Blurred Lines and Pretty Woman: Substantial Similarity and Fair Use in Music Infringement Cases

Music cases have been making headlines recently. The lines of copyright infringement have been blurred (pun intended) as courts struggle with applying differing and ill-defined tests for substantial similarity. And as the substantial similarity doctrine has struggled to keep up, many have wondered if fair use should play a larger role in the way music infringement cases are decided. This panel will highlight some recent decisions and discuss the state of substantial similarity and fair use in music infringement cases while looking forward to how these doctrines might develop to address the changing landscape.

A pizza lunch will be provided.

NOW APPROVED FOR 1 GENERAL CLE CREDIT HOUR IN GEORGIA
Please bring $5 (check or cash) if you would like CLE credit

Speakers

Steve Eisenberg of Lipscomb, Eisenberg & Baker, an intellectual property and commercial litigation firm in Miami, Florida.  Mr. Eisenberg has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, as a Top Lawyer by the South Florida Legal Guide, and as a Florida Super Lawyer, and he focuses part of his practice on intellectual property and entertainment law, representing music publishers, music artists, visual artists, and others involved in the entertainment industry.  He has served as the chair of the Florida Bar Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law Section of the Florida Bar and is a frequent lecturer on intellectual property and entertainment law issues. 

Andrew Pequignot of The Moore Firm, LLC, an entertainment and intellectual property boutique firm in Atlanta, Georgia.  Mr. Pequignot has been recognized as a “Rising Star” in Intellectual Property by Super Lawyers magazine each year since 2012 and focuses his practice on copyright, trademark, and entertainment matters, with litigation, transactional, and counseling experience in diverse areas, including intellectual property licensing, fair use, First Amendment, and rights of privacy and publicity. He served on the committee that drafted the pattern jury instructions for copyright cases in the Eleventh Circuit and is on the editorial board of the Journal of The Copyright Society of the U.S.A. (“CSUSA”). He also formerly co-chaired the Southeast Chapter of CSUSA and chaired the copyright committee of the IP Section of the State Bar of Georgia.  He is a frequent writer and speaker and has lectured at Emory University and Georgia State University.

Cost: FREE

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