuperBowl®) and though I enjoyed the game (I would report the score, but that might make the NFL angry, since they told us that unauthorized use is strictly prohibited) I really enjoyed the halftime show. My favorite part was the dancing sharks behind […]
Ask Dr. Copyright … Dear Doc: I heard that computers can now print in “3D”, and make things out of plastic, metal and ceramic, and that there are websites that offer designs for guns and gun parts that can be downloaded for free, and then printed on these new printers. I even saw an episode […]
What can you tell me about ‘Panoramafreiheit’?
December 31, 2014
Copyright
Ask Dr. Copyright … Dear Doc: What can you tell me about “Panoramafreiheit”?Signed, An American in Paris Dear Mr. Mulligan: Gesundheit! But seriously…you must be referring to the European Union’s 2001 Information Society Directive that states that photos of architectural projects in public spaces (monuments, buildings, etc.) may be taken and published free of copyright […]
Ask Dr. Copyright … Dear Doc: Can you explain what’s protected by copyright when a newspaper or television or radio station reports facts about the news? How can we expect the news to be balanced and fair unless certain broadcasters get to own some of the facts that they investigate and report? After all, running […]
Aero TV Faces Additional Hurdles to Survive
October 30, 2014
Ask Dr. Copyright, Copyright
Ask Dr. Copyright … Dear Doc: Since you wrote about Aereo, that company with the millions of TV antennas that was going to free us from the tyranny of Comcast, Verizon, Time-Warner, Cox, and all of the other blood-sucking video vampires, and the fact that Aereo lost big-time in the Supreme Court, we have been […]
Thicke and Tired of Dumb Litigation
September 30, 2014
Copyright
Dear Doc: I read recently that music stars Robin Thicke, Pharrell “Hat” Williams and Clifford “TI” Harris Jr. have sued the late Marvin Gaye’s kids. Thicke and his buddies, according to the news, claim that they did not steal parts of Gaye’s song “Got to Give it Up” in the hit from a year ago […]
Ask Dr. Copyright …
August 29, 2014
Ask Dr. Copyright, Copyright
Dear Doc: What do an elephant, a monkey, and the United States Federal Government have in common? Signed, The Riddler Dear Riddler: The answer to your query is: none of them can own copyrights! (Bet you didn’t see that one coming! BIFF! POW! BAM!!) Under federal copyright law (17 U.S.C. §101 et seq.) works created […]
Ask Dr. Copyright …
July 31, 2014
Ask Dr. Copyright, Copyright
Dear Doc: Seems to me that us vegetarians don’t get no respect in court. I heard that “Lettuce Turnip the Beet” got ripped off by that infamous pirate and parachute flapping no-good Gymboree Corporation, and the judge wouldn’t lift a finger to help. What gives? Signed, Rootin’ for the Little Guy Dear Little Root: Since […]