Intellectual Property
Judge Lets Blade Runner 2049 Copyright Suit Against Elon Musk and Tesla Move Forward
The ruling makes it less likely for copyright suits involving generative AI to be dismissed, discouraging use of the technology with the specter of costly legal fees.
The Trump Administration's Deportation Reels Keep Getting Copyright Strikes for Using Music Without Permission
Without any real consequences for copyright infringements, the Department of Homeland Security doesn't have much incentive to follow the law.
Betty Boop Enters the Public Domain, but Only as a Dog
The cartoon's bizarre saga illustrates what's wrong with modern copyright law.
Federal Funding for Universities Comes With Strings. Now Trump Is Pulling Them.
The potential nationalization and forced revenue sharing of university patents makes a strong case for the separation of economy and state.
Sorry A.I., No Copyrights for You
The D. C. Circuit concludes that software cannot be the author of a work for copyright purposes.
Wicked and the Importance of the Public Domain
Movies like Wicked draw on classic works no longer under copyright protection.
Supreme Court: You Can't Trademark Your 'Trump Too Small' T-Shirts
As Justice Sonia Sotomayor noted during oral arguments, the right to sell a shirt is different from the right to be the only one who can sell that shirt.
The Best of Reason: The Mirage of China's I.P. Theft
As allegations of intellectual property theft swirl, a deeper look reveals a tale of phony numbers and twisted data.
The Mirage of China's I.P. Theft
As allegations of intellectual property theft swirl, a deeper look reveals a tale of phony numbers and twisted data.
Dungeons & Dragons at 50: You Can't Copyright Fun
How lax intellectual property rules created a nerd culture phenomenon
Sarah Silverman's Lawsuit Against OpenAI Is Full of Nonsense Claims
And a federal judge just said so.
Nike Sued Him for Making 400 Pairs of a Reimagined Air Jordan 1
"How small do you have to be for Nike not to care?"
AI Fraud Act Could Outlaw Parodies, Political Cartoons, and More
The bill is broad enough to target a Saturday Night Live skit lampooning Trump, a comedic impression of Taylor Swift, or a weird ChatGPT-generated image of Ayn Rand.
Hell Hath No Fury
Plus: Nuking the Hamptons, upcharging the autists, tearing down the statues, and more...
Mickey Mouse Is Now In the Public Domain. Well, Sort Of.
Even though only one very specific version of the character is free to use, it still represents a positive step for creative expression.
Why Is Nike Stomping On Independent Creators?
Nike should welcome the reinvention of their popular shoes.
The Best of Reason: The Pirate Preservationists
When keeping cultural archives safe means stepping outside the law.
The Pirate Preservationists
When keeping cultural archives safe means stepping outside the law
The Flash Makes the Case Against the Multiverse
A listless, cynical wrap-up to a decade of chaotic superhero storytelling.
Supreme Court: Andy Warhol's Prince Prints Not 'Transformative' Enough for Fair Use
The case could have long-term implications for how broadly fair use can be applied.
Court Rejects Idea Theft / "Hot News" Claim by Occasional Fox Guest Against Fox
Bonus: Calling someone a "nut" isn't libel.
Did Biden Just Commit America to Another Forever War in Ukraine?
Plus: the editors field a listener question on intellectual property.
Mike Pompeo Says He 'Grew Up Libertarian'
These days, he may run for president. His politics have changed.
Don't Let Disney Monopolize A.I.-Generated Art
The indie artists suing Stable Diffusion may not realize it, but they're doing the Mouse's dirty work.
Why the Tabletop Role-Playing World Is Furious About Changes to Dungeons & Dragons' Open Game License
For 20 years, D&D has offered third-party publishers an open, royalty-free license to create new works using its game. A leaked revision would end all of that.
Now Anybody Can Write a Sherlock Holmes Story
Nearly a century after author Arthur Conan Doyle's death, the character is finally free.
Netflix Files Copyright Lawsuit Against Creators of Unofficial Bridgerton Musical
The company alleges the composers ignored multiple warnings to cease commercial production of the musical.
Why Ryan Reynolds Can Use Winnie-the-Pooh To Sell You a Phone Plan
As pop culture icons enter the public domain, a strange new era of copyright begins.
Chicago Area Fourth of July Shooting Leaves 6 Dead, Dozens Wounded
Plus: Inflation eats up Americans' savings, copyright officials want to protect your fireworks photos, and more...
Josh Hawley Targets Disney With Copyright Legislation
Despite the senator's clear culture war animus, there are things to like about his bill.
Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Musk? And Yes, Taxation Is Still Theft.
Plus: A short debate on intellectual property
Police Play Disney Songs To Keep Citizen Recordings Off YouTube
A Santa Ana police officer is the latest official to use YouTube's copyright infringement algorithm as a means to evade accountability.
In Threatening Disney Over Copyrights, House Republicans Are Right for the Wrong Reasons
By blaming their reasoning on culture war grievances rather than the best interests of the law, the GOP risks undermining a completely defensible position.
Spider-Man: No Way Home Is a Spider-Man Movie About How Much You Enjoyed All the Other Spider-Man Movies
It's the two Spider-Mans meme in $200 million movie form.
Abolish Intellectual Property Rights?
Patent lawyer Stephan Kinsella debates Law Professor Richard Epstein
Abolish Copyrights and Patents? A Soho Forum Debate
Patent lawyer Stephan Kinsella debates law professor Richard Epstein
How the Government Seized a Rare Wu-Tang Clan Album (and a DAO Bought It Back)
Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, formerly owned by Martin Shkreli, was auctioned off by the government and bought by the blockchain/art enthusiasts at PleasrDAO.
Trump Says He Has a Trade Deal With China. His Trade War Still Looks Like a Failure.
The deal appears to have accomplished none of the Trump administration's goals, from boosting domestic steel production to getting China to abide by international rules regarding intellectual property.
Scotch Whisky Makers Don't Want a Virginia Distillery Using the Word 'Whisky'
What's in a name? Money, apparently.
Costume Manufacturer Alleges Competitor's Banana Suit Costume Looks a Little Too Much Like a Banana, Is Copyright Violation
Rasta Imposta has a history of defending its "unique" banana costume design with copyright litigation.
Quit Worrying and Learn To Love Trade With China
Fretting over deficits and intellectual property will do no good and much harm.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Has First Amendment Right to Use Pinkertons As Villains
Popular video game should prevail in lawsuit over its depiction of the infamous detective agency.
Debate: Intellectual Property Must Be Protected
Should the law respect copyrights and patents?
Pepe the Frog Meets the Copyright Cops
When alt-right activists adopted this amphibian as their own, were they stealing a cartoonist's property or exercising free speech?
