By Noah Zedeck, 2L member Rapper Travis Scott is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. In November 2021, a massive “crowd surge” left 10 people dead at Scott’s Astroworld Music Festival. Additional injuries were reported, including 11 cases of cardiac arrest, and 23 people were hospitalized. Questions are now mounting regarding who is responsible …
Reckless disregard or honest mistake? Sarah Palin v. N.Y. Times argues actual malice standard
By Kristen Johnson, Content Editor A jury on Feb. 15 found the New York Times Company not liable for defaming Sarah Palin. This verdict was returned years after Palin first filed a complaint against The New York Times in 2017. Reporter James Bennett had published an editorial connecting Palin’s political platform on gun rights to …
Your patent is no good here: Russia’s war on intellectual property following war in Ukraine
By Elizabeth Tirrill, 2L member The Russian invasion of Ukraine began Feb. 24 for purposes of “de-Nazifying” Ukraine, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin claimed the war is not actually a war at all, but simply a “special military operation.” Regardless of terminology, Russia’s actions are leading to detrimental consequences to the people of …
To stream or not to stream: Are artists really not receiving their royalties?
By Katherine Hinkle, 2L Member “Does anyone even buy CDs anymore?” is a comment I’m sure is overheard by many in bookstores, department stores or any retailer that carries the works of many artists we all love. The answer to that can be complicated, or you could just say “Streaming is where it’s at.” Streaming …
Tattoos in sports video games present copyright ownership questions
By Melissa Bergmann, 2L member Tattoos, once thought of as taboo, are now a generally accepted and popular form of expression and adorn the bodies of musicians, models, athletes, and movie stars. Likewise, video games, such as the NBA 2K series, that feature depictions of real athletes have also gained increasing popularity. These two trends …
Leach continues courtroom fight vs. Texas Tech more than decade after firing
By Brad Stephens, Managing Editor More than 12 years after Texas Tech University fired Mike Leach as its head football coach, he is still fighting the school in court. Leach sued Texas Tech in December, claiming the school violated the state’s open records laws, ESPN reported. The lawsuit came more than a decade after Leach’s …
The Mickey Mouse struggle: Will Disney reshape copyright law again?
By Dani Bhadare-Valente, 2L member The U.S. Constitution codified the principle that an author, innovator, or artist should enjoy the benefits of her intellectual property. Since the adoption of our Constitution, however, U.S. copyright law has been subject to many revisions, and the Walt Disney Company has been a major player in those transformations. Congress …
Who’s legally responsible for Rust set shooting that caused death of cinematographer?
By Shelby Harding, 2L Member The Oct. 21 shooting on the set of the low-budget Western film Rust left the public questioning how something so reckless could ever happen. While shooting the film in New Mexico, a prop gun held by actor Alec Baldwin was improperly loaded with live ammunition and discharged, killing 42-year-old Halyna …
QB Quinn Ewers’ transfer shows need for uniform NIL rules
By Gavin Dwyer, 2L member Following the Supreme Court’s Alston decision in June, 28 states have adopted legislation allowing athletes to finally profit from their name, image, and likeness (“NIL”) rights. (NCAA v. Alston (U.S. 2021)). The Court in Alston unanimously held that the NCAA violated the Sherman Act regarding caps placed on educational benefits …
Big tech and antitrust: What we can learn from FTC’s suit against the monopoly formerly known as Facebook
By Madeleine Hickman, Symposium Director The FTC is gaining ground with the Facebook monopoly lawsuit after the D.C. Circuit Court denied tech giant’s motion to dismiss earlier this year. On Dec. 9, 2020, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), along with 48 U.S. states and territories, filed antitrust lawsuits against social media giant Facebook, Inc. (“Facebook”) …