Ask Dr. Copyright

Ask Dr. Copyright is a monthly column that tackles common misconceptions in the areas of intellectual property law especially, copyright.

08Nov 2018

Ask Dr. Copyright – Protection of Characters

November 8, 2018 Lawrence Husick Ask Dr. Copyright

Dear Doc: I know that Mickey Mouse is still enjoying copyright protection because of the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, and that once copyrights expire, characters become “public domain”. How can you explain some of the direct knockoffs I have seen at the Halloween stores, like “A-Lad-In A Costume?” Signed, Perplexed Papa Dear PP […]

18Oct 2018

Ask Dr. Copyright – Music Modernization Act

October 18, 2018 Lawrence Husick Ask Dr. Copyright, Copyright

Dear Doc: Barry Pincus sang, “I write the songs” back in 1975. (You probably know Barry as Manilow. But Bruce Johnston (of Beach Boys fame) actually wrote “I Write the Songs”, and it was first recorded by The Captain and Tennille (who were more famous for “Muskrat Love” which, it seems, was a favorite of […]

20Sep 2018

Ask Dr. Copyright – Skyline Photography – Recent Case

September 20, 2018 Lawrence Husick Ask Dr. Copyright, Copyright

Dear Doc: I heard that it may not be legal to take a photo of a city skyline, and to use that photo. Or maybe it is. Can you help me to understand what’s going on in the law? Signed, Insel IdimsDear Mr. Idims:You are correct. Two recent cases involving photographs of the Philadelphia and […]

16Aug 2018

Ask Dr. Copyright — Latest Developments in Copyright Law

August 16, 2018 Lawrence Husick Ask Dr. Copyright, Copyright

Dear Doc: What’s new and exciting in the world of copyright law? Signed, Very Bored and Easily Amused Dear Very and Easily: Funny you should ask! There is much to report in the fascinating realm of copyright, as authors and other creative types battle the force of evil to protect their creations (and as their […]

26Jul 2018

Ask Dr. Copyright — Are you a “SuperLawyer”?

July 26, 2018 Lawrence Husick Ask Dr. Copyright

Dear Doc, I saw an advertisement in an in-flight magazine that showed the “Top Attorneys”. I’ve seen attorneys who say that they are “SuperLawyers”. I’ve even seen a listing of “America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators”. Can there really be so many great lawyers? Signed, Confused Dear Confused: The Doc has long been confused […]

28Jun 2018

Ask Dr. Copyright — Stare Decisis and the Legal Rights of Animals

June 28, 2018 Lawrence Husick Ask Dr. Copyright, Copyright

Dear Doc: Shakespeare, in Henry VI, Part 2, has Dick the Butcher say, “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” Now I know how he must have felt. You see, my friend and I filed a writ of habeas corpus in court in New York. We are being held prisoner, and […]

19Apr 2018

Ask Dr. Copyright – Oracle Prevails over Google

April 19, 2018 Lawrence Husick Ask Dr. Copyright, Copyright

Dear Doc: I’ve always heard that Yogi Berra said, “It ain’t over ’till it’s over.” I’ve also heard (not to engage in body-image shaming) that, “It’s not over ’till the fat lady sings.” Now I hear that the copyright case between Oracle and Google, which I read was over (Oracle lost) is not over at […]

01Mar 2018

Ask Dr. Copyright — Whether to Link or Not

Dear Doc: The United States Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. §§101 et seq. – see, I can lawyer-speak!) was passed more than 40 years ago, in 1976. Back then, the Internet was the ARPANet, there was no World Wide Web, no twittering (except among groups of birds or young women, and no, we don’t say that […]

01Feb 2018

Ask Dr. Copyright — Grumpy Cat

Dear Doc: I hear that although a monkey can’t own a copyright, a cat can be both a copyright and a trademark, and is worth a whole lot of money. What gives? Judges don’t like monkeys, but love kitties? What kind of law is that? Signed, Confused Cat Lover Dear CCL: Like anything in the […]

11Jan 2018

Ask Dr. Copyright – Emerging New PTO Standards

Dear Doc: Last I heard, “Slants”, a term some Asians apparently find offensive was deemed to be a registrable trademark by the United States Supreme Court because they think that free speech under the First Amendment protects all sorts of offensive speech (but not the giant Ten Commandments that was put up at at the […]

Ask Dr. Copyright

Ask Dr. Copyright – Protection of Characters

Ask Dr. Copyright – Music Modernization Act

Ask Dr. Copyright – Skyline Photography – Recent Case

Ask Dr. Copyright — Latest Developments in Copyright Law

Ask Dr. Copyright — Are you a “SuperLawyer”?

Ask Dr. Copyright — Stare Decisis and the Legal Rights of Animals

Ask Dr. Copyright – Oracle Prevails over Google

Ask Dr. Copyright — Whether to Link or Not

Ask Dr. Copyright — Grumpy Cat

Ask Dr. Copyright – Emerging New PTO Standards

Contact Adam Garson, Esq.

Sign-up for Monthly Emails

Top Rated

Recent News

Search this Website

Ask Dr. Copyright

Contact Adam Garson, Esq.

Sign-up for Monthly Emails

Top Rated

Connect on Social Media

Recent News

Search this Website