United States: Copyright

AI-generated performers like Tilly Norwood and Xania Monet are creating real revenue streams through licensing, streaming, and brand partnerships. How should creators, managers, and agencies structure ownership, navigate international tax obligations, and build sustainable business models around digital talent that exists entirely as intellectual property?

In 1989, photographer Jeffrey Sedlik captured a now-iconic portrait of jazz legend Miles Davis — dimly lit, finger pressed to his lips in a "Shh!" gesture. Sedlik registered the photograph with the U.S. Copyright Office in 1994

Anthropic has reached a US$1.5 billion settlement with authors whose copyrighted books were allegedly used without permission to train its Claude AI models. The court distinguished between AI training as potentially fair use and the acquisition of pirated materials as copyright infringement, with over 91% of eligible rights holders submitting claims for compensation averaging US$3,000 per work.

The use of artificial intelligence to digitally recreate deceased actors for film productions presents complex challenges at the intersection of technology, ethics, and intellectual property law. As this practice becomes increasingly sophisticated and widespread, questions arise about ownership rights, consent, and the legal frameworks needed to govern digital resurrection. The entertainment industry faces an evolving landscape where traditional IP protections may not adequately address these novel scenario

Artificial intelligence has created a new form of piracy in film and television, one that doesn't steal finished works but instead extracts the craft and identity of performers themselves. From synthetic actors like Tilly Norwood to unauthorized digital replicas of real stars, the industry faces a fundamental question: when AI learns to recreate a performer's face, voice, and mannerisms from their body of work, whose craft has been taken?

Lee Mendelson Film Productions has launched multiple federal lawsuits against entities including the U.S. Department of the Interior, Heritage Auctions, and gaming companies for unauthorized use of iconic Peanuts music compositions. The cases center on the famous Vince Guaraldi jazz recordings, including "Linus and Lucy" and "O Tannenbaum," used without permission in social media posts and video games. Will these strict liability copyright claims result in substantial damages and set a precedent for protect

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in creative processes, fundamental questions about authorship and copyright protection are emerging. This episode examines how courts and the Copyright Office are drawing lines between AI-generated content and human creativity, exploring what protections exist for works created with AI assistance and what documentation practices companies should adopt to safeguard their intellectual property rights.

In May 2026, many of us watched as Stephen Colbert took his final bow on The Late Show amid controversy. The day after the final episode, he reappeared behind the desk of Only in Monroe...

Rather than waiting for AI-specific legislation, plaintiffs are trying to fit AI-related conduct into existing statutes, many containing statutory damages provisions.