Category Archives: Trademark Law

Did Yellowstone Steal Sovereign Nation? Breaking Down the Taylor Sheridan Copyright Fight



Did Yellowstone copy another television series, or are the similarities simply part of the modern Western genre? In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin Partners Scott Hervey and Richard D. Buckley, Jr. break down Lauren Salkin’s copyright lawsuit against Taylor Sheridan and others over alleged similarities between Sovereign Nation and Yellowstone.

In this episode, they cover:

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The Briefing: Lady Gaga “Mayhem” Trademark Win: Did the Court Get It Right?



The trademark fight over Lady Gaga’s Mayhem era is over. In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Tara J. Sattler break down the dismissal of Lost International’s lawsuit over the use of “Mayhem” on Gaga’s album, tour, and merchandise.
They cover:

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The Briefing: When a Manager Becomes an Agent The Talent Agency Act Trap



In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Tara Sattler discuss the legal rules governing talent representation and explain why the distinction between a manager and an unlicensed talent agent can have significant consequences for artists and their representatives.

They cover:

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Peju Province Winery v Cesari: When a TTAB Loss Doesn’t Follow You to Court



In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Tara J. Sattler break down Cesari S.R.L. v. Peju Province Winery L.P., a long-running dispute involving the LIANO and LIANA wine marks.

The Second Circuit vacated a judgment against Peju after finding that the earlier Trademark Trial and Appeal Board decision did not consider how the companies actually used their marks in the marketplace.

In this episode, they cover:

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Cox v Sony: Did the Supreme Court Just Give AI Companies a Copyright Shield?



In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Tara J. Sattler break down the Supreme Court’s decision in Cox Communications v. Sony Music Entertainment, which reversed a $1 billion judgment against the internet service provider.

They discuss:

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New SAG AFTRA Contract New AI Rules and Other Changes for Actors and Producers



In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin Partners Scott Hervey and Matt Sugarman discuss SAG-AFTRA’s new 2026 TV/Theatrical Agreement and the updated AI provisions shaping the future of entertainment production.

In this episode, they cover:

 

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UMG v. Quince: When Trending Audio Becomes Copyright Infringement



In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Jessica Marlow break down UMG Records v. Last Brand, the lawsuit targeting Quince’s alleged use of unlicensed music across social media marketing.

In this episode, they cover:

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Documentary Fair Use After Warhol: The Tenth Circuit Gets It Right



Did the courts just preserve documentary filmmaking as we know it? In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin Partner Scott Hervey and Associate Caroline M. Korpiel revisit the Tiger King fair use dispute and break down the Tenth Circuit’s new opinion in Whyte Monkee Productions v. Netflix.

In this episode, they cover:

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Lemon Pound Cake and the First Amendment



What happens when a failed police raid turns into a music video about lemon poundcake and a $3.9 million lawsuit?

In this episode of The Briefing, Scott Hervey and Richard Buckley, Jr. break down the Afroman defamation case, where surveillance footage, satire, and public officials collide under First Amendment law.

In this episode, they cover:

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Vampires, Love Triangles, but No Infringement



What happens when two fantasy stories share the same DNA? In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Matt Sugarman break down a major copyright decision involving the Crave series and what it means for substantial similarity in fiction.

In this episode, they cover:

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