Copyright Office Activities in 2021: A Year In Review
Last year was one the busiest years in recent history for the U.S. Copyright Office. In addition to numerous personnel changes—including a new Register of Copyrights in late 2020 and […]
Copyright Cases in 2021: A Year In Review
2021 was a roller coaster of highs and lows in copyright litigation. A much-anticipated Supreme Court decision left many scratching their heads, while the Second and Ninth Circuits brought a […]
The CASE Act: One-Year Anniversary
It’s almost the one-year anniversary of the CASE Act being passed into law. On December 27, the “Copyright Alternative in Small Claims Enforcement Act of 2019” will turn one year […]
SCOTUS Hears Oral Arguments in Unicolors v. H&M Case that Could Redefine Copyright Registration Standards
On November 8, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Unicolors v. H&M, a case centered around when a copyright owner’s mistake on a registration application is enough to result […]
Easter Unlimited, Inc. v. Rozier: The Scary (Terry) Fair Use Decision
In a couple of days, you might see armies of children and adults alike donning their spookiest Halloween masks – like the iconic mask from the Scream horror film franchise. […]
EFF Dealt Another Blow in Attempt to Strike Down Section 1201 of the Copyright Act
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has received another defeat in its long-running lawsuit challenging the constitutionality under the First Amendment of the anti-circumvention and anti-trafficking provisions of section 1201 of […]
Second Circuit Resoundingly Rejects Broad Application of Google v. Oracle
Leading up to the Supreme Court’s Google v. Oracle decision in April, some were hoping for a game-changing outcome that would alter the course of copyright’s fair use doctrine. But […]
Unicolors Case Presents the Supreme Court With an Opportunity to Reinforce the Foundations of the Copyright Registration System
Imagine you’re an author, photographer, or songwriter who creates a website where you begin to post short stories, photos, or songs. You have a general familiarity with copyright law, have […]
Copyright Office’s Busy Summer Includes a Full Slate of Studies and Rulemakings
A steady stream of new study requests from Congress over the last few months, combined with approaching deadlines for ongoing studies and CASE Act implementation activities, means a busy summer […]
Texas Supreme Court Ruling is Further Proof that Congress Must Abrogate Sovereign Immunity
On June 18, the Texas Supreme Court held that a violation of copyright is not an unconstitutional taking of property. The decision stems from a years-long battle by Jim Olive […]