The attorneys at Morningstar Law Group are leaders who are frequently asked to share their legal insights and expertise. Here is a sampling of the wisdom our attorneys are sharing at industry conferences, in published articles, and at continuing legal education events.

Insight

Why Would a Writer Need an Attorney?

July 24, 2020

The answer to this question and more was shared by attorney Mitch Tuchman at the recent virtual event hosted by the North Carolina Writers’ Network. Sharing his expansive knowledge and deep experience in publishing and copyright law, Mitch has spoken to this group on numerous occassions. Well-received, the organizers of the event shared “Our writers clearly […]

Insight

Copyright Office Provides Welcome Innovation for Bloggers and Creators of Other Short Texts

July 1, 2020

Good news from the Copyright Office for authors of blogs, newsletters, social media posts and other short works published online. Beginning August 17, 2020, authors will be able to apply to register claims of copyright in groups of up to 50 short works on a single application and for a single low fee: $65. A bargain by […]

Insight

Mercedes Case Reveals Integrated-Work Copyright Stopgap

December 15, 2019

As Appeared in Law360, October 26, 2019 Stripped, the Mercedes-Benz USA LLC G500 runs $124,000 (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) and comes in 24 colors. In the lead-up to the January 2018 North American International Auto Show, Mercedes planned an ironic, down-scale Instagram Inc.  campaign featuring photos of its Jeep-like G500s barreling through Detroit’s boho Eastern […]

Insight

Copyright Law Update: New DMCA Regulations Loosen the Reins for Internet of Things

November 9, 2018

You may know the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) from the widely deployed DMCA take-down notices that copyright owners use to remove putatively infringing content from the Internet. Enacted in 1998, the DMCA is more, however, with provisions scattered throughout the Copyright Act. One such DMCA provision comes into play every three years. Section 1201 […]

Insight

Frequently Asked Questions - Publishing Agreements

July 19, 2018

What rights does a publisher acquire from an author? What rights should an author grant? A publisher typically wants the author to authorize an exclusive, worldwide license to exercise all of the author’s rights under copyright and the ability to authorize others to do so throughout the entire term and territory of the agreement. This might serve an author’s purposes but only if it doesn’t constitute “biting at air.” Know what your publisher has accomplished for writers who came before you with respect to each of the rights under discussion. Ascertain whether your publisher has arranged for such things as foreign-language editions or the sale of motion picture rights, and if not, grant such rights sparingly if at all. Negotiate a reversion of any right not exploited by the publisher within a reasonable period.

Insight

COPYRIGHT OFFICE REPORT ON SOFTWARE-ENABLED CONSUMER DEVICES

March 29, 2017

By: Mitch Tuchman Software-enabled consumer devices are ubiquitous.  Think not only personal computers—desktop, laptop, handheld—but thermostats, cameras, refrigerators, power tools, self-driving cars, even dolls, toys and games, among others devices too numerous to mention.  This was not so in 1976 when Congress enacted the present Copyright Act (the “Act”), including computer software for the first […]