Notes and Votes: Use of Copyrighted Music at Live Political Events

Carolyn Wimbly Martin and Ethan Barr

As the fireworks lit the sky over the White House during the Republican National Convention in August, some songs traditionally associated with conservative politics accompanied the fanfare, including “God Bless the USA” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” However, one particularly interesting choice was the late Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” as performed by singer-songwriter Tori Kelly. […]

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Free the Australian Aboriginal Flag: What Are the Limits of Implied Covenants of Fair Dealing in Copyright Licensing?

A “Free the Flag” campaign is raging in Australia, the latest chapter in a long-simmering controversy over the copyright rights to the Aboriginal flag. The controversy raises issues of fair dealing in copyright licensing. The flag was designed in 1971 by indigenous artist and copyright holder Harold Thomas for a national Indigenous Day. In 1995 […]

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Trump’s TELERALLY Service Mark: Generic or Too Descriptive to Be Registered?

On July 14, 2020, DTTM Operations LLC (“DTTM”), the entity that holds trademarks for President Donald Trump’s for-profit businesses, filed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“PTO”) seeking the exclusive right to use the term TELERALLY as a service mark for “organizing events in the fields of politics and political campaigning.” […]

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Student Privacy Law During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Carolyn Wimbly Martin and Nick Feldstern

How do schools draw the line between protecting student privacy and informing the community about the spread of COVID-19? When it comes to transparency, many believe schools are not doing enough to prevent spread in the classroom by informing students and parents when a classmate, teacher or other employee tests positive for COVID-19. In response, […]

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