“This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim from LucasFilm.”
Greenpeace’s spoof of Volkswagen’s Darth Vader ad has been pulled by YouTube because of a copyright dispute with LucasFilm. Greenpeaces’ parody was meant to bring attention to what it claims are...
View ArticleAn Engagment Photo, Copyright, and the Right of Publicity
Citizen Media Law Project opines on a photograph used by two politicians, one for and one against gay marriage. There’s a copyright issue and potential right of publicity issue as well. Marie-Andree...
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When Shepard Fairey Gets Appropriated
Here’s a great example of fair use. It comments on and is critical of the original work, not to mention parodic of Shepard Fairey’s now-notorious “Hope” poster from a few years back. And certainly no...
View ArticleBeastie Girls
So it seems the Beastie Boys, along with their corporate record label cronies, have threatened to sue GoldieBlox for copyright infringement for the toy company’s recent viral video parody. The video...
View ArticleBeastie Girls cont’d
The Beastie Boys have penned an open letter addressing the recent GoldieBlox viral video brouhaha. In it, they portray themselves less as copyright bullies than principled artists. “As creative as it...
View ArticleBeauty and the Beastie Boys
Just a quick note before my wife discovers I’m on the computer: it seems GoldieBlox relented in its quest to prove its parody viral video was fair use of the Beastie Boys’ song Girls. I think this is a...
View ArticleDumb Starbucks and Dumber
Apparently there is a new “Starbucks” in LA…Dumb Starbucks, that is. They’re flying under the flag of parody. Let’s see how long before Starbucks unleashes their legal hounds. Consumer confusion? Let’s...
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Pro-Clinton PAC Doesn’t Like “I’m Ready for Oligarchy” Parody
Minnesota-based activist Dan McCall has managed to irritate a pro-Hillary-for-2016 PAC. The PAC, Ready for Hillary, alleged that McCall’s political critiques of Hillary Clinton, using the PAC’s “I’m...
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Artists Parody the Rehnquist Court
The Rehnquist Court. New York-based theater ensemble Elevator Repair Service (ERS) returns to Los Angeles’ REDCAT next week with Arguendo, an absurdist look at a 1991 U.S. Supreme Court case, Barnes v....
View ArticleNestlé Claims Trademark Infringement Against Artist
On the subject of yours truly being quoted, I’ve been meaning to post on this ArtFCity article regarding yet another intellectual property dispute between a mega-corporation and a visual artist.
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No Infringement; Play is Parody of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”
On a side-by-side comparison in a Rule 12(c) motion. Opinion here.
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Sixth Circuit: Parody is protected speech, so lawsuit against police...
Novak’s [mock Parma Police Department Facebook] page delighted, disgusted, and confused. Not everyone understood it. But when it comes to parody, the law requires a reasonable reader standard, not a...
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