Interview with LoTempio Copyright Client Solomon Schmidt
Solomon Schmidt was only 12 years old when he wrote his first book, U.S. History Bites. Then, at age 13, he wrote the second book in his “History Bites” series called, US. Presidential History Bites. Now at age 14, he has written the third book in the series called, J.R.R. Tolkien History Bites. We asked Solomon to tell […]
8 things that can be Copyrighted
Copyright law can provide protection for several things. From complicated software to buildings, the scope of copyright protection seems to span pretty far. Moreover, federal law has articulated the categories of things that can qualify for copyright protection. Under federal law, the expressly enumerated categories eligible for copyright protection include: (1) literary works; (2) musical […]
Interview with Nathan M. Robertson
Here are some thoughts about intelectual property from Professor Nathan Robertson, who teaches Copyright at the University of Maryland School of Law. Here’s a little more information about Professor Robertson and his views on Copyright: How did you become interested in Copyright Law? I’ve been interested in copyright for the entirety of my career. As a […]
Donald Trump, China, and IP Theft: What’s the Deal?
Thomas Mann was spot on when he said, “everything is politics,” because “everything” includes IP theft. Over the past year, you may have noticed a rise in articles discussing intellectual property (“IP”) in the political world. President Donald Trump seems to be targeting China, but very few understand the meaning behind the recent commotion. On […]
How does a Musician Obtain a Copyright?
Looking to Protect Your Music? It’s important to protect your musical creativity in order to ensure that you’re the only person that can profit from your artistic vision. The way for musicians to protect their work is through obtaining a copyright. Musicians can apply for a copyright on a composition and or a sound recording. […]
“Blurred Lines”: Inspiration or Infringement?
This week, a federal judge in Los Angeles indicated that he is unlikely to grant a summary judgment motion in favor of Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams in their ongoing plagiarism dispute with the heirs of the legendary Marvin Gaye. If you have been following this case, you know that the issue revolves around two […]
Interview with Children’s Author B.G. Hennessy
B.G. Hennessy is a critically acclaimed author of children’s books. Besides publishing her own original stories, Hennessy serves as the primary creator of the Don Freeman series Corduroy the Bear. After studying book design at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Hennessy worked in children’s book publishing in New York City for 17 years as a […]
Copyright Infringement lawsuit for Elton John: ‘Your Song’–or is it?
Elton John is being sued for copyright infringement. In a lawsuit filed in Illinois in April of 2012, Gary Hobbs is claiming that John stole lyrics from his 1982 song “Natasha” and used them in John’s 1985 song “Nikita” without the consent of Hobbs. In addition, Hobbs claims that John shopped the lyrics around to […]
Copyright Infringement: Let the MUSIC flow
Music is an art form that evolves from music of previous decades. It is a product of artists that paved the way for new music stylings and beats. For instance, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sam Cooke were groundbreaking and transformed the music scene. The question here is whether it is possible to truly be […]
Google Books Settlement Hearing
A fairness hearing regarding the Google Books Settlement was held on Thursday, February 18, before Judge Denny Chin in a federal US district courtroom in New York City. The copyright class action lawsuit related to the Google Books Library Project is entitled The Authors Guild, Inc., et al. v. Google Inc., Case No. 05 CV 8136 […]