Unlocking Creativity: 13 Surprising Fun Facts About Copyright You Never Knew

1. Mattel's Taste for Trademarks

While one might think that Mattel has a "taste" for the courtroom, defending Barbie's honor from the clutches of assorted claim-jumpers and idea bandits, the truth is a bit more nuanced: Contrary to popular belief, the company hasn't actually filed over 350 lawsuits for copyright infringement of their iconic doll, but they certainly have a history of high-profile legal battles, such as recent allegations against Rap Snacks for using "Barbie" on their potato chip packaging, which primarily revolve around trademark law and potential consumer confusion.
Source => reuters.com

2. Bram Stoker's Widow Discovers Nosferatu

Beware the unmarked letter bearing grave news: Florence Balcombe Stoker, Bram Stoker's unsuspecting widow, was completely in the dark about the existence of the 1922 film "Nosferatu" until a crypt-ic letter materialized, informing her it was "freely adapted" from "Dracula." Instead of unleashing some vampiric wrath, she joined the British Incorporated Society of Authors and mailed a copy of the program to G. Herbert Thring.
Source => denofgeek.com

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3. Monkey Selfie Copyright Debacle

In a bizarre episode of Monkey Business: Celebes crested macaques photobombed the copyright world when they snapped selfies using British nature photographer David Slater's equipment in 2011. The legal uproar that ensued made it clear that only works created by humans can be copyrighted under United States law, but it also sparked debates about Slater's possible claim to copyright due to his role in the photographic process. Moreover, PETA tried to swing the legal branch by establishing that animals should be copyright holders, but their hopes were ultimately dashed by the courts.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Happy Birthday Song's Royalty Drama

Here's a birthday bonus for your eardrums: The familiar tune of "Happy Birthday" actually started out as a modest morning melody called "Good Morning to All," penned by sibling teachers Patty Hill and Mildred J. Hill in 1893. The 'birthday' lyrics didn't match up with the melody until a printed appearance in 1912, kicking off a festive fiesta of royalty wrangles and international copyright claims that finally settled down in 2015, when a wise old judge declared the tune free for all to sing in the US. As of January 1, 2017, the European Union can serenade its citizens with the freshly public domain ditty too!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Batman vs Spanish Football Club

In a bat-tle for the ages, the Dark Knight takes on a Spanish football club in a showdown fit for a comic book: DC Comics has filed a complaint against FC Valencia, alleging that the club's bat-emblazoned logo, which has graced their shirts for over a century and is rooted in the city's medieval heraldry, infringes on the trademarked Batman logo – and this isn't the first time our caped crusader has come after the team, having previously objected to their logo in 2013.
Source => spielmacher.io

6. Skechers and Adidas Shoe Feud

When shoe feuds turn snugly serious: the curious case of Skechers and Adidas led to a game of "sole" survivor in the courtroom. In February 2020, Skechers filed a preemptive lawsuit against Adidas, alleging that their rival had fraudulently accused them of patent infringement for their Goldie-Peaks sneakers. Yet, their sneaker skirmish ultimately landed in peaceful, impassive territory – the United States District Court for the Central District of California witnessed a resolution and Skechers' request to dismiss the case.
Source => footwearnews.com

7. Defending "SUPER HEROES" Trademark in the UK

In a heroic display of paper napkin guardianship and pencil-wielding justice, DC Comics and Marvel have teamed up to defend their most precious possession: the trade mark for the phrase "SUPER HEROES" in the UK. Fear not, fellow citizens, for the dynamic duo shall continue to safeguard paper goods and stationery with cease-and-desist letters, boldly fending off villains trying to usurp their lexical dominance - even in the realm of business start-up books! Although occasionally encountering resistance, our valiant heroes persevere, maintaining their grip on the term, one quippy catchphrase at a time: Did you know DC Comics and Marvel jointly own a trade mark on "SUPER HEROES" in the UK and have actively enforced it, with mixed success, against usage in various unrelated contexts?
Source => worldcomicbookreview.com

8. Google Books & Fair Use Ruling

Once upon a digital fairytale, Google waved its magic wand and turned millions of dusty old books into byte-sized, search-friendly snippets: In a landmark case, a US federal appeals court ruled that Google's digitization of these literary gems was well within the bounds of fair use, as it was considered a "transformative" endeavor that didn't hinder the market for original books. So next time you're diving into Google Books for some quick quotes or keyword sleuthing, remember that legal fairy godmothers said bibbidi-bobbidi-boo to make it all possible!
Source => washingtonpost.com

9. Stairway to Heaven's Copyright Victory

When the levee breaks, you've got to defend the Stairway to Heaven: In a legal battle that rocked the music world, Led Zeppelin emerged victorious after being accused of plagiarizing their most famous riff from Spirit's song "Taurus," with the US Supreme Court backing their win in 2020. The hallowed tune earned a cool $3.4m in a mere five-year stint, proving it's still a whole lotta love for the iconic rock anthem.
Source => bbc.com

10. Battlestar Galactica vs Star Wars

In an intergalactic showdown worthy of a popcorn-munching audience, Battlestar Galactica and Star Wars locked lightsabers over a copyright kerfuffle: George Lucas and the Galactica creators had a legal dispute over similarities between their franchises, ultimately resolving it out of court. The success of Galactica encouraged Lucas to pursue a television series, while Larson's Mormon faith and Chariots of the Gods influences shone through his work. Both franchises have continued to boldly go their separate ways, with Star Wars expanding into new films and TV shows, and a Battlestar Galactica film on the horizon.
Source => yahoo.com

11. Napster's Reincarnation Saga

Talk about a cat with nine lives – or is it a Napster with 80 million users?: Napster quickly became one of the fastest-growing companies ever before being swatted down by legal challenges rife with copyright infringement claims in 2001, only to rise from the ashes and morph into various incarnations as an online music store and streaming service.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

12. Obama's "Hope" Poster Copycat

When "Hope" became nope: Shepard Fairey, creator of the iconic Barack Obama "Hope" campaign poster, found himself in a sticky legal pickle with The Associated Press back in 2009. Fessing up to having used a copyrighted photo of Obama by Mannie Garcia for The A.P., Fairey's messy copyright infringement case opened up serious discussions on fair-use exceptions and forced him to settle out of court, wallet a little lighter and vowing never to A.P.-propriate another photo without permission.
Source => nytimes.com

13. J.K. Rowling's Magical Copyright Battle

When life gave J.K. Rowling lemons, she turned them into a magical potion to combat copyright thieves: In 2008, the creator of Harry Potter emerged victorious in a lawsuit against RDR Books, a Michigan company that attempted to publish an unauthorized guide titled "Harry Potter Lexicon". This copycat tome was deemed to be a "wholesale theft" of Rowling's 17-year literary journey, ultimately causing "irreparable harm" to her authorial reputation.
Source => theguardian.com