Today is World’s Fair Use Day (WFUD), “a free, all-day celebration of the doctrine of fair use: the legal right that allows innovators and creators to make particular uses of copyrighted materials. WFUD will take place at the Newseum in Washington D.C. on Tuesday January 12, 2010.” More here.

“You take the red pill – you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.” A recent post appearing in the Celebrity and News section of Lipstick Alley rekindled a debate over the true origins of the Matrix trilogy. In 1999 an author named Sophia Stewart filed suit in Federal Court [...]

A look back at an argument that erupted at the Independent Film Channel’s (IFC) 2007 New York Film Festival Press Conference for the Brian De Palma film Redacted. De Palma bashes Magnolia Pictures owner Mark Cuban for redacting a photo montage at the close of the film that  “disturbed” Cuban. The film itself is a [...]

Set to premiere on PBS in January 2010, Copyright Criminals explores the relationship between hip-hop and copyright law and the complicated legal issues brought on by music sampling. From the website, Years before people started downloading and remixing music, hip-hop sampling sparked a debate about copyright, creativity and technological change that still rages today. Independent [...]

The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is a proposed multilateral agreement  meant to quell international copyright piracy and counterfeit goods. While in negotiations today in Seoul, Korea (November 4-6, 2009), many are concerned that the agreement will be over-restrictive and have chilling effects.  Particularly troubling is the United States drafted section on Internet Service Providers (ISPs). [...]

The Beatles record label, EMI, sued bluebeat.com, its parent company, Media Rights Technology Inc., and Chief Executive Hank Risan for offering songs from the band’s catalog for 25 cents. More here. Professor Donald Jones sued the legal blog Above the Law for posting his faculty photo alongside a news story about his arrest and eventual [...]

In an effort to “call attention to particularly bogus takedowns — and showcase the amazing online videos and other creative works that someone doesn’t want you to see,” the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) recently launched the Takedown Hall of Shame. EFF collected some of the most egregious incidents of internet bullying (via DMCA takedown notices) [...]

A West L.A. art collector, who reportedly could recoup $25 million for 11 stolen Andy Warhol paintings would rather waive the money than deal with hassle of investigation. From LA Times. Entertainment Lawyer Chad Fitzgerald weighs in on the copyright suit involving Chris Rock’s documentary Good Hair, noting, “[the plaintiff] will have a steep uphill [...]