My Fair Use posts, collected
Just a quick repost of the links to my five-post series on Fair Use to make it easier to find them.
Is it okay to use another person’s photo on your blog?
California lawyer Zachary Strebeck takes a look at the use of photos by bloggers and how to stay out of legal trouble when using someone else’s photograph through licensing and other means.
U.S. DMCA copyright takedowns versus Canada’s new “Notice and Notice” system
Game lawyer Zachary Strebeck looks at the differences between the U.S. copyright takedown regime and the soon-to-be-implemented Canadian system.
The long, but surprisingly simple, road to becoming an authority
Game lawyer Zachary Strebeck talks about some of the reasons why building authority can benefit a game developer and one way that it can be accomplished.
All copyright protection is not created equal – here’s why!
In order to qualify for federal copyright protection, a minimum spark of creativity or originality is required. However, just meeting this standard does not always give the greatest protection under U.S. copyright law. Game lawyer Zachary Strebeck explains the concept of “thin” copyright protection.
Legal Update: California judge tosses Noriega case against Activision
Game lawyer Zachary Strebeck takes a look at Activision’s success in fighting off a right of publicity lawsuit by former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega.
Got a trademark? Don’t make these mistakes and lose your rights!
Game lawyer Zachary Strebeck examines some of the ways that a trademark holder can lose their rights. These issues range from non-use to becoming generic, and are all dangerous if a mark is to maintain its distinctiveness.
Developer threatens legal action against allegedly “cloned” Kickstarter game
Game attorney Zachary Strebeck looks at the threat of legal action by Indie Boards & Cards against a recently-funded Kickstarter project, Moriarty’s Machinations. Is it really a clone, or do the threats have no basis in the law?
Licensing someone else’s IP? Don’t make these 2 huge mistakes!
Game lawyer Zachary Strebeck looks at two crucial mistakes to avoid when licensing another company’s intellectual property. These include issues with the “chain of title” that should be addressed before they cause big trouble for a developer.
Can you use other companies’ trademarks in your video game?
Game attorney Zachary Strebeck examines some of the case law surrounding the use of third-party trademarks in video games. While trademark protection is generally very strong, in these cases the First Amendment often reigns supreme.
