Socially Aware

August 02, 2019 - Copyright, Fair Use, IP, Litigation
By Winning Motion to Dismiss, Supermodel Loses Chance to Clarify Whether She Can Lawfully Post Photos of Herself to Social Media
By: Aaron P. Rubin
A federal district court dismissed a case against supermodel Gigi Hadid for posting to Instagram a photo of herself that was taken by a paparazzo. The reason for the court’s decision was simple: The party claiming copyright ownership of the photo failed to get
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June 11, 2019 - Advertising, First Amendment, European Union, Copyright, Free Speech, IP, Litigation
Social Links: Suit over “embedded tweet” with Tom Brady’s photo settles; brand agency manipulates Wikipedia; evidence from Instagram wins French rock star’s kids a share of his estate
By: Julie O'Neill
In March, Socially Aware reported on a lawsuit involving several prominent news outlets’ publication of a photo of NFL quarterback Tom Brady on Twitter. The case had the potential to upend a copyright and Internet-law rule that, in the words of a Forbes columnist
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July 23, 2018 - Copyright, IP
Copyright’s Long Arm: Foreign Website Found to Infringe U.S. Copyright Law by Providing U.S. Viewers Access to Site Content
If a web server located outside the United States hosts video content that can be viewed by Internet users located in the United States , does a public performance result under U.S. copyright law? This has been a topic of hot debate for a
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May 23, 2018 - Copyright, IP, Litigation
Monkey-Selfie Case Returns—To Court & (Maybe) a Theater Near You
I confess: I have mixed emotions regarding the iconic “monkey-selfie” photo and all the hubbub it has created. Don’t get me wrong; I think monkeys are wonderful, and the photo deserves its iconic status. Who can resist smiling while viewing that famous image of
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March 20, 2018 - Section 230 Safe Harbor, IP, Litigation
The Coming Border Wars: U.S. Court Decision Refusing to Enforce Canadian Court Order Highlights the Growing Balkanization of the Internet
Does a search engine operator have to delist websites hosting, without authorization, your trade secret materials or other intellectual property? The answer may depend on where you sue—just ask Google. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California recently handed the company
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March 12, 2018 - First Amendment, Protected Speech, Privacy, Online Contracts, Copyright, Defamation, Compliance, IP, Litigation
Social Links: Inline link to tweet with photo could constitute copyright infringement; proposed California legislation could restrict website operators’ efforts to have minors consent to terms of use
By: Aaron P. Rubin
In a decision that has generated considerable controversy, a federal court in New York has held that the popular practice of embedding tweets into websites and blogs can result in copyright infringement. Plaintiff Justin Goldman had taken a photo of NFL quarterback Tom Brady,
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January 04, 2018 - Advertising, Blockchain, Internet of Things, Patent, European Union, Privacy, UK, Copyright, Section 230 Safe Harbor, IP, Litigation
2018: Predictions From Socially Aware’s Editors and Contributors
By: Aaron P. Rubin
Happy 2018 to our readers! It has become a Socially Aware tradition to start the New Year with some predictions from our editors and contributors. With smart contracts on the horizon, the Internet of Things and cryptocurrencies in the spotlight, and a number of
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October 18, 2017 - Blockchain, Privacy, IP
Social Links: Russia’s threat to block Facebook; Google’s publisher-friendly move; a cease-and-desist letter worth emulating
By: Aaron P. Rubin
As part of a new tracking system, the Department of Homeland Security will be keeping records of immigrants’ social media handles and search results. Russia to Facebook: Turn over user-information or risk being blocked. Google is ending a policy that required news sites to
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August 17, 2017 - DMCA, User-Generated Content, Copyright, IP, Litigation
Could the Use of Online Volunteers and Moderators Increase Your Company’s Copyright Liability Exposure?
With over one billion websites on the Internet, and 211 million items of online content created every minute , it should come as no surprise that content curation is one of the hottest trends in the Internet industry. We are overwhelmed with online content,
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April 25, 2017 - Copyright, IP, Litigation
Limiting Statutory Damages in Internet Copyright Cases
By: Paul Goldstein and Joyce Liou
One of the most significant legal concerns for Internet service providers is the risk of exposure to liability for the copyright infringements of their users. The concern is not unreasonable. Because Internet service providers can be held secondarily liable for the infringements of their
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Topic Archives: IP

By Winning Motion to Dismiss, Supermodel Loses Chance to Clarify Whether She Can Lawfully Post Photos of Herself to Social Media

By: Aaron P. Rubin

Social Links: Suit over “embedded tweet” with Tom Brady’s photo settles; brand agency manipulates Wikipedia; evidence from Instagram wins French rock star’s kids a share of his estate

By: Julie O'Neill

Copyright’s Long Arm: Foreign Website Found to Infringe U.S. Copyright Law by Providing U.S. Viewers Access to Site Content

Monkey-Selfie Case Returns—To Court & (Maybe) a Theater Near You

The Coming Border Wars: U.S. Court Decision Refusing to Enforce Canadian Court Order Highlights the Growing Balkanization of the Internet

Social Links: Inline link to tweet with photo could constitute copyright infringement; proposed California legislation could restrict website operators’ efforts to have minors consent to terms of use

By: Aaron P. Rubin

2018: Predictions From Socially Aware’s Editors and Contributors

By: Aaron P. Rubin

Social Links: Russia’s threat to block Facebook; Google’s publisher-friendly move; a cease-and-desist letter worth emulating

By: Aaron P. Rubin

Could the Use of Online Volunteers and Moderators Increase Your Company’s Copyright Liability Exposure?

Limiting Statutory Damages in Internet Copyright Cases

By: Paul Goldstein and Joyce Liou