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What a longer copyright term means for creators

As the saying goes, time is money. And when it comes to IP matters, time is an important factor for creators. A recent change to IP laws in Uzbekistan serves as a useful example of how time plays a crucial role when it comes to protecting one’s innovations.
Uzbekistan has expanded the general term of copyright protection from 50 years to 70 years, following the death of the author. This change

Screenshot of Marvel Studios website

Who gets paid when a superhero story succeeds?

This month sees the release of yet another Marvel superhero movie, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. However, a lot of attention is still on the previous entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Black Widow, due to an ongoing lawsuit.
Due to the uncertainties of relying solely on the traditional theatrical release model during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, that movie was released si

Image: Focus Features

AI-generated voices are troubling news for voice actors

When Roadrunner, a documentary about the late travel show host Anthony Bourdain was released recently, 45 seconds of narration in the film soon got everyone talking.

Director Morgan Neville revealed that three lines in the documentary that sounded like they were spoken by Bourdain were actually generated by AI. These lines had been written by Bourdain, but he had never said them out loud. “

Screenshot of Sealaska Heritage Institute Facebook page

Why this community burned a coat created through IP theft

Today’s fashion plagiarist is spoilt for choice. The Internet is flooded with high-resolution images of the latest designs, and catwalk shows are live-streamed on social media.
Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on brands and retailers to cut costs in an increasingly tough market, and design departments are shrinking. As a result, the perennial problem of copying is becoming even more prolific.

Screenshot of Molly Sims' website

Are influencers at risk if their client violates trademarks?

Are influencers at risk if the products that they create sponsored posts for infringe upon trademarks? A recent case suggests that this may become an increasing possibility.
Molly Sims, a model and influencer, has become entangled in a trademark infringement lawsuit, with a court refusing to dismiss her because she allegedly caused consumer confusion about an eyebrow product.
What happened

Screenshot of Lawmage Academy's Twitter page

Will the rise of gaming cryptocurrencies lead to more IP theft?

Blockchain (a distributed ledger comprising cryptographically linked data, enforced by a disparate network of computers) and cryptocurrencies (virtual currencies powered by blockchain technology) entered the mainstream consciousness a few years ago. More recently, these innovations have entered popular culture via gaming. In some games, players can now purchase cryptocurrencies for use as an in-ga

Screenshot of Tiffany's Instagram page

The savvy use of IP in Tiffany’s new ad campaign

American jewellery brand Tiffany & Co, founded in 1837 and recently acquired by luxury conglomerate LVMH, is hoping to connect with young consumers with its next marketing push. Teasers for its upcoming advertising campaign feature three heavy-hitters — power couple Beyoncé and Jay-Z, and a painting by the late Jean-Michel Basquiat.

While Beyoncé and Jay-Z are two of pop culture’s most

Floyd Wilde from Cambridge, New Zealand, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Safeguarding IP of indigenous knowledge may be crucial for the human race

With an estimated 14 to 17 million indigenous peoples, it is not surprising that the Philippines has a legal framework for the protection of indigenous works. For instance, its Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act introduced the concept of community intellectual rights and granted indigenous peoples the right to practice and revitalise their cultural traditions and customs.

However, many of the a

Image: Angela Andriot, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Can you copyright a scent? It’s complicated

In a world where the travel industry has been upended by the pandemic, what should airlines do to get their business off the ground again? Singapore Airlines is pulling out the stops to navigate this turbulent landscape, launching a plethora of creative initiatives to lure nervous travellers back into the skies. Among these initiatives is a signature scent known as Batik Flora by Singapore Airline

How this Singapore National Day song reflects evolving views of IP

How this Singapore National Day song reflects evolving views of IP

Singapore marks its National Day every August, and one of the unique features of this annual celebration is the commissioning of a new National Day theme song. While the 2021 theme song The Road Ahead has been warmly received, that’s definitely not a sure thing every year — in fact, one of the hallmarks of the run-up to the National Day Parade is a spirited public debate over whether the theme son

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