All’s not so well in IP Entertainment

Major IP Legal Battles Erupting in Entertainment

The intellectual property battles raging across the entertainment world have only intensified over the past year, with several landmark rulings and new high-profile cases erupting. As content monetization models rapidly shift, the fight over lucrative IP rights shows no signs of slowing down. Here are some of the biggest IP legal conflicts making waves:

"Stairway to Heaven" Case Headed Back to Trial After Mistrial

The decades-old copyright fight over whether Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" plagiarized the Spirit song "Taurus" remains unresolved after a hung jury led to a mistrial in October 2023. The case is now gearing up for an unprecedented third jury trial after the 9th Circuit overturned Led Zeppelin's 2020 trial victory.

The closely watched case could produce binding precedent over what constitutes copyright infringement between musical compositions. The outcome will have major ramifications for songwriters and music copyright protection going forward.

Marvel Wins Battle Over Iron Man Recapture Attempt

In a major victory for Marvel Studios in February 2024, a New York judge rejected the termination attempt by the heirs of Iron Man co-creator Steve Ditko. The ruling found that Ditko's contributions to Iron Man as an independent contractor for Marvel made him ineligible to recapture copyright interests under termination laws.

While Marvel celebrated the win, the heirs plan to appeal and similar termination cases proceed. Disney still faces potential blockbuster legal challenges down the road over character rights to Spider-Man, Thor, Black Panther and other hugely valuable Marvel properties.

Artists and Studios Clash Over AI-Generated Artwork

Cutting-edge issues surrounding AI technology and intellectual property burst onto the scene in 2023. Several lawsuits have been filed by artists and creators accusing AI companies like Anthropic, Midjourney, and others of illegally scraping and training their algorithms on copyrighted artwork without consent.

The defendants argue their AI systems create entirely new works that don't actually copy any individual artist's IP. However, major creators like Getty Images claim these AI models exploit their intellectual property on a massive scale, setting up protracted legal battles that will shape the future of AI content generation.

Theis Chayse LLP Can Help Protect Your Property

As user-generated content, social media influencers, and AI take more prominent roles across entertainment mediums, the courtroom clashes over intellectual property are rapidly evolving. Legal experts predict a flood of new precedent-setting cases in the coming years that could dramatically reshape intellectual property protections and monetization models throughout the industry. Contact us if you are seeking intellectual property protection. We are here to help.