(800) 594-4480
Menu   

Archives: New Media Law

Copyright Issue: Can You Play Music in Your YouTube Videos?


YouTube star Michelle Phan, who posts videos about makeup, has been sued by the Ultra recording and publishing companies (we’ll just call them “Ultra”). The suit alleges copyright infringement based on the music soundtracks in Phan’s videos. As of this writing, Phan’s YouTube channel has 6,749,142 subscribers and 981,217,011 views, so, while her videos may not be everyone’s thing (I don’t happen to watch a whole lot of makeup tutorials myself), there are big dollars and a lot of viewer eyeballs at stake. So – can you play music in your YouTube videos?

Read More

Applebee’s No Tech Tuesday Trademark Application


Applebee’s, the restaurant chain, has filed an application with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to protect the phrase NO TECH TUESDAYS as a trademark. The application applies to the following services (beware – trademark law involves a lot of capital letters): RESTAURANT AND BAR SERVICES, INCLUDING RESTAURANT CARRYOUT SERVICES. But has Applebee’s damaged its chances at a trademark registration with statements made about the application to the press?

Read More

Kickstarter Game Lawsuit: Magic vs. Hex


Kickstarter has become a great way for game designers to get their products made. In terms of total dollars raised, games are Kickstarter’s most successful category (Kickstarter is nice enough to make some interesting stats available here.) Game designers can now appeal directly to fans and give them what they want. And often, what fans want is something kind of like what they already enjoy. That’s how intellectual property lawsuits are born, folks. In the latest example, Wizards of the Coast (publishers of Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons) have filed suit against Cryptozoic Entertainment and Hex Entertainment for…

Read More

Major League Baseball Goes After Fan Podcasts?


The baseball blog and podcast world was shaken up early in May with news that several baseball fan podcasts had been removed from iTunes for trademark reasons. Major League Baseball (MLB), which owns the trademarks associated with the various teams, was accused of having betrayed its diehard fans in the interest of locking down its intellectual property. What really happened, and is it OK to use the name or logo of a team in your blog or podcast?

Read More

Want to receive all the latest updates? Contact me today

Click Here

Receive updates from the Keep it Legal blog

I’m glad you enjoy the blog, and I’d love to keep you updated with all the latest legal tips and business law strategy news.

Enter your name and email below, and we’ll be in touch!