Stan Soocher

September 05, 2024 | Law.com

When artists do take action over political-campaign usage, it's usually in the form of a cease-and-desist letter sent to a candidate's representatives. In some instances, artists file lawsuits, but to date there's been just a smattering of notable court decisions. This article provides a refresher on these rulings as well as a look at the recent lawsuit by the estate of Isaac Hayes over the Trump campaign's use of the classic soul song "Hold On, I'm Coming."

By Stan Soocher

8 minute read

June 27, 2024 | Law.com

The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California has decided that the termination by Mary Bono of grants made by her late husband Sonny Bono under the copyright-assignment termination provision of the Copyright Act didn't affect royalty rights under a 1978 marital settlement agreement between Sonny and ex-wife Cher.

By Stan Soocher

5 minute read

March 21, 2024 | Law.com

In a case of first impression, the Eleventh Circuit decided that a copyright plaintiff may recover damages that occur more than three years before a copyright lawsuit is filed.

By Stan Soocher

5 minute read

January 26, 2024 | Law.com

2024 starts off with court decisions and procedural rulings that took shape in 2023 in lawsuits that were filed over the collision of creative content with generative AI programs. Most of the complaints allege copyright infringement and related claims prompted by the unlicensed copyright works that AI companies input into their AI programs.

By Stan Soocher

8 minute read

July 31, 2023 | Law.com

The growth in size of companies dominating sectors of the entertainment industry has been subject to antitrust challenges with mixed results. What are some notable recent developments in this area?

By Stan Soocher

5 minute read

June 29, 2023 | Law.com

The lion's share of attention to copyright-infringement claims against Ed Sheeran over his 2016 Grammy-winning Song of the Year "Thinking Out Loud" recently focused on the trial in New York federal court. But in September 2022, a related infringement suit over the same songs' matching chord progression and harmonic rhythm was allowed to proceed.

By Stan Soocher

5 minute read

April 25, 2023 | Law.com

The November 2022 tech meltdown of online access that slowed or barred consumers from buying tickets from Ticketmaster for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, her first since 2018 and the largest one-day ticket demand Ticketmaster had ever faced, generated worldwide coverage and outrage from her fans. But the incident also resulted in a sizzling convergence of many of the issues that have plagued online sales of live events for years.

By Stan Soocher

7 minute read

October 31, 2022 | Law.com

State tax credits are valuable tools for helping meet the costs of producing films, TV shows, commercials, and other media and entertainment productions. But if more than one production company is involved with a project, a legal dispute can arise over which company owns the right to the tax credit funds.

By Stan Soocher

5 minute read

September 27, 2022 | Law.com

The rebound in concert tours and ticket revenues as 2022 has unfolded gives the live events industry hope for a strong 2023, too. For many tours, though, it's income from merchandise that makes the tour profitable. Thus, the rise in the number of artists touring also means a parallel resurgence in the activities of counterfeit-merchandise sellers and renewed efforts by the industry to battle its long-time problem with the sale of counterfeit merchandise near event venues.

By Stan Soocher

5 minute read

August 26, 2022 | Law.com

How far back from accrual of a claim may a plaintiff reach for copyright damages?

By Stan Soocher

5 minute read