Communications Law
Kendall Jenner is that you? Meta’s New AI Characters
A few months ago, an Instagram account that looked like supermodel Kendall Jenner popped up on my feed and introduced herself as Billie. At first I was confused about this, wondering if it was a new advertisement or brand deal that Jenner was participating in. Wanting to know more, I clicked on the account to […]
This is a tesla, not a Tesla
In most Slavic languages, a tesla is a type of hammer (see main post picture). It’s great for pulling out nails and as a kid, grandma and I used teslas to plant potatoes on the farm. It’s also good for settling disputes. But can it be used in a lawsuit for IP infringement? Drumroll….: it […]
Colin v. Cuthbert: The Case of the Caterpillar Cake Copy-Cat
Why are these people dressed up as caterpillars? Why are they eating cake? Why are they fighting? If you are like me, you have been toiling over this mystery for several months. It has caused me many sleepless nights. I am sure you are all dying for an explanation. Luckily for you, I have investigated […]
Disney Has Taken Notice of AI Generated Pixar Posters
There is a growing trend on the internet to use AI Image Generators to make memes. One prominent meme format is to have a movie poster generated in a style that resembles Disney Pixar posters. Many of these generated posters are intended to be offensive while prominently displaying the Disney Pixar logo, due to Disney’s […]
Protective Poison: An Alternative Method to Copyright Protection
The MIT Review released an article discussing Nightshade, a tool for artists to protect their images from web scraping. The research was conducted by Ben Zhao’s team at the University of Chicago. Nightshade was created as a tool that artists can use to stand up against AI companies that use images to train models without […]
How Trademarks Can Potentially Promote Sustainable Fashion
One of the fundamental tenets of trademark law is to safeguard consumers. Trademarks are a type of intellectual property consisting of a word, phrase, symbol, logo, design, or expression distinguishing products or services from others and identifying their source.[1] For fashion brands, the use of trademarks endows “customer loyalty and generates commercial value”, thereby […]
Legal risks for modding in video games?
As a fan of video games, one of the benefits to gaming on PC rather than on console is the freedom to “mod” the games. Modding is when fans create assets or software which change an aspect of the game, such as its appearance or mechanics. For example, one of my personal favourites is the […]
Could there be Copyright in AI Generated Works
Is it really intelligence if it is artificial? As technology becomes more advanced, the lines between human intelligence and artificial intelligence blurs. What really is intelligence? And can it truly be “artificial?” The Cambridge Dictionary Online defines intelligence as “the ability to understand and learn well, and to form judgments and opinions based […]
Green branding in Canada… is this kind of branding merely descriptive or a proprietary tool?
In recent years, “green branding” has become a prominent marketing practice for companies around the world including Canada. Particularly in BC, shoppers witness this practice on a daily basis through many local brands via their products and services. In essence, green branding is where a company markets itself as “green” or “sustainable” whether through their […]
Back to the….. Past?
I do not know much about the Beatles except for the fact that there are only two members of the foursome who are still alive. However, imagine my surprise, waking up on November 2 and opening up Twitter only to see the Beatles trending for releasing a new song – and not a re-recorded song […]