Greg Ceo Blog » The Law

No Stealing!

michelle — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 20:36:14 +0000

Saw this on The Week about bands suing politicians for using their songs without permission. Apparently libertarian Ron Paul has been blasting Rush songs at his rallies without first obtaining the rights. And he’s not the first. There’s a long string of recent incidents, including a whole bunch by repeat offender John McCain, who used unlicensed songs in TV commercials as well as at rallies. Really, is this such a difficult concept to get? No stealing!

Neat point for any law geeks out there – these suits raise two legal arguments. First, of course, copyright infringement, but also a Trademark claim of False Association or Endorsement, because it damages the band’s brand to be seen as endorsing someone they don’t.

-Michelle

Did Corbis register your copyright? If so, read this APA alert!

greg — Mon, 10 May 2010 23:57:26 +0000

APA just put out this press release – read below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2010

APA ALERT!
Do you have images with Corbis?
Did you sign the Corbis Copyright Assignment Affirmation Declaration?
If so, you may have invalid copyright registrations.

Last week, Judge Loretta A. Preska of the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, issued a summary judgment in the case Muench Photography Inc, v. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company and R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company (09-CV-2669).

Why I’m excited about the iPad

michelle — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:10:09 +0000

Rob

Assisting in LA for “Gas Money:” This is highly illegal!

greg — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:15:24 +0000

Just a few days ago I spoke with a photo assistant who’s identity he/she asked not be revealed. After getting her/his BFA in Photography she/he worked for a photographer in Savannah, GA for about 6 months before moving to LA. Once in LA she/he began working for a catering company and trying to find assisting jobs.

The assistant

Government Crackdown on Unpaid Internships

michelle — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 20:26:02 +0000

When I read the internship piece in PDN last month, wherein attorney Alan Koral explained that unpaid interns are pretty much illegal in for-profit businesses, I thought, “Well, that may be the law, but no one enforces it, so who cares?” Turns out, federal and state governments are starting to enforce it.

Why do Advertising Agencies Continue to use old contracts with Professional Photographers?

greg — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:42:53 +0000

Recent experience and a conversation I had in the last week with an Art Buyer who has left the advertising world, has revealed what I already thought to be true: The Legal Departments of Advertising Agencies refuse to re-work boiler plate contracts that are used on P.O.’s between the advertising agency and the photographer.

It’s not that Art Buyers don’t ask their legal departments, it seems that the legal departments are too busy with other things, and “Print” is the lowest on the totem pole, according to my source.

Tax Time

michelle — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:27:58 +0000

There is a great post up on Photoshelter’s blog

Oops, we may have registered copyright the wrong way.

michelle — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:28:31 +0000

I recently attended a lecture by intellectual property attorneys Matt Henderson and Shawn Kachmar, and picked up an interesting tidbit about registering groups of photos.

NYT: IRS and States to Crack Down on Employees Misclassified as Independent Contractors

greg — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 04:48:50 +0000

According to today’s New York Times:

Federal and state officials, many facing record budget deficits, are starting to aggressively pursue companies that try to pass off regular employees as independent contractors…

Vimeo, Canon Hold “Total Rights Grab” Canon HD Video Contest

greg — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:00:54 +0000

Shame on Canon, Vimeo, Vincent LaForet and all the judges for supporting a contest in which all owners of copyright of video submissions have to agree to transfer their copyright to Canon.