nicole sapieha
Internet Defamation Law Clarified
The recent ruling in Pineau v. KMI Publishing and Events Ltd. by the B.C. Court of Appeal has clarified an important distinction in internet defamation cases. While sharing a hyperlink to a defamatory article created by a third party does not establish liability, sharing a hyperlink to one’s own defamatory article can impact damage assessment. […]
AI creators must study consciousness, experts warn
Dozens of academics worldwide are urging AI developers to explore the depths of consciousness as AI systems advance. While AI having emotions and human-like consciousness may no longer be confined to science fiction, experts agree we’re far from reaching that level of sophistication. However, AI is rapidly evolving, leading some to advocate for a pause […]
Snapchat joining the AI game
If you’re a Snapchat user, you’ve probably encountered their new feature, “My AI,” & if you’re like anyone else, you probably have mixed feelings about it. Well, you’re not alone. Powered by OpenAI’s GPT technology, My AI is pinned at the top of users’ chat feeds. Only paid subscribers can remove it (sparking many users’ […]
Elon Musk threatens to sue Microsoft over Twitter data
Elon Musk has threatened to sue Microsoft, claiming that the tech giant has used data from his social media company without permission. Musk made the accusation in a tweet, stating that Microsoft had “trained illegally using Twitter data”. He did not provide further details or evidence to support his claim. The dispute arose after Microsoft […]
Cleopatra Casting Controversy
A new Netflix docudrama series depicting Queen Cleopatra VII as a black African has stirred up controversy in Egypt after an Egyptian lawyer filed a complaint against the series, accusing it of violating media laws and trying to erase Egyptian identity. The lawyer demanded that “the necessary legal measures” be taken, and he ultimately wants […]
Celebrity “Faces Off” Against Deep Fake AI App Over Right of Publicity
As we’ve discussed in class, generative AI (GAI) applications have raised many copyright issues, including the right to publicity. A class action lawsuit has been filed against NeoCortext, Inc. for allegedly violating the California Right of Publicity statute by using celebrity images in its deep-fake app, Reface, without permission.
Arkansas Enacts Legislation Restricting Social Media Accounts for Minors
A few weeks ago I shared an article about Utah enacting legislation restricting minors’ usage of the internet. It appears that Arkansas has followed suit, which raises the question of how many more states and subsequently countries will pursue this sort of legislation. Will it be effective? Summary: Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed the […]
Man who sued Gwyneth Paltrow over ski crash regrets ever filing lawsuit
I thought that this was an interesting perspective to share from an unsuccessful plaintiff. For those of you who have not followed this publicized trial, Gwyneth Paltrow has been found not liable for a 2016 serious ski accident which caused the claimant (man) to allegedly suffer “permanent traumatic brain injury, 4 broken ribs, pain, suffering, […]
Rise of the Machines: How AI is Shaking Up the Music Industry
AI is poised to revolutionize the music industry, but it also presents significant legal challenges for music rights holders and users. AI is being used for personalized playlists, music editing and production, and even creating new music. The US Copyright Office has launched an initiative to examine copyright law and policy issues raised by AI. […]
Utah Limits Teens Under 18 from Social Media Access
Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed two bills that prohibit children under 18 from using social media between 10:30 pm and 6:30 am and require age verification for all social media users in the state. The laws also give parents access to their children’s posts and messages and hold platforms liable for civil fines if they […]
Lindsay Lohan, Jake Paul, and many more caught in entrepreneur’s crypto scheme
More celebrities are being accused of participating in a cryptocurrency scheme, and they’re paying the price for doing so. Actress Lindsay Lohan and YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, amongst 6 other celebrities, were slapped by the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) with an official complaint accusing them of promoting cryptocurrencies without disclosing they were paid to do […]
Dark Times for Dark Patterns?
Epic Games, the developer of the popular video game Fortnite, has been fined a combined $520 million by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for violating FTC rules. The payment is the largest ever required for an FTC rules violation and relates to two complaints concerning in-game microtransactions and privacy concerns. Interestingly, the FTC had […]
A New Outlook on Political Advertising?
The Ontario Election Finances Act (EFA) imposes spending limits on political parties and third parties, with a $600k spending limit for third-party political advertising in the 6-12 months before a general election. Political parties successfully challenged these amendments as an infringement of freedom of expression under §2(b) of the Charter. The government re-enacted identical amendments […]
Arc-teryx or Terrex? Well, You’re About to Find Out
Anyone who lives in the Kitsilano-region and frequents West 4th Ave is sure to have noticed the sudden spike in retial stores selling active-outdoor gear. With Arc-teryx having the stronghold in that area, it was interesting to see an oddly similar brand, Terrex (by Adidas), move into the brick-and-motor location just a few doors East. […]
Amazon Liable for Third-Party’s Trademark Infringement
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled that Amazon can be held liable for trademark infringement if a third-party offers goods infringing an EU trademark on its marketplace platform. The case involved a claim of infringement on Louboutin’s world-renowned red sole trademark. The CJEU considered the concept of “use” in EU […]
Netflix Password Sharing
In light of our conversation last class regarding Netflix account sharing, I thought that this update from Netflix released (~2 hours ago) was timely… Unfortunately, it looks like the end of the journey for those of us who are riding off the coattails of our family’s Netflix accounts. https://about.netflix.com/en/news/an-update-on-sharing?fbclid=IwAR0y-Gzx-pcyN2Xj0p4Hbmu0XVCRFq6jI-2NTTllu3jshBuGLc-_vDQwlOY