Copyright, understood broadly, protects works of artistic expression. But what about works created by a computer with no human interaction? Can a computer create and own all possible new works – and can the computer’s owner use copyright law to protect those works?
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Intellectual Property for Businesses
March 3, 2015
I spend a lot of time on this blog getting into the nitty-gritty of intellectual property, but it’s important from time to time to take a step back and review the basics of the subject (and, of course, provide an introduction to those who are new to the subject.) Last week, I had the opportunity to teach a class at UC San Diego’s Rady School of Management. The class is “Innovation to Market,” and my lecture was an overview of Intellectual Property for Businesses. It was a lot of fun, and now it’s time to take it out of the…
Copyright Fair Use: Fifty Shades of Grey
February 17, 2015
The origin of the book, movie, and general cultural phenomenon that is Fifty Shades of Grey is an interesting case study about copyright fair use in the world of online content creation. Let’s skip all the innuendo and get down to the good stuff – when is it OK to publish your own takeoff of an existing media property?
Copyright Question: Who Owns the Left Shark?
February 10, 2015
The 2015 Super Bowl (or Super Bowl XXVZPDQ or something) has generated a legal controversy. No, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is not being sued for his terrible play calling. Rather, we’ve learned that Katy Perry’s attorneys have sent out a copyright cease and desist letter related to the infamous Left Shark. Does copyright law protect the image of an awkwardly dancing person in a shark costume?
