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How independent creators or screenwriters can safeguard their original ideas and negotiate better terms with the film industry

How independent creators or screenwriters can safeguard their original ideas and negotiate better terms with the film industry

The ongoing disruption in the film and television industry has changed the way movies are produced, distributed, and consumed. With the proliferation of subscription-based video-on-demand (SVOD) and Over the Tops (OTTs), the demand for original as well as regional content has increased enormously, which in turn has opened up a gamut of opportunities for independent creators.
Gone are the days w

Bodyright image source: www.unfpa.org/bodyright

Can UNFPA’s “bodyright” initiative stop women from getting abused in the virtual world?

UNFPA, a United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, wants to change the way women are treated in the virtual world and is urging them to join their global movement.
The internet provides an important space for women who want to express themselves and garner professional opportunities. However, this access acts as a double-edged sword because they disproportionately face all forms of

Makers of Tom Cruise's "Top Gun: Maverick" sued for copyright infringement

Makers of Tom Cruise's "Top Gun: Maverick" sued for copyright infringement

The film ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ has joined the billion-dollar club as it continues to dominate at the box office. The studio behind it, Paramount Pictures, is embroiled in a legal dispute over the blockbuster though.
The widow and son of Ehud Yonay, who wrote a 1983 article in California magazine titled, "Top Guns," about fighter pilots and the Navy's elite Top Gun program, has sue

Images from respective Instagram accounts

Kim Kardashian’s skin care brand SKKN called out for similarities to two existing brand names - SKKN+ and SKN by LH

SKKN by KIM, Kim Kardashian's recently launched skincare brand has been accused of stealing its name from two already existing beauty brands SKKN+ and Lori Harvey's skincare line SKN by LH.
In July 2021, Kardashian’s legal team received a cease-and-desist from a company, Beauty Concepts LLC, whose owner Cyndie Lunsford claimed that she has been operating salons under

Image from Chi Modu Instagram account

Copyright holder of Biggie Smalls’ photos is being sued for unlawfully offering to sell products bearing his image and likeness

Heirs of hip-hop photographer Chi Modu and rapper Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. Biggie Smalls, are entangled in a legal battle since Modu started using his 1996 Biggie Smalls’ copyright-protected photo for a snowboard deal with a Swiss company.
Biggie’s estate, Notorious BIG LLC, has recently accused Modu of using the “rapper’s likeness” and licensing it for use on “snowboards, t-shirts, shower

Lamar as a deepfaked Will Smith in his music video. Kendrick Lamar. CTTO: cnet.com

Could rapper Kendrick Lamar get sued for using deepfake technology in his music video ‘The Heart Part 5’?

Infamous rapper Kendrick Lamar's latest music video ‘The Heart Part 5’ is garnering views not only for the song, but also for the use of deepfake technology to morph his face into several popular faces from the entertainment industry. The question now is whether he can be sued for using different faces without seeking their permission.
In the video, he digitally adds the likene

Image source: allkpop.com / Yuyan - "WHO" Official Music Video

Chinese singer Yu Yan called out for copying Taeyeon’s music visuals

Chinese singer Yu Yan is being accused of copying visuals from K-pop singer Taeyeon’s “INVU” music video (MV) for her new song “Who” which was released on May 26. INVU is a song from an album of the same name that Time magazine called one of "The Best K-pop Albums of 2022 so far".
Netizens were quick to notice various similarities between the song's futuristic-themed visual and Taeyeon's music

CTTO: GoNintendo.com

Epic Games sued for copying Kyle Hanagami’s dance moves in its ‘Fortnite’ game

Epic Games has been hit with a lawsuit by a Los Angeles-based choreographer Kyle Hanagami alleging it ripped off his dance steps in its Fortnite game.
Hanagami, who has choreographed for pop stars such as Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears, claimed in court that Epic Games took the "hook" segment of his dance from the viral video and used it without his permission in the "It's Complicated" Emot

CTTO: Headlineplanet.com

Mariah Carey hit with copyright lawsuit for copying the song title "All I Want for Christmas is You"

Songwriter Andy Stone has filed a copyright infringement case against singer Mariah Carey for using the title of his song in her widely-popular classic song "All I Want for Christmas Is You" which was released in 1994.
In 1989, five years before Carey's song became a hit, Stone composed, recorded, and released a song called "All I Want for Christmas Is You" under the name Vince Vance and the Va

CTTO: Katten.com

Did Nike really come up with the 'Ballin' concept, or was it Adobe Bryant who pitched it to them?

Graphic designer Landon T. Jones has filed an idea theft suit against Nike for stealing his design for the NCAA’s “March Madness” promotional campaign.
Jones, aka Adobe Bryant, claims to have pitched his idea to Nike’s marketing executive in April 2020 by providing a Dropbox link.
He further claims that the executive looked at the deck multiple times, but never contacted him to approve or re

Snapchat sued by Swiss rights collection society SUISA for refusing to pay its composers, songwriters and publishers

Snapchat sued by Swiss rights collection society SUISA for refusing to pay its composers, songwriters and publishers

Snap Inc., the owner of social media platform Snapchat, is being sued by Switzerland-based SUISA Digital Licensing for alleged copyright infringement.
SUISA Digital is a subsidiary of the music rights collection society SUISA that collects digital publishing royalties outside the U.S. for its 80,000 songwriters, composers, publishers and about 10 million works. It has created license agreements

Can IP laws protect your work from being ripped off when evolving technologies are constantly changing the rules of the game?

Can IP laws protect your work from being ripped off when evolving technologies are constantly changing the rules of the game?

Content creation is at an all-time high due to platforms such as Meta, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, and the advent of new technologies such as NFTs has brought all kinds of challenges for IP lawyers when it comes to protecting your innovations or creations.
World Intellectual Property Day is an annual event that is celebrated on April 26. The theme of this year’s event was “IP and Youth:

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