International Writers Groups Back AI Standards Charter; Publishers Weekly, October 15, 2026

Jim Milliot, Publishers Weekly; International Writers Groups Back AI Standards Charter

"The U.K.’s Society of Authors (SoA) is leading an effort of international writers’ organizations and other creative industry bodies to launch a global charter setting out commitments to the responsible and ethical use of generative AI services.

The SoA has teamed with the Creators’ Rights Alliance in the U.K., the Authors Guild in the U.S., the Australian Society of Authors, the Writers’ Union of Canada and the New Zealand Society of Authors to create a Charter of Ethical AI Use in the Creative Industries.

The charter specifically addresses generative AI and how it should be deployed to help protect and support human creators. Its creation, the SoA said, comes as governments across the globe continue to drag their feet in in [sic] committing to AI regulation and oversight."

Midjourney: Report Claims AI Model Is Worst Offender For Flouting Hollywood Copyright; Deadline, October 14, 2026

Jake Kanter, Deadline ; Midjourney: Report Claims AI Model Is Worst Offender For Flouting Hollywood Copyright

"Disney and NBCUniversal accused Midjourney of being a “bottomless pit of plagiarism” in a lawsuit last year. More than 18 months on, the company allegedly has failed to clean up its act.

VN.ai, a tech startup that stress tests generative artificial intelligence tools for copyright infringement, has produced its first quarterly report examining how 15 popular AI models performed when it comes to flouting studio IP.

The research conducted last month found that Midjourney v8.1 was the worst offender when it came to reproducing images of copyrighted characters. The AI model also outranked competitors on so-called “brand safety violations,” meaning characters were placed in a “harmful context,” such as scenes of violence or drug taking."

Saudi OpenAI employee arrested after recording device found in headquarters; The Guardian, October 13, 2026

 Maya Yang, The Guardian; Saudi OpenAI employee arrested after recording device found in headquarters

"OpenAI said it has found a hidden recording device in one of its offices and has referred the matter to the FBI. One of its employees has been arrested.

In a statement on Tuesday, the San Francisco-based AI company said it discovered the “sophisticated recording device” and used one of its “models to understand the device and where it had come from”...

Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, a Saudi national, was arrested on 9 October, according to a press release from the US Department of Justice.

Alfozan allegedly plugged an encrypted recording device, concealed within toilet paper, into a TV in an executive conference room in OpenAI’s San Francisco headquarters on 28 September. Meetings in the room regularly covered confidential information, the FBI’s press release said. A security sweep conducted two days later revealed the device, according to the justice department. Surveillance footage allegedly documented him walking around the meeting room in the days leading up to its discovery."

Character.ai Files For Bankruptcy—Disney Bids $20 Million After Copyright Dispute; Forbes, October 13, 2026

Siladitya Ray, Forbes; Character.ai Files For Bankruptcy—Disney Bids $20 Million After Copyright Dispute

"AI chatbot platform Character.ai, which faced lawsuits over teen suicides and copyright disputes, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday and announced it had received a $20 million opening offer to license some of its intellectual property from Disney—which previously accused the the AI company of unauthorized use of its copyrighted characters...

In a statement, Character.ai said it had voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware to enable a sale of its assets."

Can Trade Secret Law Protect Indigenous Knowledge?; Law360, October 9, 2026

Ivan Moreno , Law360; Can Trade Secret Law Protect Indigenous Knowledge?

[Kip Currier: It's intriguing to see trade secret law (re)considered as a potential means for enabling indigenous communities to secure protection of their communal knowledge.

My Bloomsbury book Ethics, Information, and Technology (2025) has extensive separate chapters on Indigenous Knowledge and Intellectual Property, as well as AI.]

"As the U.S. and other countries struggle to agree on new international protections for Indigenous knowledge, trade secret law is drawing renewed attention as a possible solution for material that communities actually keep confidential."

A Lego copyright fight over a jacket worn on ‘Queer Eye’ is headed toward trial; Boston.com, October 1, 2026

Beth Treffeisen, Boston.com; A Lego copyright fight over a jacket worn on ‘Queer Eye’ is headed toward trial

"Concannon learned about the minifigure in September 2021. His lawyers wrote in court documents that he said he was initially “happy” to see the jacket featured in the set. He later realized, his lawyers wrote, that a “major company had misappropriated his art without credit or compensation.”

In an Instagram post, Concannon said he reached out to Lego asking for a free set.

“It was sad on the release date to be told ‘we can’t send you a box, but you can buy one,’” Concannon’s post read. “I used to really like legos. Now = intellectual property theft.”

Lego argued that Concannon had given Porowski an implied license to use the jacket as part of his likeness, which Porowski could then license to Lego. The company also argued that its version was sufficiently transformed to qualify as fair use."

Swedish Company Uses A.I. Likeness of Greta Garbo in Ad; The New York Times, October 1, 2026

Isabella Kwai, The New York Times; Swedish Company Uses A.I. Likeness of Greta Garbo in Ad

"An ad for a Swedish manufacturing company released this week turned an A.I.-generated likeness of Ms. Garbo into a company spokeswoman."

Every Major Anime Piracy Site to Shut Down in 2026 (So Far); CBR, September 25, 2026

Ami Nazru, CBR; Every Major Anime Piracy Site to Shut Down in 2026 (So Far)

"Online piracy is hydra-headed -- shut down one domain, and several alternatives emerge to replace it. For years, viewers have relied on this logic to brush off copyright crackdowns as minor disruptions, believing that their favorite anime streaming portals won’t stay missing for long.

While that pattern held true for years, 2026 saw the smooth-sailing ecosystem get rocked as rights holders brought down the hammer against some of the largest illegal anime streaming websites across the globe.

Unbeknownst to fans, piracy watchdogs applied sustained legal pressure behind the scenes to target even the backend structure of these sites. What began as a whack-a-mole operation had now snowballed into a coordinated effort that dismantled and cut off these networks from their audience."

Apple Owes $5.7 Billion to Litigation-Funded Firm in Patent Case; Bloomberg Law, September 25, 2026

Michael Shapiro

, Bloomberg Law; Apple Owes $5.7 Billion to Litigation-Funded Firm in Patent Case

"Apple Inc. owes over $5.7 billion for infringing patents belonging to Taction Technology Inc. that cover vibration-based technology incorporated in models of iPhones and Apple Watches, a federal jury in San Diego found Friday.

Jurors in the US District Court for the Southern District of California spent parts of two days before determining that Apple infringed claims from two Taction haptics patents — US Patent Nos. 10,659,885 and 10,820,117. They determined, however, that the infringement wasn’t willful."

As the Copyright Act turns 50, the Copyright Office looks back at how the law has evolved; Federal News Network, September 23, 2026

Terry Gerton, Federal News Network; As the Copyright Act turns 50, the Copyright Office looks back at how the law has evolved

"Terry Gerton So Miriam, 50 years is a big birthday for anybody, but always for a law. What are the big things that people should know about the copyright law itself?

Miriam Lord Well, and a little bit of background about how it came to be, with instrumental support from the Copyright Office, Congress passed the Act to modernize copyright law for a rapidly changing world. It was signed into law on October 19th, 1976, so we’re celebrating a little early. The principal provisions took effect in 1978. The Office implemented the act, administers the act which includes the registration and recordation systems, and worked with Congress on amendments over time. When it was passed, the act broke new ground by making the copyright system more accessible to creators and users of creative works. And it continues to provide a framework that promotes the office’s constitutional mission."

Charlotte small businesses hit with costly rebrands over naming conflicts; Axios, August 28, 2026

McKenzie Rankin , Axios; Charlotte small businesses hit with costly rebrands over naming conflicts

"Charlotte small businesses are losing money and marketing momentum after getting caught up in naming and trademark conflicts — sometimes days before opening.

Why it matters: It's already notoriously expensive to run a local business in Charlotte. But overlooking trademark clearance early on can mean paying for a new name, signage, branding and legal help after thousands of dollars have already been invested.

By the numbers: Federal trademark applications cost $350 per category of goods or services, explains Charlotte trademark attorney Darlene Harris, while hiring an attorney can run roughly $1,000-$5,000."

Sony, Warner sue Anthropic, alleging "blatant theft" of intellectual property; Axios, August 29, 2026

 Ben Berkowitz , Axios; Sony, Warner sue Anthropic, alleging "blatant theft" of intellectual property

"Some of the world's largest music publishers filed a blockbuster lawsuit against Anthropic late Friday night, alleging "one of the largest and most blatant ongoing thefts of intellectual property in history."

Why it matters: The suit is the opening salvo in what is now likely to be a yearslong fight over music, AI, and how intellectual property is protected in a new era of technology.

Driving the news: Units of Sony Music and Warner Music filed the suit in federal court in northern California late Friday night, naming Anthropic, CEO Dario Amodei and co-founder Benjamin Mann as defendants. 

The big picture: The Sony/Warner lawsuit is notable because it's broad.

It alleges Anthropic unlawfully trained its models off "tens of thousands" of music publishers' copyrighted compositions, whereas other lawsuits have focused on a narrower set of works.

BMG's lawsuit against Anthropic, for example, claims infringement against 493 compositions."

Loving Dolly Was Easy. Understanding Her Was Hard.; The New York Times, August 27, 2026

TRESSIE MCMILLAN COTTOM, The New York Times; Loving Dolly Was Easy. Understanding Her Was Hard.

"Want to look down on her about being parochial? You will have to square that with her outstanding business acumen. At a time when women and poor people signed away their intellectual property for a shot at stardom, Dolly started a series of successful publishing companies to retain her rights."

From Napster to Sampling to AI: Copyright Law’s Role as the Sheriff to Emerging Technology; JD Supra, August 25, 2026

Richard Busch , JD Supra; From Napster to Sampling to AI: Copyright Law’s Role as the Sheriff to Emerging Technology

"Copyright law rarely meets new technology at the start. More often, it arrives after technology, and those behind it seeking to push (or ignore) the law for monetary gain have already changed markets, habits, and expectations. In music, that pattern has repeated across many major technological shifts. This article focuses on several: digital sampling, which made fragments of existing recordings newly usable in the studio; digital downloads, which changed the economics of distribution; interactive streaming, which made all music available for license on demand; platform music libraries, which embedded music into social media tools; and artificial intelligence, where those building literally trillion dollar businesses have trained on copyrighted works, and used others’ voice and likeness. In each of these instances, creators and rights holders have had to ask courts, Congress, or regulators to apply existing legal frameworks to commercial realities.

My work in music copyright litigation has often involved a recurring collision between music, technology, and copyright law."

Dolly Parton Refused a Rock Legend in 1974: ‘I Had to Keep That Copyright in My Pocket’; Parade, August 25, 2026

Melina Gray, Parade; Dolly Parton Refused a Rock Legend in 1974: ‘I Had to Keep That Copyright in My Pocket’

"Elvis Presley was going to record “I Will Always Love You,” and Dolly Parton had already said yes. Then the phone rang the night before, and it was Colonel Tom Parker, Presley’s manager, with a condition nobody had mentioned. Elvis did not record anything unless Parker’s side took half the publishing.

Parton, who died Tuesday at 80, had written the song in 1973 as a goodbye to her longtime duet partner Porter Wagoner, on the same day she wrote “Jolene.” It was one of roughly 3,000 songs she wrote, and a No. 1 country hit under her own name. Handing over half of it meant handing over what she planned to leave her family. She turned Presley down in 1974 and, by her own account, cried all night. “I had to keep that copyright in my pocket,” she later said."

The War on Spoilers Goes Nuclear; Puck, August 18, 2026

ERIQ GARDNER, Puck; The War on Spoilers Goes Nuclear

"When Warner Bros. recently submitted takedown notices against independent pop-culture site Cosmic Book News over an alleged ‘Green Lantern’ leak, it highlighted the legal lengths studios will go to quash unsanctioned pre-premiere discussion of their hottest properties. It’s still unclear if the law is exactly on the I.P. owners’ side, but the legal process certainly is."

Law expert says Buc-ee’s faces uphill battle in Beaver’s Mini Mart suit; WHIO, August 6, 2026

  

Megan Finke, WHIO.com and Xavier Hershovitz, WHIO; Law expert says Buc-ee’s faces uphill battle in Beaver’s Mini Mart suit

"Hershovitz talked with University of Michigan law professor Jessica Litman. She focuses on intellectual property law. 

“Trademark infringement requires the trademark owner to prove that the marks are sufficiently similar that consumers are likely to be confused,” Litman said. 

She said Buc-ee’s has filed several lawsuits against businesses for copyright infringement.

“When Buc-ee’s started a national expansion, it started filing trademark suits against other convenience stores attached to gas stations that it saw in the way of its expansion, and it’s been something of a bully,” Litman said. 

When looking at the two logos, Litman said she finds it unlikely that it would “be able to prove a likelihood of confusion.”

But she said these lawsuits are very expensive. 

While she believes no judge or jury would rule in Buc-ee’s favor, getting to that point can be tough for small businesses. 

“A number of businesses have decided that it’s way too expensive to go to trial on this, and have settled by agreeing to change their neighbor logo,” she said."

From the first U.S. patent to the next 250 years of American innovation; United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), August 4, 2026 1 PM EDT

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) ; From the first U.S. patent to the next 250 years of American innovation

"Join the USPTO as we commemorate the 236th anniversary of the first U.S. patent and celebrate 250 years of American innovation. Join us virtually on August 4, 2026, from 1-2 p.m. ET. 

What you will learn:

• The history of the first U.S. patent
• How the patent system works today
• Resources available to inventors and small businesses
• How American inventors have shaped the nation over the past 250 years

On July 31, 1790, the United States granted the first U.S. patent to Samuel Hopkins for an improved process for making potash. This patent, signed by George Washington, was the first of nearly 13 million patents the U.S. government has granted.

This program will connect that historic milestone to the present day. Speakers will explore the origins of the patent system, how it supports innovation today, and how inventors, entrepreneurs, and small businesses can use USPTO resources.  

This event is part of the agency’s efforts to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary and highlight the important role of intellectual property in our nation’s growth."

Maryland fully acquires rights to Preakness Stakes' intellectual property in $85M deal; WJLA.com, July 30, 2026

Winston Rogers, WJLA.com; Maryland fully acquires rights to Preakness Stakes' intellectual property in $85M deal

"Maryland has closed a deal to acquire the intellectual property rights to the Preakness Stakes in a move leaders said would keep the Triple Crown race within the state going forward, according to Governor Wes Moore's Office on Thursday."

USPTO unveils new, improved homepage design; United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), July 23, 2026

Press Release, United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO); USPTO unveils new, improved homepage design; United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

"As part of our efforts to improve and enhance the digital experience for USPTO.gov visitors, America's Innovation Agency, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), has unveiled a modernized homepage design to make it easier to find valuable information and resources.  

Launched on July 23, the updated USPTO homepage features a clean, more intuitive design that puts information front and center, giving users fast access to USPTO services, resources, and relevant information.  

“We’ve not only refreshed the way our homepage looks and feels, but we’ve reimagined how our visitors navigate the valuable resources we offer,” said John A. Squires, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO. “The new homepage reflects the extensive time and effort our team invested in researching how people use our site and how we can improve their experience.” 

The modernized design is part of ongoing efforts to improve federal digital services available to the public.  

The agency is committed to incorporating public feedback to enhance our agency’s visitor experience on our website. Following the launch, the USPTO will collect and analyze user feedback to make additional improvements to the site. A special link to provide feedback will be available on the homepage itself."