Tag Archives: Entertainment Attorney

New York Times v. Perplexity AI: Copyright, Hallucinations, and Trademark Risk



In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Matt Sugarman break down The New York Times v. Perplexity AI, a lawsuit that goes beyond copyright and into largely untested trademark territory. They discuss the Times’ allegations that Perplexity copied its journalism at both the input and output stages and, more significantly, that the AI attributed fabricated or inaccurate content to the Times using its trademarks. The case raises new questions about false designation of origin, trademark dilution, and how AI hallucinations could expose platforms to liability. Continue reading New York Times v. Perplexity AI: Copyright, Hallucinations, and Trademark Risk


A Very Patented Christmas: The Quirkiest Inventions for the Holiday Season (Featured)



Get into the holiday spirit with a look at some of the most unique Christmas patents ever filed. From Santa detectors to upside-down Christmas trees, Scott Hervey and Jamie Lincenberg explore festive inventions that add a little extra cheer to the season on this episode of The Briefing.

Continue reading A Very Patented Christmas: The Quirkiest Inventions for the Holiday Season (Featured)


Nudity Riders, Consent, and the Terrifier Lawsuit: What Producers Must Know



The Terrifier franchise is one of the most unlikely independent horror success stories of the last 25 years. But a new lawsuit challenges how the first film was made and raises serious questions about performer consent and on-set protections. In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Matt Sugarman break down actress Catherine Corcoran’s lawsuit against the film’s producers and what it reveals about SAG-AFTRA requirements for nudity and simulated sex scenes.
Continue reading Nudity Riders, Consent, and the Terrifier Lawsuit: What Producers Must Know


The Man In Black v. Coca Cola: The New Soundalike Showdown



Did Coca-Cola cross the line by using a Johnny Cash soundalike in its nationwide “Fan Work is Thirsty Work” campaign? In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin attorneys Scott Hervey and Richard Buckley unpack the Cash estate’s lawsuit and what it reveals about the evolving law of soundalikes.

Continue reading The Man In Black v. Coca Cola: The New Soundalike Showdown


What Is Fair Use and Why Does It Matter? (Featured)



Creators, beware: just because it’s online doesn’t mean it’s fair game. In this episode of The Briefing, Scott Hervey and Richard Buckley break down one of the most misunderstood areas of copyright law—fair use.

Continue reading What Is Fair Use and Why Does It Matter? (Featured)


Anthropic Settles AI Training Case for $1.5 Billion +



The Anthropic settlement shows just how costly copyright missteps can be in AI development. Anthropic has agreed to a $1.5B settlement after a court found that keeping a permanent library of pirated books was not fair use—even though training its AI model on those same works was.
 
On this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub attorneys Scott Hervey and Matt Sugarman discuss the ruling, the settlement, and what it means for future copyright claims against AI companies.

Continue reading Anthropic Settles AI Training Case for $1.5 Billion +


The Doctrine of Foreign Equivalents: What It Means for Your Brand



You came up with a clever brand name in a foreign language—great! But did you know it might be refused by the USPTO? In this episode of The Briefing, Scott Hervey and Richard Buckley break down what a doctrine is, how trademark examiners apply it, and other important considerations for choosing foreign-language marks.

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Continue reading The Doctrine of Foreign Equivalents: What It Means for Your Brand


Publicity Rights and the Law – Using Real People in Your Work



Can you use a celebrity’s voice or image in your work? What about AI-generated versions? On this episode of The Briefing, Scott Hervey and Richard Buckley explore the right of publicity—how it protects names, likenesses, voices, and what happens when you cross the line.

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Continue reading Publicity Rights and the Law – Using Real People in Your Work


Who Owns What – Understanding Copyright in Collaborative Projects



Who owns the rights when you co-create something? It’s not always as simple as you think. On this episode of The Briefing, Scott Hervey and Richard Buckley dig into:
✔️ Joint authorship
✔️ Work-for-hire rules
✔️ Why every collaboration needs paperwork
 
Avoid disputes before they derail your project. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Continue reading Who Owns What – Understanding Copyright in Collaborative Projects


What Is Fair Use and Why Does It Matter?



Creators, beware: just because it’s online doesn’t mean it’s fair game. In this episode of The Briefing, Scott Hervey and Richard Buckley break down one of the most misunderstood areas of copyright law—fair use. Continue reading What Is Fair Use and Why Does It Matter?