Copyright & Social Media
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The World of Intellectual Proper(kit)ty
For my project, I chose to look into something I’m truly passionate about: cats. But Tyleigh, isn’t this all a little millennial cringe? Yes, but consider this a palate cleanser from all the very serious, real world problems going on. Instructions for Viewing Presentation Link: https://www.canva.com/design/DAG75lu26AU/hwQ6-HgHBQh3rD65SKi5cg/view?utm_content=DAG75lu26AU&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h696852ee1f ——— References, Organized by Topic: Grumpy Cat PUMA Deadmau5/Meowingtons […]
Trademarking Taste: An Untapped Frontier?
On June 17th of 2025, a swath of significant amendments to Canada’s Trademarks Act entered into force, quite literally going as far as to change the definition a trademark. Out was any reference to a distinguishing guise, and in was a definition of Trademark including “a sign or combination of signs that is used […]
NFTs and Copyright: Is Blockchain Possession Creative Ownership?
Over the last decade, we have seen a revolution on the internet. Particularly, now more than ever, people have begun to embrace digital assets, from Bitcoin and cryptocurrency tokens to NFTs (non-fungible tokens). According to Zimmerman and Giddens, an NFT can be understood as a digital certificate associated with specific rights in an asset. They […]
Rolling the Dice on IP: The 2023 D&D Crisis and Canadian Copyright Law
In early 2023, Wizards of the Coast (WotC), owner of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), attempted a highly controversial revision of their foundational Open Game License (OGL). This move sparked a major intellectual property controversy, threatening two decades of independent publishing built on the original OGL 1.0a. The leaked draft triggered a backlash, highlighting critical questions […]
Modern Day Preston v Lucas
Quick throwback to Copyright law: while reviewing the class, specifically Preston v Lucas and Cinar v Robinson, I was reminded of headlines I saw earlier this year about a strikingly similar case. In this case, Dave Franco and Allison Brie, along with a production company, are being sued over the horror movie “Together” by production […]
Controversy at the U.S. Federal Duck Stamp Competition: A Case for Copyright in Composition?
We know that a painting attracts copyright protection, but there is no copyright in a particular pose, arrangement, or composition (in the artistic sense). This is for good reason, of course, or else we would probably have long run out of colours, subjects, and settings to depict in art. But this reminded me of a […]
Harvard Mouse – Epic Rap Battle Ver.
Term Project by Michelle Lee The link to the video is at the bottom. A few weeks ago, I learned that in 2003, a defamation suit was brought against the rapper Eminem by his childhood bully for allegedly slandering him in the song “Brain Damage”. The judge gave a ruling in the form of rap. […]
Copyright in Clothing? Rights and Remedies in Fashion IP
Term Assignment by Maria Liu The fashion industry is a complex area where IP law protection is important but less defined than in traditional art industries. In fashion, trademarks play a greater role than copyright, which usually protects literary, music, and other artistic works. Copyright generally does not extend to functional items like clothing but […]
Murals, Graffiti, and the Law: Art on the Edge
Introduction Street art contributes significantly to the cultural and visual identity of urban landscapes. It encompasses a wide range of works. This paper will focus on two types of street art: murals and graffiti. While the first is typically commissioned or created with the permission of the property owner, city, or organization, the latter is often unauthorized and done without permission, making it a […]
Vantablack: Can you Own a Colour?
Can you own a color? Well, Anish Kapoor does—or at least, he exclusively owns the right to use one of the blackest materials ever made: Vantablack. Developed and patented by Surrey NanoSystems, Vantablack is a substance so dark it absorbs 99.96% of visible light. It’s created using a cutting-edge process that grows microscopic carbon nanotubes, […]