Tag Archives: copyright infringement

Copy That!

Stolen fashion designs?

Headquartered in Singapore, the online fashion retailer Shein has been under legal scrutiny for its apparent knockoff items that look exactly like the creative works produced by known fashion designers.  Three US designers have filed a lawsuit, accusing the company of committing copyright infringement at such a remarkably destructive rate that it embodies racketeering.  Although the amount of compensatory damages sought has not formally been disclosed to the public, the designers are asking for an injunction to cease the infringement and prevent the business activity from continuing.  They claim that Shein is in violation of the RICO Act.

Continue reading

A Striking Resemblance

Hollywood horror

The fear that artificial intelligence (AI) may compromise or replace individual creative expression has sparked an ongoing strike on behalf of the Writer’s Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).  The rise in AI chatbots, such as ChatGPT, function to manipulate and reconfigure human writing.  In an industry that relies on the development of unique ideas, fresh content, and effective acting for movies and television, such an AI tool presents a possible or likely threat to future earned projects and potential income. 

Continue reading

Authors Subjected to Dispute

Writers turn the page

Authors are weighing in on the lawsuit between publishers and the Internet Archive, which purchases books for digital lending. While certain authors are standing in support of traditional libraries, they are also acknowledging dissimilarities between Internet Library and brick and mortar book lending. Internet Archive, however, has compared its services to that of a library, equipped with limitations of use. Publishers, such as Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers LLC, John Wiley & Sons Inc. and Penguin Random House, have accused the non-profit organization of committing copyright infringement and capitalizing the authors’ market for their e-books.   Continue reading

A Royally Painful Lawsuit

Privacy violation

In an effort to rid her life of the press and paparazzi, Meghan Markle might have to first fully submerge herself into the limelight with this most recent lawsuit filed against Associated Newspapers.  Based on claims of both privacy violation and copyright infringement, Markle is accusing the news publisher of breaking UK data protection laws.  The accusations stem from a letter written by Markle to her father, with whom she remains estranged.  Markle may be forced to testify against her father at some point in the case. Continue reading

Working Out a Settlement

Work it out

Most of us have seen the commercials advertising one of the most sought-after at-home fitness equipment products.  While the interactive live videos on the Peloton screens are intended to pump up the energy of the user, the music and workouts help eliminate, what some people might consider, the “boring” element of exercise.  Although this brand of stationary bike is seriously one of the best in the industry, with prices starting at $2,245, the company has seen a slight decline in its stock.  A possible cause for this drop could be the lawsuit surrounding allegations that Peloton streamed over 2,400 songs in their workout videos without prior authorization. Continue reading