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Full-Text Articles in Law
Benay V. Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.: New Standard Needed For Determining Actual Use, Brian Casido
Benay V. Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.: New Standard Needed For Determining Actual Use, Brian Casido
Golden Gate University Law Review
This Note examines Benay v. Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., and the substantial-similarity standard under a California breach of an implied-in-fact contract claim and a federal copyright infringement claim. The standard used in Benay will hinder the free flow of ideas by deterring producers from accepting an author’s screenplay for fear of breaching an implied-in-fact contract. Part I of this Note summarizes the history and development of the protection of rights to creative works. Part II provides the facts and procedural history of Benay v. Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. Part III analyzes and criticizes the Ninth Circuit’s holding in Benay …
The Ninth Circuit Lands A "Perfect 10" Applying Copyright Law To The Internet, Robert A. Mcfarlane
The Ninth Circuit Lands A "Perfect 10" Applying Copyright Law To The Internet, Robert A. Mcfarlane
Golden Gate University Law Review
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued three landmark decisions in 2007 that addressed how copyright protections apply to images that can be accessed over the Internet. Internet publisher Perfect 10 initiated these lawsuits based on allegations that its registered copyrights were infringed when unauthorized copies of its photographs appeared on third-party websites where they could be viewed, downloaded, and purchased without payment to Perfect 10. This Article briefly summarizes the facts of these three cases, explains the central holdings of each decision, and then concludes with a discussion of the collective impact that the three decisions have on enforcement …
Newton V. Diamond: When A Composer's Market Is Not The Average Joe: The Inadequacy Of The Average-Audience Test, Reid Miller
Newton V. Diamond: When A Composer's Market Is Not The Average Joe: The Inadequacy Of The Average-Audience Test, Reid Miller
Golden Gate University Law Review
This Note will discuss how the Ninth Circuit incorrectly adopted the average-audience test because the test has become overbroad in its application, is ill-equipped to deal with the issues of complex modern music, and has drifted from the fundamental purpose of copyright law. The Ninth Circuit should have adopted the intended- audience test, which looks to the reaction of those with the expertise required to understand the language of the work and more truly reflects the fundamental purpose of copyright law: the protection of the creator's market.
Intellectual Property - Brookfield Communications, Inc. V. West Coast Entertainment Corp., Patricia Elizabeth Caldwell
Intellectual Property - Brookfield Communications, Inc. V. West Coast Entertainment Corp., Patricia Elizabeth Caldwell
Golden Gate University Law Review
In Brookfield Communications, Inc. v. West Coast Entertainment Corp., the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit discusses whether trademark or unfair competition laws prohibit the use of another's trademark in its web site's domain name and metatag. The court concluded there was a likelihood of confusion between the marks. Therefore, using the mark in the web site's domain name constitutes trademark infringement. In addition, using the mark in the site's metatag created initial interest confusion.
Intellectual Property Law - Newcombe V. Adolf Coors Co., Nairi Chakalian
Intellectual Property Law - Newcombe V. Adolf Coors Co., Nairi Chakalian
Golden Gate University Law Review
In Newcombe v. Adolf Coors Co., the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that a Major League baseball pitcher, retired for over thirty years, had valid publicity infringement claims against defendants who created an advertisement using a drawing of his stance. According to the court, a material factual issue existed as to whether the drawing of the stance in the advertisement conjured up images of the pitcher, even though the pitcher's face could not be identified from the drawing, and his name did not appear anywhere in the advertisement. Thus, the court found a subtle image …
Intellectual Property Law - Kendall-Jackson Winery V. E. & J. Gallo Winery, Rema M. Titcomb
Intellectual Property Law - Kendall-Jackson Winery V. E. & J. Gallo Winery, Rema M. Titcomb
Golden Gate University Law Review
In Kendall-Jackson v. Gallo,l the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that grape leaf designs on wine bottles are not protected as trademarks under the Lanham Trademark Act because of widespread use in the industry. Accordingly, the Ninth Circuit upheld the district court's decision to grant Gallo's summary judgment motion in favor of Gallo.
Intellectual Property Law - Dreamwerks Production Group, Inc. V. Skg Studio, Thomas J. Murphy
Intellectual Property Law - Dreamwerks Production Group, Inc. V. Skg Studio, Thomas J. Murphy
Golden Gate University Law Review
In Dreamwerks Production Group, Inc. v. SKG Studio the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit evaluated whether the trademarks "Dreamwerks" and "Dream Works" were likely to confuse the reasonable consumer. Traditionally, a well-known, senior trademark user will sue a lesser-known, junior trademark user in order to protect its goodwill and prevent customer confusion. In Dreamwerks, however, the parties' positions were reversed, with the lesser-known, senior user, Dreamwerks Production Group, suing the better-known, yet junior user, SKG Studio. The Ninth Circuit held that, like every other new company, SKG Studio was required to select a name that would …
Intellectual Property Law - Blockbuster Videos Inc. V. City Of Tempe, Mary L. Shapiro
Intellectual Property Law - Blockbuster Videos Inc. V. City Of Tempe, Mary L. Shapiro
Golden Gate University Law Review
In a matter of first impression, the United Sates Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in Blockbuster Videos, Inc. v. City of Tempe, considered whether section 1121(b) of the Lanham Act preempts a municipality's authority to require the alteration of a federally registered trademark. Based on the plain language of the statute, the court held that a local entity may not require the alteration of a trademark to enforce a zoning ordinance, though it may prohibit the display of the trademark.
Nowhere To Run ... Nowhere To Hide: Trademark Holders Reign Supreme In Panavision Lnt'l, L.P. V. Toeppen., Scott D. Sanford
Nowhere To Run ... Nowhere To Hide: Trademark Holders Reign Supreme In Panavision Lnt'l, L.P. V. Toeppen., Scott D. Sanford
Golden Gate University Law Review
This note discusses the procedural history of Panavision. Part III surveys the evolving application of personal jurisdiction in the various courts as applied to the Internet through minimum contacts and the Calder "effects test." Part IV outlines the Ninth Circuit's analysis of personal jurisdiction in Panavision. Part V critiques the Ninth Circuit's analysis, focusing particularly on several flaws in the court's reasoning. Part VI summarizes the effect that the decision in Panavision will have on future suits involving the Internet.