Attorney Steve® Blog

This article explains how Ninth Circuit jury instructions treat express and implied consent as affirmative defenses in intellectual property disputes. It highlights that defendants must prove authorization and that liability often turns on whether the use stayed within the scope of that consent. Because implied consent depends on conduct and intent, these cases are highly fact-specific and frequently decided by a jury.

California Right of Publicity Counsel:  Vondran Legagl® - Call us at (877) 276-5084.  We have helped many recover largely with contingency cases for most misappropriations. Introduction to AB 2602 (Text of the Law)—codified at Cal. Lab. Code §927. CHAPTER 1. Contracts Against Public Polic...

ATTORNEY STEVE® – CALL US IF YOU NEED HELP PROTECTING YOUR NAME, IMAGE, LIKENESS, OR BRAND FROM AI MISUSE – (877) 276-5084 INTRODUCTION Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the entertainment industry. While AI offers powerful creative tools, it also presents serious legal risks for...

Vondran Legal®—Dish, Nagrastar, ACE Alliance and MPA updates 2026.  Selling IPTV boxes is risky business?  Call us if you received an infringement notice with a monetary demand.  We can be reached at (877) 276-5084.  We have helped many companies and individuals navigate settlements and defend th...

Vondran Legal® - Anime Copyright Infringement Representations - if you are dealing with infringement matters, whether plaintiff or defendant, call us to discuss at (877) 276-5084.     Introduction If you're creating anime content online—whether it's fan art, edits, reaction videos, or anime-i...

Vondran Legal®—Copyright Defense Law Firm—Flava Works appears at it again with a mass copyright infringement filing to be filed this month in the Northern District of Illinois.  If you received a subpoena or notice of the lawsuit, call us now to discuss with one of our copyright lawyers. We are a...

ATTORNEY STEVE® – CALL US IF YOU NEED HELP DEFENDING AGAINST ASCAP MUSIC LICENSING CLAIMS OR COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT LAWSUITS – (877) 276-5084   INTRODUCTION Businesses across the United States continue to face enforcement actions from performing rights organizations such as the American Societ...

INTRODUCTION For celebrities, entertainers, influencers, and other public figures, their name, image, likeness, voice, and overall identity often represent their most valuable assets. These rights are commonly referred to as Name-Image-Likeness (NIL) rights or publicity rights, and they allow individuals to control how their identity is used in commercial settings.

Vondran Legal®—Internet and IP Law—Removing personal and private information from online platforms.  The Wayback Machine. Call us at (877) 276-5084 to discuss. Protect Your Privacy and Intellectual Property Online The Internet Archive's Wayback Machine is one of the largest digital archives i...

Vondran Legal- Nationwide Software Infringement Defense Law Firm - we have handled over 1,000 software piracy claims since 2004.  Call us at (877) 276-5084. Introduction Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks continues to actively enforce its software copyrights across the United States. In a series of...

INTRODUCTION The American Law Institute (ALI) recently completed its Restatement of the Law, Copyright, a nearly decade-long project intended to guide courts in areas of copyright law where judicial discretion is broad. While ALI Restatements have historically focused on common law subjects such as torts and contracts, this marked the first time the organization attempted to restate a comprehensive federal statutory scheme like copyright.

ATTORNEY STEVE® – CALL US IF YOU NEED HELP WITH A TRADEMARK CANCELLATION, FRAUD CLAIM, OR LIKELIHOOD OF CONFUSION DISPUTE – (877) 276-5084. INTRODUCTION In a recent TTAB decision, a federal trademark registration covering bicycle goods was cancelled on multiple grounds including likelihood of c...

ATTORNEY STEVE® – CALL US IF YOU NEED HELP WITH A TRADEMARK CANCELLATION, GENERICIDE DEFENSE, OR TTAB PROCEEDING – (877) 276-5084.   INTRODUCTION The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board recently cancelled long-standing federal registrations for the terms SUPER HEROand SUPER HEROES, once jointly o...

Vondran Legal® Social Media Independent Journalist Legal Services—Helping creators SAFELY post quality videos!  Call us at (877) 276-5084 for fair use opinion letters, content licensing agreements, DMCA disputes, and other intellectual property matters involving copyright, trade secrets, rights o...

INTRODUCTION Building a brand is one of the most important investments a business, creator, or entrepreneur can make. Your brand name, logo, slogan, or product identity is often what customers recognize and trust. Without proper trademark protection, that investment is exposed to copycats, disputes, and costly rebranding.

If you work in film, television, digital media, music, or the influencer economy, you have probably signed contracts that contain mandatory arbitration clauses. These clauses often require disputes to be handled privately through JAMS or the American Arbitration Association (AAA). When a disagreement arises over payment, credits, exclusivity, delivery, rights ownership, or licensing terms, arbitration can determine the outcome quickly and confidentially.

INTRODUCTION  If you create or use architectural plans, understanding how copyright law works is critical. Home-plans are reused far more often than many assume. Builders may reuse design drawings without approval. Homeowners may hand drawings to new contractors. Competitors may replicate layouts or stylistic elements. Copyright protection gives designers the tools to assert rights and stop unauthorized reuse.

INTRODUCTION  Thinking about making a film, series, podcast or book based on a real person? In California you cannot just roll the cameras and hope for the best. True story projects can trigger right of publicity issues, invasion of privacy claims, defamation lawsuits and a long list of legal headaches that can shut a production down fast.

INTRODUCTION Audi of America is an operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., which enforces the trademark rights of Audi.  AUDI® and AUDI FOUR RINGS LOGO® are registered trademarks that they will enforce.  They also have trade dress rights in the distinctive overall appearance of the Audio Automobiles.

INTRODUCTION Reaction videos are everywhere. Whether it is a YouTuber breaking down a music video, a streamer commenting on a movie trailer, or a TikTok creator responding to viral clips, audiences love watching people react in real time. It feels spontaneous and authentic. But behind that enter...

INTRODUCTION While it’s true that people can legally record others in many public places, posting that footage online without consent is a different story. Once a video hits YouTube, it can spread fast, sometimes exposing private details, faces, or locations that were never meant to go public. That’s where YouTube’s Terms of Service and Community Guidelines step in. The platform prohibits content that reveals personal information or shows someone in a way that could cause embarrassment, distress, or harm.

INTRODUCTION Social media has transformed how brands advertise and how audiences consume promotional content. Influencers now play a central role in shaping consumer behavior, but with that influence comes legal accountability. Both the United States and the United Kingdom have developed framewo...

INTRODUCTION The Olympics may celebrate unity and competition, but they also bring an avalanche of trademark and copyright enforcement. Every four years, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) gears up for more than just sports; it ramps up legal enforcement. From small gyms to clothing brands to influencers, businesses are often surprised to learn that even phrases like “Go for the Gold” or “Team USA” can trigger serious legal issues.

INTRODUCTION Artificial intelligence is changing the creative world faster than the law can keep up. Artists, designers, and meme creators are now using AI tools to brainstorm, illustrate, and even finish parts of their work. But the Copyright Office has drawn a hard line. Only the parts created by a human being can be protected.

INTRODUCTION The entertainment industry continues to fight back against digital piracy, and courts are responding with some of the toughest copyright penalties in recent years. In Amazon Content Services LLC et al. v. Zachary Adam-Lane DeBarr et al., several major studios took legal action against the operators of Outer Limits IPTV...