Law Commons^™

That Thing Ain't Human: The Artificiality Of "Human Authorship" And The Intelligence In Expanding Copyright Authorship To Fully-Autonomous Ai, Ernest Oleksy

Cleveland State Law Review

The U.S. Copyright Review Board (the "Board") decided that works entirely created by fully-autonomous artificial intelligence ("AI") are not entitled to copyright protections. The Board based its decision on a copyrightability requirement referred to as “human authorship.” However, the Copyright Act of 1976 (the "Act") never mentions a “human” requirement to copyright authorship, nor do most of the Board’s cited authorities. Denying authorship to intellectually-impressive and economically-valuable works under a poorly-established legal subelement is antithetical to copyright law’s history and to Congress’s constitutional mandate to “promote . . . [the] useful [a]rts . . . .” It leaves creators who …

From Models To Mannequins: The Oxymoronic Equation Of International Labor Law Standards In The World Of Fashion, Namrata Bhowmik, Naman Anand

Cleveland State Law Review

Fashion law is an emerging field that addresses the legal issues that arise in the fashion industry. With the rapid growth and globalization of the fashion industry, there is an increasing need for specialized legal guidance in this area. Fashion law encompasses a wide range of legal issues, including intellectual property, contract law, employment law, international trade law, and environmental law.

One of the main drivers behind the need for fashion law is the rise of counterfeiting and intellectual property theft in the fashion industry. With the proliferation of ecommerce and social media, it has become easier than ever for …

Concealing More Than Your Affairs: A Deep Dive Into The World Of Cryptocurrency And Its Future Influence On Family Law In Ohio, Milica Prica

Cleveland State Law Review

This Note dives into the world of cryptocurrency and family law in Ohio. With its current popularity and dramatic fluctuations, cryptocurrency has created a new legal issue in the family law practice. Specifically, this Note focuses on the concealability of Bitcoin and how that influences division of property, spousal support, and child support in Ohio divorce proceedings and settlements. To tackle this issue, this Note begins with the history of Bitcoin, its value since the beginning, as well as the reason for its fluctuations. This Note also looks into what makes Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency forms so concealable. This Note …

Keynote At The Cleveland State University College Of Law Ip+ Conference, Kathleen O'Malley

Cleveland State Law Review

Thank you for your kind introduction, Lee. Thank you too for your mentorship, support, and friendship over the years. I would not be where I am today but for having you in my life. And I want to thank both you and Professor Laser for inviting me to join you today—and for providing a soap box to champion the importance of a robust intellectual property system.

Rethinking Patent Law's Exclusive Appellate Jurisdiction, Christa Laser

Cleveland State Law Review

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit was created in 1982 to unify and clarify patent law, inter alia. It was built from political compromise after the Hruska Commission, which studied the caseload crisis in the federal appellate courts in the 1970s, initially recommended creation of a new National Court of Appeals that would exist between the regional federal appellate circuits and the Supreme Court. The Federal Circuit judges admirably implemented these functions for four decades.

However, the initial function of the Federal Circuit might no longer be as needed in the current judicial climate. The environment …

Overdressed & Underprotected: The Not-So Glamorous Side Of The United States Fashion Industry Without Explicit Copyright Protection, Anna Huttner

Cleveland State Law Review

The complexity of fashion designs goes far beyond what is currently trending in Vogue. Intellectual property laws should seek to provide designers with an opportunity to completely protect their work, as well as ensure that fashion designers’ designs will not be replicated and sold for a fraction of the price. Inherent limitations with alternate forms of intellectual property protection emphasize the need for a bright-line rule for copyright protection over fashion designs. To best protect new designers and small brands within the U.S. fashion industry, there must be a standard that explicitly includes and defines accessibility to copyright protection …

The Hydraulics Of Intermediary Liability Regulation, Ben Horton

Cleveland State Law Review

The intermediary immunity created by Section 230 probably protects claims based on the non-legal harms of hate speech and misinformation as well as a European-style proportionality system of content moderation better than a more “legalized” intermediary liability regime would. Contrasting the existing non-copyright content moderation systems with empirical research on the effects of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) shows that a comprehensive regulation of content moderation would incentivize the moderation of defamation and negligence claims at the expense of these important non-legal claims and incentivize a homogenous, categorical approach to content moderation. Furthermore, empirical research on the effects of …

America's Broken Copyright Law: How Marvel And Sony Sparked Public Debate Surrounding The United States' "Broken" Copyright Law And How Congress Can Prevent A Copyright Small Claims Court From Making It Worse, Izaak Horstemeier-Zrnich

Cleveland State Law Review

Following failed discussions between Marvel and Sony regarding the use of Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, comic fans were left curious as to how Spider-Man could remain outside of the public domain after decades of the character’s existence. The comic community came to realize that Marvel was restricted in the use of its own character because of the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 and the Supreme Court’s decision in Eldred v. Ashcroft. This realization sparked an online conversation regarding the United States’ lengthy copyright terms, and what many refer to as a “broken” copyright system. …

Intellectual Property For Breakfast: Market Power And Informative Symbols In The Marketplace, P. Sean Morris

Cleveland State Law Review

This Article continues to examine an important question: are trademarks a source of market power, or, put differently, when are trademarks an antitrust problem? This fundamental question is a cause of division among antitrust and intellectual property law scholars. However, by raising the question and presenting some scenarios that can provide answers, my hope is that contemporary antitrust and intellectual property scholars can explore some of its implications. As part of my own quest to address this question, I explore the proposition that creative deception and the wealth-generating capacity of trademarks are unorthodox elements that actually contribute to allegations of …

A Last Step Rule For Direct Infringement Of Process Claims: Clarifying Indirect Infringement And Narrowing Joint Infringement, Stephen W. Moore

Cleveland State Law Review

This Note proposes that the party who performs the last step of a patented process should be liable for direct infringement. Under this “Last Step Rule,” patented products and processes would be treated similarly—which is consistent with past decisions and is implied in the patent statute. As will be shown in this Note, adopting the Last Step Rule would make finding indirect patent infringement more straightforward and would limit the doctrine of joint infringement to claims for direct infringement. The proposed rule will be shown to be logically sound, supported by case law precedent, and consistent with the language and …

Metaphor, Objects, And Commodities, George H. Taylor, Michael J. Madison

Cleveland State Law Review

As its two main Parts will evidence, this Comment remains the product of two distinct if overlapping voices. Part II returns to the conceptual origins of Radin's theory in her general critique of objectification and commodification. It asks whether a more positive concept of objectification can be recovered that is distinguishable from reification, the latter seeming to be the more appropriate locus of Radin's criticism. Part III's response to Radin is similar, but it tries to exemplify both our appreciation of and our differences from her work through more detailed analysis of intellectual property law and theory.

Capturing Ideas: Copyright And The Law Of First Possession, Abraham Drassinower

Cleveland State Law Review

Part II of this paper, entitled “Wish and Deed,” sets forth an account of the law of first possession through an analysis of the classic case of Pierson v. Post. Part III, entitled “Idea and Expression,” briefly sets forth an account of the idea/expression dichotomy in copyright law through discussion of the classic case of Nichols v. Universal Pictures Corporation. On that basis, Part III unfolds a correspondence between animus and factum in property law and idea and expression in copyright law. Part IV, entitled “Things and Speech,” suggests through discussion of the classic case of Feist that central doctrines …

Exporting Dmca Lockouts, Anupam Chander

Cleveland State Law Review

My goal here is limited. I do not attack the anti-circumvention provisions of the DMCA as wholly misguided; the desire to prevent widespread piracy of copyrighted works is understandable. At the same time, I do not mean to suggest that the critique I offer here is the sum of the adverse consequences of that statute, including for speech and education. My argument is limited to the threat posed by the export of the DMCA anti-circumvention rules, which do not explicitly guard against the anti-competitive use of those rules.Part I briefly sketches the difficulties created domestically by a DMCA inattentive to …

Nonconventional Musical Analysis And Disguised Infringement: Clever Musical Tricks To Divide The Wealth Of Tin Pan Alley , Mark Avsec

Cleveland State Law Review

This article argues that "disguised" infringement is oxymoronic and demagogic, and that the "nonconventional" musical analytical techniques employed to diagnose it are misguided. If an expert cannot tell that two pieces of music are similar by traditional methods, that is probably because they are not similar. Part II of this article chronicles the role of the musical expert as it has been carved out over time. Part III exposes the expert's traditional methods for comparing musical compositions. Part IV explores nonconventional analytical techniques, explains why they are misapplied when employed to detect "disguised" plagiarism and illustrates why Judge Frank would …

Dna Patenting And Access To Healthcare: Achieving The Balance Among Competing Interests, Melissa E. Horn

Cleveland State Law Review

Increasing evidence suggests that the biotechnology industry's interest in generating revenue and the public's desire to obtain the best healthcare may be at odds. The patenting of genetic information is at the core of this debate. Most, if not all, of the products of the biotech industry's research are patentable. Historically, patents have been justified on the grounds that they are needed to create an incentive for researchers and companies to invest time and money in projects that have uncertain outcomes. In the biotechnology arena, patents do not simply encourage innovation and allow innovators to recoup their costs. Patents can …

Trademarks And The Movies: An Af-'Fair Use To Remember, Lauren P. Smith

Cleveland State Law Review

The Federal Trademark Dilution Act poses a serious threat for filmmakers, much more so than found under the original Lanham Act. A filmmaker can be found guilt of dilution without a finding that consumers would likely be confused by the allegedly diluting use. The mere appearance of a mark in a film would not likely violate a trademark holders rights. According dilution's much less stringent standard, non-competing uses of a mark which would "blur" its strength would violate a holder's rights. Courts have used the FTDA in ways as broad as its language allows, and it poses a very serious …

The Unauthorized Dissemination Of Celebrity Images On The Internet ... In The Flesh, Navin Katyal

Cleveland State Law Review

This paper will explore and analyze the unauthorized use and dissemination of celebrity images over the Internet as a violation of the copyrights of either the celebrity themselves, or the cinematographic' rights of the film production studio(s). The analysis will focus on the Copyright Act of both Canada and the United States and will be covered in three parts. Part I will define the basic nomenclature of the Internet and explain the applicability of copyright law to the Internet. Part II will focus on methods in which the celebrity and film studio can protect their copyright 'On-line' through the American-defined …

Copyright On The Internet: A Critique Of The White Paper's Recommendation For Updating The Copyright Act And How The Courts Are Already Filling In Its Most Important Shortcoming, On-Line Service Provider Liability, George Smirnoff Iii

Cleveland State Law Review

The current technological challenge for American copyright law is the National Information Infrastructure (NII), which is a network of networks used to carry digital transmissions through thousands of computer networks using a common set of protocols. Currently, the Copyright Act does not expressly include works created, copied, transmitted, or performed on the NII. President Clinton formed the Information Infrastructure Task Force (the Working Group) "to articulate and implement the Administration's vision for the National Information Infrastructure." On September 5, 1995, the Working Group released the White Paper which addresses special intellectual property concerns and issues raised by the development and …

The Lack Of Protection Afforded Software Under The Current Intellectual Property Laws, Himanshu S. Amin

Cleveland State Law Review

Many abstract advances in computer technology remain unprotected since the current intellectual property system has been shaped through a focus on tangible, physical inventions. The software industry in the United States "accounts for domestic revenues of over fifty billion dollars each year in worldwide sales and services." Accordingly, it is imperative that United States software developers be provided adequate intellectual property coverage in order to protect existing technology and encourage further innovation in the field. The present lack of adequate protection has handicapped American developers unnecessarily in the global software market.

Staying Patent Validity Litigation Pending Reexamination: When Should Courts Endeavor To Do So, Steven M. Auvil

Cleveland State Law Review

This note will discuss the circumstances under which it is appropriate for a court to exercise its authority to stay patent validity litigation pending reexamination of the patent-in-suit. The question must be analyzed with due regard to the unique relationship that exists between Patent Office reexamination and district court litigation. As a point of departure, the note explains the substance and procedure of statutory reexamination. Secondly, it will discuss the possible effects that reexamination may have on concurrent litigation in a district court. Thirdly, the note will examine the discernible factors that courts have considered in deciding whether to suspend …

Protecting Trade Secrets And Confidential Information From Media Disclosure: Removing The Reporter's Shield, John M. Tkacik Jr.

Cleveland State Law Review

This Note will address the problem facing businesses in Ohio when the laws protecting trade secrets and confidential information come into direct conflict with laws protecting the media. Part II of this Note will discuss the concept and various legal definitions attributed to trade secrets and confidential proprietary information. Parts III and IV will discuss trade secrets, confidential information and the related remedies available to companies, with emphasis on the statutes under Ohio's criminal code. This Note will then focus on the protection afforded the media by both an Ohio shield statute which protects confidential sources, and the U.S. Constitution …

The 1988 Revision Of 28 U.S.C. 1391(C): Corporate Venue Is Now Equivalent To In Personam Jurisdiction Effects On Civil Actions For Patent Infringement, Thomas W. Adams

Cleveland State Law Review

Venue in federal cases is controlled by the general venue statute unless there exists an applicable special venue statute that attaches to the particular cause of action under consideration. This note is concerned with the section of the general venue statute applicable to corporate defendants and its interaction with the special venue statute for civil actions in patent infringement cases ("patent venue statute"). As a first step in the discussion of venue, it is necessary to go back in history over 200 years. This note reviews the history of venue, both generally and in cases of patent infringement, the historical …

The 1988 Revision Of 28 U.S.C. 1391(C): Corporate Venue Is Now Equivalent To In Personam Jurisdiction Effects On Civil Actions For Patent Infringement, Thomas W. Adams

Cleveland State Law Review

Venue in federal cases is controlled by the general venue statute unless there exists an applicable special venue statute that attaches to the particular cause of action under consideration. This note is concerned with the section of the general venue statute applicable to corporate defendants and its interaction with the special venue statute for civil actions in patent infringement cases ("patent venue statute"). As a first step in the discussion of venue, it is necessary to go back in history over 200 years. This note reviews the history of venue, both generally and in cases of patent infringement, the historical …

The Rejection Of Executory Contracts Under The Intellectual Property Bankruptcy Protection Act Of 1988, John J. Fry

Cleveland State Law Review

In October of 1988, Congress enacted the Intellectual Property Bankruptcy Protection Act. The Act is intended to "promote the development and licensing of intellectual property by providing certainty to licensees in situations where the licensor files bankruptcy and seeks to reject the license as an executory contract by providing the licensee an "assurance of being able to continue to use the licensed intellectual property after rejection, while debtors/licensors will still be able to free themselves of burdensome obligations." The Act adds a new subsection to 11 U.S.C. §365 which allows the licensee of intellectual property under an executory contract to …

Righting The Titled Scale: Expansion Of Artists' Rights In The United States, Colleen P. Battle

Cleveland State Law Review

This Note focuses on the expansion of artists' rights in the United States, specifically the moral rights of paternity and integrity. It explores the history of judicial denial of moral rights and the attempt to gain protection through traditional causes of action. The Note then analyzes barriers to adoption of the moral rights doctrine, with emphasis on the challenge to traditional property concepts. The California Art Preservation Act of 1980 and the 1984 Artists' Authorship Act of New York are discussed and evaluated. This Note recommends adoption of the California statute as the model for future artists' rights legislation and …

Copyright Protection For Video Games: The Courts In The Pac-Man Maze, Mary Patricia Culler

Cleveland State Law Review

Copyright has proved to be an appropriate form of protection for video games. However, the application of copyright law to protect the audiovisual displays and underlying computer programs of video games has become possible only since the revision of the Copyright Act 7 in 1976. Of further significance, has been the development of the law of copyright in the subject areas of computer programs, games, and characters. However, the nature of copyright law is such that the final determination of the protection to be afforded a given game actually rests on policy grounds rather than on an application of black-letter …

Patent Litigation Before The New Claims Court, Joseph V. Colaianni

Cleveland State Law Review

The final chapter was written recently on the United States Court of Claims, a court which from its creation in 1855 had served as the nation's conscience. The existence of this court, which had served long and well in carrying out the task of a sovereign rendering justice against itself, along with the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals, was terminated on October 1, 1982, and replaced by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the United States Claims Court. It is not the purpose of this paper to outline the history of the Court of …

The Film Collector, The Fbi, And The Copyright Act, Francis M. Nevins Jr.

Cleveland State Law Review

We are presently in the early middle stages of a media revolution which will reach its climax when films, in one form or another, will be found in people's homes and under consumers' control in much the same way as books and phonograph records. Although the availability of home videotaping equipment represents a giant step forward in the process, the revolution began long before the invention of the Betamax. For well over twenty years hobbyist film collectors, currently between 20,000 and 120,000 in number, have been purchasing sixteen and thirty-five millimeter prints of both copyrighted and public domain films, and …

The 1976 Copyright Act: Advances For The Creator, I. Fred Koenigsberg

Cleveland State Law Review

The 1976 Copyright Act represents a major advance for the creator. This is not to say that every provision is favorable to the creator. The new law is extremely complex, and the effects of many of its provisions are even now the subject of debate. The improvements of the new law over the 1909 Copyright Act are of such significance, however, as to justify its characterization by the Register of Copyrights as "an author's bill." This paper, based upon a panel discussion of the new law held at the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts National Art Law Conference on December …

Cable, Copyright, Communications: Controversy, Lee Fisher, Sam Salah

Cleveland State Law Review

This Note will examine the efforts of the courts, the legislature, and the Federal Communications Com-mission (FCC) to apply the Copyright Act of 1909 to the technological developments of the twentieth century. It is submitted that the significance of Teleprompter lies not in the Court's determination that there was no copyright infringement -for that finding will soon be negated by upcoming copyright law revision -but in the inability of the Court to discard past inflexible and unrealistic approaches to the 1909 Copyright Act. Offered is a different method of viewing cable communications in terms of the Copyright Act, which recognizes …