Lil Wayne, Birdman, Cash Money Records, Universal Music Group, Inc., and other music distribution channels, including  Apple Computer, Inc. and RealNetworks, Inc. have been sued for copyright infringement. Thomas Marasciullo discovered his vocals appearing on tracks from the rappers’ joint album Like Father, Like Son and Birdman’s 5 (Star) Stunna. The label asked Marasciullo to [...]

The heirs of George and Ira Gershwin have filed multiple suits (one in Federal court, the other in a Los Angeles Superior Court) disputing foreign royalties which represent roughly $200,000 of a catalog yielding $8 million a year. More from LA Times. Firebowl makers feud over the validity of copyright, ability to compete in the [...]

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 [...]

Claiming that each ring constituted a public performance under 17 USC  § 106(4), the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) was seeking to increase the royalties paid by phone carriers. 17  USC § 106(4) states that the owner of copyright has the exclusive rights to do and to authorize the performance the copyrighted [...]

Seven years after the Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court’s ruling in favor of Danish dance-pop group Aqua, Mattel, Inc. has appeared to license the song for a Barbie promotional video. In 1997, Aqua produced the single Barbie Girl, found here, on the album Aquarium. The single was a phenomenon, topping dance charts worldwide. Mattel, [...]

Unknown da Vinci painting unveiled via fingerprinting. Value increases from $19,000 (purchase price) to above $160 million. From CNN. Record labels suffering from power of technology, artists, and consumers seek a new business model. From MediaShift (PBS). Yoko Ono promotes Creative Commons licensing with remix contest. From boingboing. Contest here. Micro-brewer sued for Trademark infringement [...]

EMI, who controls more than 20 percent of all songs licensed in North America, has agreed to a licensing deal in lieu of protracted litigation with music service Grooveshark. According to the site, owned by Escape Media Group, it was negotiating a deal with EMI when the suit was filed. However, Grooveshark was having difficulty [...]