Bloggers, Is Your Content Safe Under The “Fair Use” Doctrine?
by Joe Miller
As blogging evolves, it is becoming increasingly important to recognize the legal limitations associated with building upon the works of others. Under 17 U.S.C. §504(c), damages for a single copyright infringement can range from anywhere between $750 to $30,000 per infringement. Paradoxically, some of bloggers’ best content incorporates the authorized works of others. The safest course of action is to properly consider the four questions raised in the statute:
Read More5 Tips to Protect Trademarks Online
by Latoicha Givens
With the explosion of blogs, vlogs, online magazines, and numerous internet businesses, there is tons of unprotected intellectual property on the internet. What is intellectual property? Intellectual Property are creations of the mind. These creations include trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.
Trademarks are one of the most common forms of intellectual property on the internet. Trademarks [...]
Ed Lover’s C’mon Son! Domain Name Trouble
by Jabari Johnson
Many YouTube stars have websites of their own where they can direct their audience for more information, merchandise, and much more. With the viral success of radio personality Ed Lover’s “C’mon Son!” video series, (the series reached over half a million viewers in under two months), it seemed that the next step for the video blogger would be his own website.
Read MoreNew FTC Rules On Blogger Product Endorsements, Effective December 1
by Latoicha Givens
Previously I wrote a post about the “proposed” Federal Trade Commission Rules on Blogger Product Endorsements. Basically, the FTC was considering whether to require bloggers to disclose any financial relationship between themselves and brands whom products they endorse.
Read MoreReporter’s Privilege Extended to New Media
by Latoicha Givens
There are currently two proposed bills circulating on Capitol Hill that would extend Reporter’s Privilege to those who “report” news via blogs or other social networking sites.
Reporter’s Privilege is the Federal First Amendment right given to reporters to protect their confidential sources. Currently there is debate in Congress on whether this privilege should extend to those who regularly gather or report news via blogs and other news gathering websites.
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