The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today agreed with the District Court’s ruling that “60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye” is substantially similar to J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye.” The Court, however, vacated the District Court’s order to rehear the ‘likelihood of irreparable injury’ prior granting an injunction against publication. The [...]

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 [...]

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). [...]

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) [...]

The China Written Works Copyright Society (CWWCS) is the latest in a string of domestic and international groups to criticize Google’s effort to create a digital library. While it hails from a country that flippantly enforces international copyrights, the group is the first Chinese entity to publicly criticize the Google project and also encourages drastic [...]

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 [...]

German Chancellor Angela Merkel took the opportunity to promote international co-operation for copyright protection prior to the Frankfurt Book Fair. In her weekly video podcast, the Chancellor criticized Google’s digital library as creating a serious threat to copyright holders on the internet. Said Merkel, “The German government has a clear position: copyrights have to be [...]