Copyright & Media Update 9/22/17

September 22, 2017

What Happens When A Big-Name Author Is Sued For Copyright Infringement

BY CLAIRE FALLON: It’s the ninth inning of a championship baseball game. Our hero steps up to the plate ― one runner on, two out. Strike one. Strike two. This is his moment: Can he make his mark on the field? Here comes the pitch. This is the climactic moment of n+1 editor and writer Chad Harbach’s The Art of Fielding, a critically well-received 2011 novel that arrived on shelves after a splashy sale at auction for over $600,000 followed by a media blitz.  READ MORE…

To save Pepe the Frog from the alt-right, his creator has invoked copyright law’s darker side

BY AJA ROMANO: Matt Furie, the creator of Pepe the Frog, has made numerous attempts over the past two years to reclaim the good-natured cartoon amphibian from the alt-right meme makers who adopted him and turned him into a hate symbol. But his latest attempt marks a surprising departure from his previous, more remix-friendly tactics to deal with the widespread memeing of Pepe. READ MORE…

What Does it Mean to Be a Plagiarist?

BY JONATHAN BAILEY: Jayson Blair is a plagiarist. Pierre DesRuisseaux is a plagiarist. Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is also a plagiarist. These are three very different stories about plagiarism. They are different not only in the plagiarism that was performed, but the role the plagiarism played in their careers and the impact being caught had However, in all three cases, and millions more like them, two things are consistent: The label of plagiarist and the eternity with which it is applied. READ MORE…

How To Get Your Copyrights Back From Your Label or Publisher

BY ARI HERSTAND: There’s a little known section in the US Copyright Act of 1976 enabling any copyright owner to get their rights back after 35 years. Meaning, if you wrote or released a song with a label or a publishing company after January 1st 1978, you can terminate your agreement and get all your rights back. It doesn’t matter if you have unrecouped royalties or not. You can cut ties, free and clear, and get everything back. Boom! READ MORE…

Carrie Underwood hit with song theft lawsuit by Canadian songwriters

BY NATE RAU: Carrie Underwood and her co-writers behind the hit song “Something in the Water” were sued in federal court last week for song theft. Two obscure Canadian songwriters claim their song with the same name was pitched in 2014 to Underwood’s producer Mark Bright for her to consider recording. READ MORE…

 

About Christian Copyright Solutions: CCS’s quest is to help churches and Christian ministries “do music right.” CCS is an expert on church music copyrights and our primary focus is providing licensing and clear educational resources to churches, as well as representation, administration, and advocacy for copyright owners. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice or a substitute for legal counsel.

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