What Are Statutory Damages and Why Do They Matter for Copyright Owners?

Posted on September 20, 2019September 23, 2019 by mchattie

One of the greatest advantages of a Registered copyright is the ability to have, in fact is a requirement, that statutory damages be awarded. A Registration also makes attorney’s fees much more likely. Under the Copyright Act, 17 USC §§501 et seq., creators of original works of authorship including literary, visual, dramatic, musical, and artistic works Read more about What Are Statutory Damages and Why Do They Matter for Copyright Owners?[…]

The “Power Station” Film aka “What Not to Do” – Preliminary Injunction Granted – “stay tuned” for updates

Posted on June 7, 2019August 20, 2019 by mchattie

The McHattie Law Firm, in a decisive victory, was granted a Preliminary Injunction from the United States District Court District of New Jersey for a Copyright Infringement case on May 29, 2019.

Supreme Court: Copyright Must Be Registered Before Filing Copyright Infringement Action

Posted on March 6, 2019March 7, 2019 by mchattielaw

By: Sarah A. Teitelman, Esq., Jules D. Zalon, Esq. and Christopher J. McHattie, Esq. On March 4, 2019, the United States Supreme Court resolved a long-standing circuit COURT split and held that a copyright owner must first obtain a copyright Certificate of Registration from the United States Copyright Office before instituting a copyright infringement action, Read more about Supreme Court: Copyright Must Be Registered Before Filing Copyright Infringement Action[…]

A Note-Worthy Development: Led Zeppelin May Face Retrial in Stairway to Heaven Copyright Case ♫♪

Posted on October 10, 2018June 2, 2023 by mchattielaw

Update from our previous blog post The Song Remains the Same: Jury Shows a Whole Lotta Love for Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven. Written by Sarah Teitelman with some help from Chris McHattie. On September 28, 2018, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals partially vacated the prior Central District’s verdict that Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven did Read more about A Note-Worthy Development: Led Zeppelin May Face Retrial in Stairway to Heaven Copyright Case ♫♪[…]

What Small Businesses & Pass-Through Entities Need to Know about the Tax Bill

Posted on December 22, 2017December 27, 2017 by mchattie

It’s official. President Trump has signed the $1.5 trillion tax bill, which is the first major tax overhaul in 30 years since Ronald Reagan. One of the main focuses we have on this news it that it increases breaks for small, so-called pass-through businesses. The tax bill formerly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts added a new Read more about What Small Businesses & Pass-Through Entities Need to Know about the Tax Bill[…]

Monkeying Around with Copyright Law

Posted on September 13, 2017 by mchattie

The two-year ‘monkey selfie’ dispute between David Slater, a British Wildlife photographer, and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has driven copyright lawyers bananas and finally reached a settlement. Monkey See. Monkey Do. This legal battle began in the Indonesian jungle when Naruto, the macaque monkey, snapped a ‘selfie’ using Slater’s unattended Read more about Monkeying Around with Copyright Law[…]

What can you learn from Disney’s “Zootopia” copyright lawsuit?

Posted on March 23, 2017March 24, 2017 by mchattie

Longtime movie producer and screenwriter, Gary Goldman, whose notable credits include writing Total Recall and producing Minority Report, filed a federal lawsuit for copyright infringement this week against the Walt Disney Company. The “Zootopia” copyright lawsuit accuses Disney of stealing his idea for ‘Zootopia,’ the award-winning best animated picture for both the Golden Globes and Oscars. Goldman claims that Read more about What can you learn from Disney’s “Zootopia” copyright lawsuit?[…]

12 Days of Intellectual Property Christmas

Posted on December 14, 2016December 17, 2019 by mchattielaw

The McHattie Law Firm is uniquely equipped to deal with modern businesses’ most valuable asset — its intellectual property — and to manage it with a strategic legal approach in the US. From creation to licensing to sale, we stand ready, willing and able to serve your needs, developing strategies for your opportunities and solutions Read more about 12 Days of Intellectual Property Christmas[…]

The Song Remains the Same: Jury Shows a Whole Lotta Love for Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven

Posted on July 22, 2016 by mchattielaw

By: Christopher McHattie, Esq. and Sean Sanders The verdict is in and Led Zeppelin is off the hook following a highly publicized copyright infringement lawsuit brought by the estate of Spirit’s Randy Wolfe (a.k.a., Randy California). Following a two-year legal battle, a Los Angeles jury found last week that Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” did Read more about The Song Remains the Same: Jury Shows a Whole Lotta Love for Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven[…]

Road Trip: South by Southwest 2016!

Posted on February 4, 2016 by mchattielaw

Who’s going to SXSW in March? Are you an artist, a musician, an inventor, an IT guru? You are the innovators, the people who have ideas and are enthusiastic to introduce the world to who you are and what you are about. At the same time, you need to protect your creativity and to learn Read more about Road Trip: South by Southwest 2016![…]