News & Analysis as of

Summary Judgment Copyright Infringement Music Industry

Loeb & Loeb LLP

Sound and Color, LLC v. Samuel Smith

Loeb & Loeb LLP on

Ninth Circuit reverses summary judgment in favor of pop singer Sam Smith in music copyright dispute, holding in unpublished opinion that hook in plaintiff’s song may be protectable as unique selection and arrangement of...more

Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP

Ninth Circuit Revives Copyright Suit Over Sam Smith’s “Dancing with a Stranger” and Reaffirms the Jury’s Role

On April 29, 2025, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals revived the copyright infringement case filed by Sound and Color, LLC against Sam Smith, Normani, and related parties (collectively, “Defendants”) concerning the hit song...more

Snell & Wilmer

Second Circuit Holds Musical Works Registered Under the Copyright Act of 1909 Are Limited to the Deposit Copy

Snell & Wilmer on

The Second Circuit recently decided Structured Asset Sales, LLC v. Edward Christopher Sheeran, considering whether Sheeran’s hit song “Thinking Out Loud” infringed the copyright of Marvin Gaye’s 1973 classic “Let’s Get It...more

McDermott Will & Schulte

Rock On: Clichéd Song Themes Don’t Infringe Copyright

The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a district court’s summary judgment grant to an alleged song copier, finding neither evidence of factual copying nor striking similarity between the two songs. Kirk...more

Proskauer - Minding Your Business

From Ireland to Iceland to Groban? Supreme Court Leaves in Place Circuit Split Regarding Approach for Assessing Substantial...

The United States Supreme Court recently denied certiorari in Johannsongs-Publishing, Ltd. v. Peermusic Ltd., et al, bringing an end to a copyright infringement suit relating to Josh Groban’s 2003 song You Raise Me Up....more

McDermott Will & Schulte

Two Turntables, No Microphone: Using Technical Diagram Is Not Copyright Infringement

McDermott Will & Schulte on

The US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed a district court’s summary judgment grant with respect to a copyright infringement claim related to technical drawings, and reversed the court’s summary judgment grant...more

McDermott Will & Schulte

“Can’t Hold Us” Liable: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Win Affirmance in Copyright Suit

The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a grant of summary judgment on the issue of copyright infringement and an award of attorneys’ fees against the plaintiff under the Copyright Act. Although the Court noted...more

Robins Kaplan LLP

“Pound Cake” Sampling Is Fair Use According to the Second Circuit

Robins Kaplan LLP on

Drake prevails again – this time at the Second Circuit. On February 3, 2020, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld the district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Drake, finding that his use of a...more

Proskauer Rose LLP

Three Point Shot - June 2019

Proskauer Rose LLP on

Welcome to Three Point Shot, a newsletter brought to you by the Sports Law Group at Proskauer. Three Point Shot brings you the latest in sports law-related news and provides you with links to related materials. We hope you...more

Robins Kaplan LLP

I Feel Glorious – Macklemore Overcomes Copyright Suit

Robins Kaplan LLP on

“I feel glorious, glorious,” Macklemore is saying. On Tuesday, April 23, a Louisiana federal judge in the Fifth Circuit dismissed a 2017 lawsuit claiming that Macklemore and Ryan Lewis unlawfully sampled Paul Batiste’s sound...more

McDermott Will & Schulte

Second Circuit: No First Sale Doctrine for Reproduced Digital Files

Holding that reproduction of a digital file for purposes of resale does not fall under the “first sale” doctrine of the Copyright Act, the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the district court’s grant of...more

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Usher’s Still in the Clear in Copyright Suit

Dorsey & Whitney LLP on

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals recently affirmed the dismissal on summary judgment of copyright infringement claims brought by Daniel Marino (not that Dan Marino) against Usher and nineteen other defendants in Marino v....more

Akerman LLP - Marks, Works & Secrets

Second Circuit Revives Copyright Claims Against Sony and Ghostface Killah

In Urbont v. Sony Music Entertainment Inc., 15-1778, the Second Circuit recently revived claims against Sony and Ghostface Killah, holding that although third parties may raise a work for hire defense, here there were factual...more

Snell & Wilmer

Ninth Circuit: Copyright Holders Must Consider Fair Use Before Sending DMCA Takedown Notices

Snell & Wilmer on

The Ninth Circuit held last week in Lenz v. Universal Music Corp. (the “dancing baby” case) that a copyright holder must consider fair use before sending a takedown notice under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)....more

Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP

Ninth Circuit Says Think Twice Before Sending That Takedown Notice Under DMCA: Be Sure You Have a Good Faith Belief It’s Not Fair...

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) requires copyright holders to consider fair use before sending a takedown notification, according to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Lenz v. Universal Music...more

Akerman LLP - Marks, Works & Secrets

Ninth Circuit Says “Let’s Go Crazy” On Fair Use of Prince Song In YouTube Video

n Lenz v. Universal Music Corp. et al, the Ninth Circuit held that the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (the “DMCA”) requires copyright holders to consider fair use before sending a takedown notice and that the failure to do...more

16 Results
 / 
View per page
Page: of 1

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
*By using the service, you signify your acceptance of JD Supra's Privacy Policy.
- hide
- hide