What Can Impact Intellectual Property Trends in 2020?

What Can Impact Intellectual Property Trends in 2020?

Till now, when it’s around 20 days from the start of the year 2020, you hopefully be aware of statistics from 2019, no matter whether in association to Intellectual Property (IP), brand protection, or anti-counterfeiting. Nevertheless, besides gaining information about the past year, it is vital to consider some of the key IP and brand protection trends for 2020, and the new decade beyond.

In 2020, we undoubtedly expect to hear more about the US-China trade talks, and the European (EU) Copyright Directive. However, this is not all. We can come across many other trends and stories that would be significant for brands and how they secure themselves from IP infringement in this year.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

2020 is expected to be the phase when many companies move from experimenting with new tools and technologies to their broader implementation. The scope of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) looks to increase and affect the interactions brands used to have with consumers and counterfeiters.

It appears as if the sophistication of conversational AI interactions will enhance, resulting in improved communication between businesses and consumers. It further may improve buying patterns. On the other hand, ML will become more advanced in regards to image recognition, data clustering, and web scraping. It means that data monitoring and IP enforcement will benefit comparatively more from automation, allowing machines to fight the scams in addition to human expertise.

Blockchain

Blockchain and its operative use in anti-counterfeiting can be the other key area of growth in 2020. As technology is becoming cheaper day by day, the world would see it into the hands of many more businesses. Widespread adoption and embedding of blockchain-based smart contracts system will make the technology to execute a license for the use of original creator’s IP, scale automatic payment, and ensure that he/ she gets the correct compensation for his/ her unique work. Apart from assisting the users in making profits by earning more money and saving financial resources on getting agents to manage IP, blockchain technology would work even to prohibit content piracy, one of the common challenges creators often encounter. Indeed, 2020 and other upcoming years are expected to provide blockchain technology with advancements that would help you monetize your IP in several new ways.

Social Media Expansion: WeChat, TikTok, Etc.

For a long time, online platforms have dominated the talks about the availability and impacts of counterfeit and copied goods. As these platforms have been one of the easiest ways for consumers to shop, they have created spaces where fake sellers of infringed products or services could anonymize their identities. Previously, online platforms like social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter, etc., were a secondary option for counterfeiters and sellers of violated products. Nonetheless, with the introduction of additional social commerce-oriented extensions, they gained importance. Social media channels are remarkably difficult for Intellectual Property Law enforcement to target as communications on these channels are private. Moreover, there is no ID transparency rule, and accounts can be made using false information. All these facts make it important for the brands to enlist the support of an experienced IP Attorney. They can also partner with a specialized Intellectual Property Law Firm that can provide online monitoring and IP enforcement. This is what we expect to see more in 2020.

Another thing to watch in 2020 will be the increase in both the size and scope of spaces like WeChat, TikTok and more. As counterfeits and IP abuse, especially Copyright Infringement, is common on online sites and channels, brands need to be cautious about ‘how can they deal with such issues.’ Intellectual Property Law Firm in Maldives or any country appears to be the best helping hand to battle against the problems caused by counterfeiting and IP abuse in this advanced but malicious decade. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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Tech Industry Urges SCOTUS To Reverse Verdict in Google v. Oracle Copyright Battle

Tech Industry Urges SCOTUS To Reverse Verdict in Google v. Oracle Copyright Battle

A group of technology organizations and companies have recently come forth with support for Google in its Copyright Infringement battle against Oracle. The group, including Mozilla, Medium, Reddit, Cloudera, along with others, filed a joint “friend of the court” brief in which they urged the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to reverse a Federal Circuit Court’s verdict that Google infringed on Oracle’s copyright to Java API code in its Android Operating system.

The Google v. Oracle fight dates back over a decade, with a core concern being whether Copyright Laws bar the common practice of software reimplementation, the process of developing new software to carry out certain functions of a legacy product. However, with the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit decision stating that the functional elements of application programming interfaces (APIs) are subject to copyright, Oracle won the most recent iteration of the fight.

The brief stated that ‘innovation and competition’ is the engine of the healthy internet, and software development is the field that fuels it. For the past many years, the software engineers have been relied on reimplementation, emphasizing reuse of functional protocols like the software interfaces to create competitive alternatives to incumbent industry players and develop new software without fear of copyright infringement.

The companies argued that the federal court’s decision against Google stifled decades of industry practice and upended the established expectations of developers, investors, and consumers. They urged the SCOTUS to reverse the lower court’s finding and allow Java APIs to be free from copyright or at least be accessible for fair use.

Abigail Phillips, head of the Mozilla Foundation’s legal department, said that the brief made its argument from the perspective of not just small and medium companies but even open-source tech organizations. She wrote that the consequences of the Court’s ruling in favor of Oracle are especially dire for small software developers who are already suffering due to their size and relatively limited resources. Hence, the overall result will be worst, i.e., the future would see fewer innovations from small and medium companies, along with the reinforcement of the positions of large enterprises in the tech industry. The future, as a result of this decision, would also experience a decline in incentive among big companies to improve their products and services.

At last, the brief stated – the tech industry believes that a healthy internet relies on the Supreme Court (SC) reversing the Federal Circuit Court’s decision and reaffirming the current status of play for software development, where copyright doesn’t stand in the path of software developers reusing SSOs (structure, sequence, and organization) for API packages in socially, technologically, and economically beneficial ways.

Besides this recently filed brief, an application requesting SCOTUS to reconsider the earlier judgment of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit had been filed by Google as well. However, the final showdown amid Google and Oracle is set to take place in March. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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What to do to Avoid Being Targeted by Copyright Trolls?

What to do to Avoid Being Targeted by Copyright Trolls?

The industries, especially apparel in the present era is being hit by an unpleasantly hot trend that leaves several retailers, apparel manufacturers, etc., in a situation where they find themselves trapped in Copyright Infringement cases made by copyright trolls. These are the entities that go after the companies or entrepreneurs by opportunistically enforcing their copyrights to make money in litigation. They employ the strategies that make it difficult for people to defend against infringement claims. In general, their strategies include the following steps:

  • First of all, they amass vast libraries or stockpiles of copyrights on an array of fabric prints, even which they may not be producing or licensing for paid distribution.
  • After that, they send out shoppers to find merchandise made of fabric that’s identical or similar to their copyrighted fabrics.

Indeed, even the basic fabric prints, including floral, paisley, geometric, and more, can be subject to infringement lawsuits. Once the copyright trolls find something, they retain Intellectual Property Law Firms to send numerous cease and desist letters and to file lawsuits. Since the litigation is risky and expensive, most companies prefer settling them outside the court rather than fighting in front of the judiciary.

For a company, which is continuously adding to its fabrics already including many, legally clearing every suit is not practical and can eat up a lot of its money and time. Hence, apparel-related businesses need to find how to avoid copyright infringement claims by copyright trolls. Besides, they also need to look for what to do to mitigate the damage if a claim is made.

Although the perfect protection is to sell only solid fabrics produced by designing your patterns, which certainly is not realistic, you can still take a few other measures to protect yourself. Some of the steps you can follow to stay safe against copyright trolls are as follows:

  • Begin by asking your textile supplier if his/her company possesses an appropriate Copyright Registration for the pattern/ design being considered to be used in your products. You can ask for evidence of the ‘original work’ authorship. In case the supplier has purchased the pattern or design to be sold to you from any third-party, you must demand a statement stating that the original copyright is being transferred to you.
  • Obtain a clear indemnification clause and shifts the burden and damages to the supplier in the event of copyright infringement lawsuits. It is a contract under which one party (supplier) commits to compensate the other for any harm arises out of the contract. The promise, by the suppliers to cover your losses if they do something that makes any third-party to sue you, should be in writing.
  • Since the policies related to copyright infringement insurance are expensive, people often ignore purchasing their own insurance. You may also be thinking to do so, but note that it is a very small cost to protect yourself and your customers from issues, like infringements, confusions, and monetary losses due to them.
  • Prefer using ‘public domain designs.’ These are the designs available without issues of copyright ownership. There are various facilities that maintain libraries consisting of thousands or more prints, which exist in nature or are already in the public domain. You can pick and use any design from these reference materials. Although you cannot copyright that design, still it will keep you out of the courtroom.
  • Last but not least, if you are not satisfied with the supplier’s response to your inquiries, then it will be in your best interest to avoid buying the pattern or design from him/ her.

Conclusion

Whether manufacturers or retailers, legitimate companies are in the business of creating products their customers will enjoy and appreciate. On the other hand, copyright trolls are in the business of targeting these legitimate companies, and thus, finding opportunities to file copyright infringement claims and seek monetary settlements. As these types of attacks are difficult to defend against, apparel companies need to be prepared for the circumstances when copyright trolls inevitably rear their ugly heads. Hopefully, the information provided in this blog will prove helpful in preventing you from being targeted by copyright trolls. However, if you still have doubts regarding anything or face any issue, you are advised to have a discussion with an experienced IP attorney. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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Kanye West Seeks to Fight Against Ultralight Beam Copyright Lawsuit

Kanye West Seeks to Fight Against Ultralight Beam Copyright Lawsuit

Rapper Kanye West and Universal Music are seeking to battle against the copyright lawsuit filed earlier this year over the use of a clip at the start of his 2016 track ‘Ultralight Beam’.

According to an Instagram video, this song that was recorded for West’s album titled ‘The Life of Pablo’ includes the voice of a young girl in prayer. The video was uploaded by the girl’s mother in early 2016.

Sounds a bit interesting, West claimed that he received verbal approval to use the clip in his song from the child’s mother – Alice T Johnson. Nevertheless, in the Copyright Infringement lawsuit filed back in February, the girl’s adoptive parents – Andrew and Shirley Green, who adopted the girl in 2012 – argued that the agreement in connection with the use of the clip having girl’s voice had to be with them. It is because, at the time when the clip was recorded, Johnson was no longer legally the girl’s mother, and thus, didn’t possesses the authority to allow the girl’s voice to be used in the song.

The Greens further contended that even if Johnson provided approval, the lawsuit should continue as conversations amid her and West were only verbal. Meanwhile, Kanye neither finalized any written agreement with either Johnson or the Greens, nor he ever paid a fee for using the clip in his song.

To prevent the rapper from statutory or other relevant damages, his legal representatives have attempted to limit the copyright infringement lawsuit in several ways. Their response filed with the court deals with numerous elements of the case. For instance, firstly, West’s lawyers said that the Greens had not registered the original recording of the clip with the U.S. Copyright Office at the time when Ultralight Beam was recorded. Hence, they are not entitled to either attorney fees or statutory damages. Indeed, if the representatives succeed in arguing this, then there are possibilities that the damages owed to the Greens could reduce greatly.

Elsewhere West legal team seeks to remove an additional plaintiff, Andreia Green, from the lawsuit entirely. She is a relative of the child, and her adult voice, in addition to the girl, is also heard in the recording sampled by West. However, team West insisted that because Andreia Green is not listed as a co-owner of the recording in the Copyright Registration with the US Copyright Office, she has no standing in this case.

This is how West and his legal team responded so far in regard to the Ultralight Beam lawsuit. Nevertheless, for the final settlement, it now remains to be seen how the court and the Greens respond to West’s motion. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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Why Cost Barriers to Copyright Access And Use Need to Go?

Why Cost Barriers to Copyright Access And Use Need to Go?

Copyright, nowadays, appears as the foundation for much of what goes into the knowledge economy. It is not just a way to protect unique creative works from being infringed but also a source of income for a wide range of creative workers. Some writers, composers, etc., get copyright income directly. Nonetheless, others earn by joining a creative network, including publishers, record labels, distribution companies, and others. Being a part of such an ecosystem, they make money by licensing rights under Copyright Law.

But, the fact is that if legal rights can’t be enforced, they don’t help the owner much. In documents, it appears as if the owners of a copyrighted work possess a solid set of rights. However, the reality is a bit different. The copyright, indeed, cost too much to enforce. It is common, and thus, the governments and Intellectual Property Law (IP Law) administrators should recognize that the law needs updating.

They should consider that although copyright assets don’t lead to as many problems as other products do, reinforcing this area, i.e., the knowledge economy is somewhere tied to economic success.

Because of mounting up things like legal advice costs, court fees, IP Attorneys‘ hourly charges, copyright litigation can be very expensive. And then the more threatening concern is the risks of having to pay to other parties if you lose. Take an example of a writer who finds that a large amount of his work has been violated. A report made in 2019 stated that the writers, on average, earn 31 percent of their annual income through writing. For most, if not all writers, enforcing their copyrights in cases where their work has been infringed upon will be prohibitive. The same also applies to small businesses and many others.

Sometimes, the only option writers and small businesses have is to put up with Copyright Infringement, in addition to the possible loss of income.

Another case to consider is that people often want to use material sheltered under Copyright Registration Protection but are not familiar with the way to go about clearing rights. The Copyright Act undoubtedly has many defenses and exceptions regarding this matter, but they may be arduous to comprehend. Many times, it is unclear whether the proposed use of copyright-protected material is lawful or not. Indeed, this is a common issue for cultural institutions such as galleries and museums.

Copyright owners often grant permission or give license but, if they don’t, then there can be a legal deadlock. One option that may be helpful in such cases is to knock the Court’s doors. But again, costs act as a barrier and prevent the public from getting the benefits of creative work or activity. IP Lawyers in Maldives and almost every nation call this an “access to justice” issue.

This concern, which is not just a copyright issue, impacts the IP industry in several countries of the world.

Although including some glitches, copyrights are still leading to the emergence of innovative solutions worldwide. Hence, to make the world enjoy continuous and better new creations, it is vital to turn all this good work into a meaningful and useful asset. For this, the government and authorities taking care of Copyright Law in Maldives and outside need to ensure that the rights can be utilized by the creative workers, cultural institutions, small businesses, and all for whom these matters. They should also make sure that the costs do not create barriers in the process of accessing copyright justice.

Almost everyone agrees that copyright law needs to be turned fit for purpose in the modern digital economy. Therefore, many IP experts have already started working on this subject matter and finding ways to improve the Copyright Acts of different nations. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act): Everything You Need to Know

DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act): Everything You Need to Know

Since the internet began, people have uploaded and published over a trillion gigabytes of digital content that includes music, games, movies, and much more. The rapid advancements in the digital age and the internet have undoubtedly served content creators and publishers with lots of opportunities to make profits and revenue but along with challenges such as violation of their data online. Indeed, Copyright Infringement is one of the biggest challenges that the digital world faces in the present era. To stop the continuous increase in widespread unlawful access to copyrighted materials observed in the 1990s, the US government put a step and came up with a law called the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Abbreviated as DMCA, this law is a result of the teamwork of legislators, media firms, and consumer lawyers, and enacted by the US Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton in 1998. The law was made on request of many organizations requested for a legal process by which holder of Copyright Website, content, or image could assert their rights to prevent the illegal use of their media. Apart from providing the copyright holders with these facilities, DMCA aims to maintain a balance between the interests of original owners and those who want to purchase the copyrighted materials. It also takes care of penalties to be put on offenders who intentionally violate any Intellectual Property (IP).

DMCA Takedown Notice

Resting as the main component of DMCA law, DMCA takedown notice is an official notification to inform the firm, search engine, web host, or internet service provider (ISP) that they are using copyrighted material. As, in the legal sense, such use is unlawful and leads to copyright infringement, the site or company who receives this notice should immediately take down the specific material. In case they avoid doing so, the ISP could forcefully remove the copyrighted content. You can send the DMCA notice or request for the following types of copyright content:

  • Videos,
  • Digital software,
  • Artwork, images, photos,
  • Posts on your official websites,
  • Songs, music, and almost every kind of audio files,
  • Written texts, including books, poetry, articles, blogs, etc.

Registration of Work Isn’t Necessary

When it comes to write or send a DMCA notice, it is not mandatory to register your work. Any unique content becomes its owner’s IP as soon as he/she creates it. And, as the original owner holds the copyright to it from the moment of its creation, he/she can send a DMCA notice in regards to it without bothering about Copyright Registration. DMCA takedown request is one of the politest ways to prevent infringement of any unregistered material, but don’t forget that if you want to go for a copyright infringement lawsuit, then it is essential to register your content with the copyright office.

Procedure to Create DMCA Notice

As per the law, there is no official DMCA takedown notice form or template that copyright owners are needed to use. However, to make the requests valid, each plaintiff (sender of the notice) must consider including certain specifications. Besides providing info that showcases the copyright infringement, the notice should include:

  • All the details related to the content that’s being infringed
  • A statement that the sender has a good faith that the party on the receiving end has infringed his/her content
  • A statement that under penalty of perjury, every detail provided in the takedown notice is precise
  • Sender’s contact information
  • Sender’s physical or electronic signature

Don’t Worry If You Receive a DMCA Takedown Notice

Considering the legal standing, receiving a DMCA takedown notice undoubtedly sounds a bit scary, but being worried or scared is not at all a solution. What you should do in such cases is first of all calm down and be honest to yourself. After that, think whether or not you infringed the copyrighted material intentionally. Usually, there are high possibilities that you didn’t steal or post the content intentionally. Nevertheless, if you find yourself guilty of infringing the material, then rectifying your mistake will be the best solution. Be quick to locate and take down the violated content as soon as you could. In some cases where you host multiple websites with various people posting and sharing content, there are probabilities that you receive the notice as the next logical person to contact while the infringement was committed by any of those people. Other likelihoods could be that you are using the copyrighted content cautiously within the boundaries of Fair Use. If that’s so, then contact the sender of the notice and share the details of how you used his/her content. It will help you in sorting the issue with ease.

Conclusion

Nowadays, when powerful tools like DMCA are here to help you fight back the infringers, there is no need to stand like helpless in situations when they steal or use your copyrighted content. When these tools have been designed to serve you, then why not utilize them and extract the benefits that you deserve. From today onwards, be active and understand the rights you hold over your copyrighted content and ways to utilize them in the best possible manner. In the case of any query, feel free to contact an experienced IP Attorney. You can also contact an Intellectual Property Law Firm with good experience in rendering services related to the IP industry. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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How Can Blockchain Help in Monetizing Intellectual Property?

How Can Blockchain Help in Monetizing Intellectual Property?

With the advent of the internet that made it possible for online data to flow freely from one part of the globe to another, content creators nowadays can have global audiences. Although the free flow of content has opened countless opportunities for content creators, it many times results in piracy and Copyright Infringement issues. That’s why content creators in the present digital era have a hard time monetizing their content even when they strive to prove ownership of the same. Nevertheless, continuous technological advancements have come up with technology like blockchain that can help creators to monetize their unique content, i.e., Intellectual Property (IP).

From novel music to artistic works and unique inventions, IP encompasses a wide range of things. The appropriate use and sale of these assets can let you make millions of dollars. On the other hand, it is quite easy to have these assets stolen and monetized without your consent or knowledge in the current age. Hence, there is a need for something that can assist you to extract benefits out of your IP without letting someone infringe on it. Blockchain is one of the safest sources to enjoy the profits of using your IP deprived of facing copyright infringement. So now, the question arises ‘how blockchain can help in monetizing IP?’

In What Ways can Blockchain Assist to Monetize IP?

In general, there are several ways in which the blockchain technology can enable you to monetize your IP. Nonetheless, the first and most efficient one is the use of smart contracts. Embedding smart contract to your IP will make blockchain technology to execute a license for its use. For instance, if you are a photographer, then blockchain will trigger the automatic payment in regards to the set terms every time people access your photos. The technology will also aid you in proper scaling of the compensations. If a large corporation, for example, uses your photos, the smart contract will scale the payment and make sure that you receive the correct compensation for your work.

Besides, blockchain facilitates you to bypass the middlemen, thus raising the revenue you generate from your content. Middlemen, like popular streaming platforms, perform a task of dictating the amount of money content creators generate from their work. The past years uncover a lot of cases where the middlemen held responsible for providing the content creators with revenue much lesser than they expected. With blockchain technology that provides the creators with a full charge of their content, they can easily get to decide what their art worth. It further allows universal cross-platform monetization of your data. In recent times when various platforms compete for domination and market share at the expense of content creators, this technology would let you earn more and more money, regardless of the platform through which viewers consume your content.

Apart from aiding you in making profits like earn more money and save financial resources on getting agents to manage your IP, blockchain technology also works to prohibit content piracy, one of the biggest challenges creators often encounter. The pirates could use the stolen, i.e., copied content as content distributors, and thus, get payments for its distribution. In this way, they can turn the profits or revenue that should reach you towards them. Undoubtedly, blockchain empowers you to keep your gains only to you by prohibiting infringers from violating your IP.

Final Thoughts

Although blockchain technology is the best way to monetize your IP, it demands efforts on your part to ensure the excellent possible outcomes. As the ability of this technology to monetize IP depends on the blockchain networks and elements you decide to use, it is crucial to be cautious while opting for the same. There are many sources available in the form of enterprises, departments, etc., that deal in rendering blockchain services to help you monetize your content without any hassle. So, why to take risks? With real-time transactions and low financial investment support of blockchain technology, enjoy monetizing your content effortlessly while keeping it safe against infringers. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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HC Agrees to Hear Copyright Infringement Suit against Bigil

HC Agrees to Hear Copyright Infringement Suit against Bigil

The Madras High Court (HC) has agreed to hear on 24th October 2019 a plea by a scriptwriter Amjath Meeran asking to restrain the release of the movie – Bigil on 25th October 2019 alleging that the movie’s writer-director Atlee infringed his copyright.

Advocate M.S. Murali, who requested Justice N. Sathish Kumar to take up this Copyright Infringement lawsuit for urgent hearing, asked lawyer P.V. Balasubramanian representing the production group/company AGS Entertainment Private Limited and executive producer Archana Kalpathi to be ready for arguments. Mr. Murali told the justice that he would convince the court to grant an interim injunction restricting the release of the movie on the set date. He added that even otherwise, the movie could be released after depositing Rs 10 lakh in the court as the compensation money asked by Mr. Meeran.

In the plaint, the plaintiff claimed himself to be a director, producer, and writer who owned a production company with a name Meeran Theatres. The complaint showed that he was also an associate member of TFPC (Tamil Film Producers Council). He also claimed to have written a script titled ‘Brasil’ in the year 2014 and then get it registered with the Writers Guild of America in 2015.

He said that though the guild was yet to issue a registration certificate, he had sent an email for despatching the certificate at the earliest. He stated that the script, which had been projected in the trailer of the movie Bigil, is the same as his script. Besides, it also spins around the theme of the football game being encouraged by the protagonist of the movie.

In the end, he urged the judge to appoint a team of scriptwriters and professionals from the film industry to compare the two scripts and provide a report to the court so that the director and his production team could be ordered to pay an initial compensation of Rs. 10 lakh.

Although the court’s final decision about the release of the movie is yet to come, it seems that actor Vijay starrer Bigil, along with, his team has run into trouble. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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Lizzo Accused of Copyright Infringement over CeCe Peniston’s Iconic Hit

Lizzo Accused of Copyright Infringement over CeCe Peniston’s Iconic Hit

After being accused of copyright-infringing CeCe Peniston’s iconic hit 90’s single – ‘Finally’ for her hit Juice, Lizzo may have a lawsuit on her hands.

Lizzo (real name Melissa Vivanne Jefferson), the 31-year-old singer, released her Juice in January 2019. Although the specific Juice didn’t set the charts on fire, it received endless airplay on radio, TV, and almost everywhere. But now, the song has been a subject of accusations of Copyright Infringement.

CeCe, the 50-year-old singer who released ‘Finally’ back in 1992, claims that features of Juice are similar to her song. She also shared a side-by-side comparison of a part of her song where she sings ‘Finally,’ alongside a particular part of Juice where Lizzo sings ‘ya-ya-ee, ya-ya-ee.’

CeCe’s caption, alongside her Instagram post, explains: the comparison between the two songs clearly shows that it is a copyright infringement case where Lizzo’s Juice is infringing ‘Finally.’

CeCe later added that this is a sensitive issue. She loves Lizzo’s music and artistry, but her concern is that lyrics and melody, which she wrote in her song ‘Finally,’ are now a part of Juice. She would like to resolve the issue positively without a nasty legal fight.

Although Lizzo is yet to respond to the allegations, it is not the first time when a singer has been alleged for copyright infringement. For instance, songwriter and producer Justin Raisen has recently alleged Lizzo for lifting the opening line, chords, and melody of her latest single – Truth Hurts from a song titled Healthy, which they had written together earlier this year.

Justin, in an Instagram post, said that they were never communicated about being credited for the profitable use of the parts of ‘Healthy.’ They have attempted to sort out the concern quietly for the past two years, asking for only 5% each but were shut down every time, Justin added in the last.

Currently, Lizzo is celebrating the success of Truth Hurts that has earned her the first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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The “Blurred Line” Copyright Decision is Scaring Lil Nas X and Cardi B

The “Blurred Line” Copyright Decision is Scaring Lil Nas X and Cardi B

Lee and DeMeritt have recently sued Lil Nas X and Cardi B for Copyright Infringement asserting that X and B’s “Rodeo” has a substantially similar sound and feel to their “Broad Day.” They explained that both songs appear the same in many ways. For instance, they both are 142 bpm, Rodeo has “guitar and wind instruments to invoke a certain aesthetic that’s set against hip-hop ingredients derived from digital drum and bass components,” and “the rhythmic guitar part outlining chords of Rodeo is replaced just with a single note line playing ascending and descending scale moving with the change in chord.” It means the two songs are from the same genre.

Nevertheless, Lil Nas X and Cardi B might be planning to defend their Rodeo – a pretty good song managed to grab the attention of Don Lee and Glen Keith DeMeritt III, whose “gwenXdonelee4-142” beat was incorporated into Sakrite Duexe and Puretoreefa’s track Broad Day. But at present, the defendants seem threatened due to the “Blurred Lines” copyright decision made in 2015.

Back in the year 2015, the Marvin Gaye estate secured an unusual copyright verdict against Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams over their hit song “Blurred Lines.” The Gaye estate successfully argued that although “Blurred Lines” didn’t copy the Gaye’s songs, it cloned the feeling of Gaye’s music, i.e., this song by Thicke and Williams reminded listeners of Gaye. Strange, but the argument ended into Gaye’s favor. 

Since it required musicians to pretend that they have had no musical influences, lest they come across a similar lawsuit, it was a catastrophically bad verdict. People who pointed it out are known as “alarmists” by copyright maximalists, who are sure that this ruling wouldn’t spawn musical copyright trolls that would shake down musicians for huge payouts from hit songs as almost everyone, after all, is associated in some or other way to the songs that came prior to it.

At present, it is predicted that the matter will be settled with the “beat creators getting a songwriting credit,” and therefore, a remarkable percentage of the songwriting royalties as that would be cheaper than the expenses and concerns for going to court. Nonetheless, if X and B do this, you can bet that Lee and DeMeritt will not be the last ones to file a stupid and ridiculous case of this type. Besides, the “Blurred Lines” decision will become a strong legal way for grifters to impose yet another tax on working and successful musicians. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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