United States: Copyright

A federal copyright case over a single Facebook photograph resulted in years of litigation despite a $200 damages award, demonstrating how routine image use in business marketing can create substantial legal and financial exposure. Understanding copyright compliance, licensing requirements, and proper image-sourcing procedures has become essential for businesses seeking to avoid costly infringement disputes.

As digital influencers increasingly incorporate copyrighted music, video clips, and images into their content, the legal boundaries of fair use have become critically important. This analysis examines the four-factor fair use test and reveals common misconceptions that put content creators at risk of copyright infringement. Understanding these legal principles is essential for influencers who monetize their content through ads, sponsorships, and affiliate links.

A public advocate group has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the American Medical Association's copyrights over CPT medical billing codes, arguing these government-mandated codes should be freely accessible to the public. The case raises fundamental questions about whether standardized medical billing codes incorporated into federal law can remain proprietary, with significant implications for healthcare transparency and fraud detection.

Fashion companies navigating intellectual property law must balance creative expression with legal compliance when reviewing product designs. This comprehensive analysis explores the intersection of copyright, trademark, trade dress, design patents, and cultural heritage considerations that shape modern fashion design review processes.

There was a significant ruling in the Doe v. Github case involving training of AI code generator models on open source. The United States Court of Appeals for The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court ruling dismissing part of an action brought under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) by programmers against GitHub, Inc., and other defendants. The issues centered on whether defendants removed copyright management information (CMI) from content used to train the AI code generator models.

Universal Music Group's lawsuit against DistroKid raises a critical question about AI disclosure in consumer markets: when does the use of artificial intelligence become material information that must be disclosed to consumers? The case centers on allegations that DistroKid distributed mass-generated AI music while creating the impression it was created by legitimate human artists, potentially violating existing consumer protection laws even without specific AI disclosure requirements.

An artist sends drawings and 3D files to an overseas foundry. The foundry casts the commissioned sculptures, keeps the molds, photographs the unfinished work, and pulls a few extra casts. Images appear online before the artist’s exhibition opens. Soon, sellers are offering cheaper versions under the artist’s name.

On August 3, 2026, Governor Greg Abbott issued a directive to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) mandating a “comprehensive verification and audit” of all data center projects currently advancing through the ERCOT interconnection process. T

Managing Partner Brett Johnson of Winston Taylor's Dallas office shares insights on artificial intelligence's impact on intellectual property law, the evolution of the legal industry, and the strategic advantages of the firm's transatlantic platform. The conversation explores innovation in legal practice, the new Texas Business Court, and how combining local expertise with global capabilities creates value for clients.