2020 Year in Review

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New Cases in November-December

AGREEMENT REACHED OVER STREAMING THEATER PERFORMANCES

• http://bway.ly/3n4yst#https://broadwaynews.com/2020/11/19/actors-equity-and-sag-aftra-reach-agreement-over-streaming-theater/

PLATFORM LIABLE FOR USER COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT DUE TO FAILURE TO PAY $6.00.

• https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/hip-hop-streaming-platform-spinrilla-found-liable-for-users-copyright-infringement

NETFLIX SCORES EARLY WIN IN TIGER-KING LAWSUIT

• https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/netflix-knocks-out-trademark-suit-over-tiger-king

COPYRIGHT TROLL ATTORNEY RICHARD LIEBOWITZ SUSPENDED FROM PRACTICE OF LAW

• https://reason.com/volokh/2020/11/30/copyright-troll-richard-liebowitz-suspended-on-interim-basis-from-s-d-n-y-bar/

DESCENDIBLE  RIGHT OF PUBLICITY BECOMES LAW IN NY 

Links: 

• https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/new-york-state-establishes-descendible-90485/?orig%5B
• https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-signs-legislation-establishing-right-publicity-deceased-individuals-protect

Top Stories and Cases in Entertainment Law for 2020

COVID-19 SECTION

Covid Alleged to Cause Jury to Impact Damages

• https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/no-encore-for-music-publishers-who-say-covid-19-wrecked-copyright-trial

Warner Brothers shift to Same Day Film Releases on HBO Max (PLUS THEATERS MORE GENERALLY 126-125)

• https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/amc-hbo-max-deal-warner-000049420.html
• https://www.cnet.com/news/amc-theatres-boss-criticizes-warner-bros-for-hbo-max-2021-release-plans/
• https://insidethemagic.net/2020/12/amc-theaters-2021-tm1/

USPTO v. Booking 123

Stairway to Heaven/Led Zepplin 124, 119 “STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN”

• https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/supreme-court-asked-review-stairway-heaven-fight-1307260
• https://twitter.com/Bill__Donahue/status/1293912628863971329?s=20

Instagram Embedding  127, 123

• Sinclair v. Ziff Davis LLC & Mashable.
• Walsh v. Townsquare Media, Inc. 
• Boesen v. United Sports Publications, Ltd.  
• Sprecher v. Watson
• O’Neil v. Ratajkowski et al

Links: 

• Sinclair v Ziff Davis LLC and Mashable Inc:
  • Full decision: https://www.loeb.com/-/media/files/pdfs/sinclair-v-mashable-2.pdf  
  • https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/court-reconsiders-mashables-win-embedding-suit-1300156?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=THR%27s%20Today%20in%20Entertainment_2020-06-25%2007:10:00_aweprin&utm_term=hollywoodreporter_tie  
• Walsh v Townsquare Media Inc:
  • Full decision: https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/new-york/nysdce/1:2019cv04958/516493/22/  
  • https://www.thefashionlaw.com/xxl-mag-prevails-in-copyright-fight-over-embedded-image-about-tom-fords-cardi-b-lipstick/   
• Others: 
  • https://copyrightlately.com/legal-embed-instagram-photos-website/  
  • https://www.thefashionlaw.com/emily-ratajkowski-says-instagram-post-is-fair-use-in-extortion-copyright-case  
  • https://abovethelaw.com/2020/10/publication-fights-back-with-fair-use-in-caroline-wozniacki-copyright-case/   
  • https://www.law360.com/articles/1325111/embedded-instagram-post-is-fair-use-judge-says   
  • https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/02/federal-judge-says-embedding-tweet-can-be-copyright-infringements:// 
  • www.thompsoncoburn.com/insights/blogs/in-focus/post/2020-11-06/game-set-match-sometimes-the-photo-is-the-story 

Allen v. Cooper (Blackbeard’s Revenge) 119

https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/allen-v-cooper/

Fair Use Cases we’ve talkd about in 2020

• Georgia Public Resource (SCOTUS)
• Drake (USCOA 2nd Cir.) 
• Tattoos (USDC S.D.N.Y.) 
• Show Choir (USCOA 9th Cir.) 
• Jersey Boys (USCOA 9th Cir.) 
• Nikki Minaj (USDC C.D. CAL) 
• Met “Frankenstein” Guitar (USDC S.D.N.Y.) 

2021 UPCOMING ISSUES 

• Shape of Water
• Google LLC v. Oracle America Inc.
• Estate of Conan Doyle v. Netflix 123