J.R.McHale

Lawsuits involving publicity rights, a form of “intellectual property rights” on almost any aspect of a person — their likeness, appearance, voice, mannerisms, gestures, etc. — used for “commercial use” are becoming increasingly prevalent. TechDirt discusses an article in the ABA Journal by Eriq Gardner: “What’s in a Name? Publicity rights lawyers are finding there’s plenty of value in a growing practice.”

Techdirt article, “Must Read: CCIA Sets US IP Czar Straight On Intellectual Property,” on the comments submitted to the White House IP Czar regarding the USA’s strategic IP plan. Techdirt post includes as embedded documents, the full MPAA/RIAA/et.al. filing, as well as the filing of the Net Coalition/CCIA.

According to Techdirt: “It was a bit troubling that the questions asked in the [request for comment] focused solely on increased enforcement and the amount of harm done by infringement — as if it never even occurred to folks that increased enforcement might not be best for culture or the economy, and that there may also be mitigating benefits to infringement.”