Mini Law LessonWhat Goldieblox v. Beastie Boys

Taught Us

Brian Heidelberger bheidelb@winston.com

Twitter @briheidelbergerInfo @ www.winston.com/bheidelberger

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER

• I am not your attorney.• This is not legal advice.

• …. This is only a parody of legal advice

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Goldieblox Ad

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The Law• Use of another’s work without permission

can only be legal if it’s a “fair use”• Purpose of use needs to transform the

original and be criticism or commentary, rather than attention getting

• Commercial nature of an ad weighs against “fair use”

• More “transformative” the less the commercial nature matters

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Supreme Court Sets Standard for “Fair Use”

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Cases Finding Ad “Fair Use”

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Cases Finding Ad Not Fair Use

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Cases Finding Ad Not Fair Use

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Cases Finding Ad Not Fair Use

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Who Would Have Won?

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Teachings

1. Be careful you will likely get a complaint2. Research property owner 3. Ads face an uphill battle 4. Use must comment or criticize the original

work – not just use it because its cool5. Key stakeholders should sign off on risk 6. Most won’t get Goldieblox-style publicity7. Legal battles are expensive – even if you are

right

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@BriHeidelberger

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More Mini Law Lessons

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