Insights

DOs and DON’Ts for Website Privacy Policies

It is easy to become lost in the quagmire of privacy obligations for your website. In the absence of a comprehensive federal privacy law in the United States, individual states are enacting their own privacy laws. For a while it was only California, but now many other states either have enacted laws or have pending […]

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Copyrightability of the Elements of Music Videos and the Challenges of Enforcement

Carolyn Wimbly Martin and Sara Etemad-Moghadam

On February 12, 2024, video game developer Epic Games, Inc. (“Epic”), and pop choreographer Kyle Hanagami (“Hanagami”) agreed to dismiss with prejudice a 2022 lawsuit accusing Epic of ripping off Hanagami’s dance moves for use in Epic’s popular video game “Fortnite.” The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California dismissed the lawsuit, finding […]

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A Case Study: George Carlin, Artificial Intelligence and the Right of Publicity

Carolyn Wimbly Martin, Sara Etemad-Moghadam and Ella Sands

In January 2024 Dudesy, an AI-assisted podcast, released a new hourlong special titled “George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead,” featuring a version of the late comedian George Carlin (“Carlin”) allegedly generated by artificial intelligence (“AI”). Dudesy is a comedy podcast written, created and controlled by AI, and is hosted by “Mad TV” alum Will Sasso […]

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NFTs: Are They Securities?

Susan J. Lutzker, Carolyn Wimbly Martin and Sara Etemad-Moghadam

This is the second in a two-part series on the current status of NFTs. The first Insight in the series discusses the evolving, less sensational but more functional approach to the use of NFTs. In part two of the series we explore whether an NFT is a security and, if so, the additional scrutiny and […]

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NFTs: Where Are We Now?

Susan J. Lutzker, Carolyn Wimbly Martin and Sara Etemad-Moghadam

This is the first in a two-part series on the current status of NFTs. The second Insight in the series will discuss the issue of whether NFTs are securities subject U.S. securities laws. In 2021 Art Basel Miami Beach attracted more than 250 international galleries across 36 countries and territories and showcased artworks across all […]

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Options for Removing Objectionable Content on Social Media Platforms

Carolyn Wimbly Martin and Sara Etemad-Moghadam

In today’s environment, most of us are likely to have a photograph or video on social media we would rather not have everyone seeing. Maybe it’s an unflattering photograph, an embarrassing video, a post of their minor children or an old photo with an ex-flame. When someone shares a photo or video of an individual […]

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Add ‘Knowing Your Rights Regarding Health and Education Records’ to Your College Prep Checklist

Carolyn Wimbly Martin and Sara Etemad-Moghadam

As your child embarks on their college journey, it is essential to have conversations that go beyond choosing matching towels and bed sheets for their dorm room. Most students and their parents are unaware of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”). This Act safeguards student education records and regulates the sharing of personal […]

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Deepfakes in Litigation

Carolyn Wimbly Martin and Sara Etemad-Moghadam

Deepfake technology uses artificial intelligence (“AI”), specifically “deep” learning, to create realistic videos, images and audio of fabricated events. Deepfakes have already found their way into social media, the entertainment industry, the political landscape and are now beginning to impact legal disputes. AI poses the risks that parties could intentionally fabricate evidence or unknowingly believe […]

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EU Court Decision Invalidating Privacy Shield Results in Massive Confusion for U.S. Businesses: Third Addendum

This post is an update. Read the original post here, the first addendum here and the second addendum here. To the relief of tech giants, on July 10, 2023, the U.S. and European Union (EU) finally agreed on a mechanism for international data transfer to replace the Privacy Shield, which had been invalidated in 2020 […]

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Compilations v. Individual Copyright Registrations of Photographs

Carolyn Wimbly Martin and Dana Sussman

This post is the sixth in a series on Copyright and Photography. Read the first post here, the second post here, the third post here, the fourth post here, and the fifth post here. The Copyright Office (“Office”) registration process for photographs is both cost effective and relatively uncomplicated, while offering a number of forms to address various objectives. […]

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