a selection of my writings elsewhere, academic papers, and projects
The University of Arts London, CreativeIP
- Reputation: Taylor Swift’s protections under American and English defamation law (24 November 2017).
The right to freedom of expression is not an absolute right: there are certain restrictions in place to protect an individual’s reputation. But those restrictions vary significantly, depending on which side of the Atlantic you’re on. Considering the shared legal traditions of the United States and Great Britain, their differences on the issue of free speech is surprising.
Lexology
- Avoiding legal problems when using a celebrity’s image on your products (30 January 2018)
Taylor Vinters LLP logo It may be tempting to use a celebrity’s photograph or signature to endorse your own business, but doing so without considering the celebrity’s “image rights” may cause legal problems.
The 1709 Blog, CopyKat
- Winds of Change (22 September 2018)
Axel Voss and the new Copyright Directive: deceived or indifferent?; American copyright modernization reforms unanimously pass Senate; TickBox sent packing as film studios and Netflix win $25 million lawsuit; Legal storm for Netflix over Stranger Things; Cadillac’s hopes to avoid trial are “smashed” by graffiti artist SMASH 137 - All is fair in love and war? (25 August 2018)
Disney claiming fair use (?!) against the estate of Michael Jackson;Prenda Law’s pornography honeypot lawyer (finally) pleads guilty; are South African copyright reforms a shining example or bad for business?; “Objection!” to calling alleged infringement “theft” is overruled; Aerial Photographer won’t let Cardiff Steel fly away free with his image; Aerosmith v. Donald Trump - Faceswap for the Statue of Liberty (17 July 2018)
Lady Liberty “faceswap” will cost the United States Postal Service $3.5M; YouTube’s “Copyright Match” offers enhanced screening technology (for a selected few); Fifa takes down celebratory World Cup dance video; Did one of Africa’s largest telecoms companies steal an app idea from former employee?; Copyright woes continue for Kenyan collecting societies; Copyright awareness comes to China - From Fallout Shelters to your local library (25 June 2018)
Is Warner Bro’s Westworld game a blatant rip-off?; Social network, media company, host provider, neutral intermediary… what’s in a name for YouTube?; California wage lawsuit may raise concerns over copyright; The Digital Economy Act 2017 and the Public Lending Right Scheme - Follow the Money (25 May 2018)
Stock photo companies: uncertain standing?; Freelancers finally make (some) bank; Nightmare in Nigeria for Copyright Society; Smokey Robinson supports CLASSICS for fairer compensation - Licensing, lawsuits, and legislative updates (16 April 2018)
Community Health Systems fails Microsoft check-up on licensing; “Grande” victory on vicarious liability in RIAA piracy case; EU-ser Created Content: draft Copyright Directive fails to hit the right note with artists; House Judiciary Committee goes for a modern remix of US Copyright Law; Spotify turns up the volume on licensing technology
- The CopyKat Goes Back to School (25 March 2018)
Cartoonist sues Infowars over Political Pepe Poster; Chicago landmark featured in controversial political advert without sculptor’s permission; Fair dealing exemption for Canadian classrooms; Copyright fees hit the wrong note with Japanese music schools; Calls to reform Australian fair dealing provisions; Bollywood star calls copyright laws “rubbish”; Is Taylor Swift getting a copycat Reputation? - Posing difficult questions… (8 March 2018)
Jumpman blocks photographer’s shot at copyright claim; Playboy Bunnies vs Boing Boing; EU Recommendations formalise earlier guidelines on IPR enforcement; You cannot copyright the dolphins!; Project Gutenberg: the German edition – laudable, but still infringing!
- The CopyKat muses: art for art’s sake? (21 February 2018)
General Motors sued for featuring graffiti in Cadillac advert without artist’s consent; LA Artist Sues Lollapalooza for copyright infringement in breach of licence agreement; Music video for Black Panther soundtrack “inspired” by British-Liberian artist - Filmmakers, Facebook and Football (4 February 2018)
Anthem of the Civil Rights Movement “We Shall Overcome” is freed into public domain; Documentary filmmakers to receive free legal advice from California law students; Facebook’s inks new global, multi-year agreements with Universal and Sony Music; European Commission to produce a Counterfeit and Piracy “Naughty” List; High Court grants football match blocking injunction to UEFA under copyright rules
