By Sabrina Siddiqui Rutgers Law School Juris Doctor Candidate 2021 Social media and other online content-sharing platforms have undisputedly broadened access to all kinds of content and bolstered both fan-based and independent discussion and creation. From original works such as stories on websites like FanFiction or Archive of Our Own to digital fan art of Marvel characters on Instagram or…
By Sabrina Siddiqui Rutgers Law School Juris Doctor Candidate 2021 Laws on copyrights and trademarks are meant to protect the interests of those who have ownership of the rights to them. For example, someone who, without a license (read: permission), disseminates part of a film on an online forum could face legal consequences such as being liable for copyright infringement…
Unless Congress acts during its lame duck session, millions of Americans will see their Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits expire on December 31, and many mixed income artists will begin 2020 without enough money to pay their rent or buy groceries. A relief bill could fix the problem that left many creatives unable to access full unemployment benefits under the…
Tuesday, September 29 at 4:00 PM 1.0 Hour of Missouri CLE or CPE Ethics Credit While handling a case pro bono means a lawyer is volunteering their time, it does not mean that the representation is free from following all the ethical rules that apply to any case. Using arts-related examples, this program will address the basic ethics that any…
By Jonnae Miller Juris Doctor Candidate 2021, Southern University Law Center From beautifully composing musical pieces, endlessly traveling the world for performances, and earning extensive studio fees, to making intimidating courtroom visits, life as a musician can be extremely rewarding, yet tough. Unfortunately, quarrels in the courtroom may be inevitable for those who experience copyright infringement of their works, but…
By Jonnae Miller Juris Doctor Candidate 2021, Southern University Law Center Would you steal a car? Handbag? Television? Or a DVD? These are questions posed in a 47-second anti-piracy ad that was created to discourage illegal downloading and purchasing of illegally downloaded movies. Piracy is a form of copyright infringement. Copyright infringement occurs when an individual substantially copies someone else’s…
As the presidential election approaches, don't let your enthusiasm jeopardize your arts organization's tax-exempt status. Be aware that 501(c)(3) organizations are prohibited from participating or intervening in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to candidates for public office. The prohibition applies to campaigns at the federal, state and local level. Violation of this prohibition could result in…
By Spenser Jaenichen Juris Doctor Candidate 2022, University of Illinois College of Law Starting in 2010, hundreds of thousands of everyday individuals gained the opportunity to become self-proclaimed creatives through photography, modeling, designing, painting, performing, and many other forms of art through the development of a single app: Instagram. Some influencers not only limited themselves to Instagram alone, and instead…
By Alec Williams Juris Doctor Candidate 2022, Georgetown University Law Center Since the countercultural movements of the 1960s, pop musicians have nurtured an important bond with politics. As songs like A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall by Bob Dylan and Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud by James Brown surged in mainstream popularity, the unity between sociopolitical issues and…
March 2022 Update With case numbers plummeting, some cultural organizations and venues are relaxing their safety protocols. Missouri ArtsSafe posted updates on February 25— all based on CDC guidance. If you make changes to your online safety plan, please make sure you maintain the same URL; otherwise, it will break the link on the Missouri ArtSafe site. November 2021 Update To…