Is Klingon A Living Language? That's For (Human) Courts To Decide
Does Star Trek — and Klingon — belong to the fans or to the studios? The answer has big implications for more people than just Trekkies.
copyright
Monkey Can't Own Copyright To His Selfie, Federal Judge Says
A district judge in San Francisco said that Congress and the president can choose to "extend the protection of law to animals as well as humans" — but that for now, no, monkeys can't own copyrights.
'Mein Kampf' Enters Public Domain; Arguably, Anne Frank's Diary May, Too
European rights to the two stark Holocaust artifacts may both expire on Friday. Reprints of Hitler's manifesto have been received warily; the legal case around Frank's diary is significantly murkier.
Spotify Faces Class Action For Copyright Infringement
The lawsuit alleges that the streaming music service fails to properly compensate artists for the right to reproduce or distribute recordings. It's the latest in the ongoing debate over streaming.
Twitter's Suspension Of Sports Media Revives Debate Over Fair Use
Twitter is going after news media that share highlights of U.S. football games without sports organizations' permission. The move shines a spotlight on the notion of fair use of copyrighted content.
'Dancing Baby' Wins Copyright Case
In Lenz v. Universal, about a YouTube video of a baby dancing to a Prince song, judges ruled that copyright holders must weigh whether use of material is fair use before issuing a warning.
'Happy Birthday' Hits Sour Notes When It Comes To Song's Free Use
"Happy Birthday to You" is sung everywhere, but because it's copyrighted, it's rarely heard on TV or in movies. A filmmaker has filed a lawsuit seeking to make the song part of the public domain.
DIY Tractor Repair Runs Afoul Of Copyright Law
Like a lot of machines, tractors are increasingly run by computer software that has proprietary locks. But if farmers break those locks to fix their John Deere, they are also breaking the law.
The Trademark Woes Of Michael Jordan (And Many Others) In China
The NBA superstar's brand is one of many mired in copyright trouble in China. An unrelated shoe company with an Air Jordan-esque name and logo is making millions — and under Chinese law, it's legal.
Do You Want To Build A Lawsuit? China Totally Copied 'Frozen,' Kid Says
A new anthem produced for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics is being attacked online as too similar to "Let It Go" from the film "Frozen." We asked a 5-year-old girl to assess the merits of the case.