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SUMNER IP LAW PLLC
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336 Cumberland Street
Lebanon, PA 17042
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717.202.5528

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U.S. Copyright Claims Board Offers a Low Cost Path to Enforcement
The U.S. Copyright Claims Board recently went live, offering copyright holders a low cost method of enforcement. The filing fee is...
Hilary Sumner
Jul 2, 20221 min read
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Copyright Day 2022 - What works are now in the public domain?
The written works Winnie-the-Pooh and Bambi are now in the public domain. Click here for a list of this year’s releases.
Hilary Sumner
Jan 14, 20221 min read
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Weaponizing Copyrights in Cancel Culture
Recently many have been turning to copyrights as a means of punishing or silencing their opponents. In one recent case, a police...
Hilary Sumner
Nov 29, 20211 min read
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Internet Archive Being Sued over COVID-19 "Emergency Library"
The Internet Archive (IA) is a nonprofit organization that has digitally preserved more than 1.4 million books and historical documents....
Hilary Sumner
Dec 13, 20201 min read
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New Materials Entering the Public Domain
A host of books, musical works, literary works and art created in 1924 have entered the public domain on January 1st and are now free to...
Hilary Sumner
Jan 29, 20201 min read
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NCAA to Allow Athletes to Profit from their Name, Likeness & Image
On October 29th, the NCAA announced it will begin a process that will eventually allow athletes to profit from their image, name and...
Hilary Sumner
Nov 1, 20191 min read
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Does Sovereign Immunity Apply to States in Copyright Infringement Cases?
In 1996, Blackbeard's famed ship Queen Anne's Revenge was discovered by a private salvage company. A film crew was subsequently hired to...
Hilary Sumner
Oct 31, 20191 min read
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U.S. Copyright Office Modernization
Copyright Office continues to explore a variety of options to streamline the copyright process and reduce registration times. CLICK HERE...
Hilary Sumner
Oct 25, 20191 min read
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New EU Copyright Law Requires Tech Giants to Pay for Content
New EU legislation known as Article 11 and Article 13 was recently passed, requiring companies such as Facebook, YouTube and Google to...
Hilary Sumner
Sep 29, 20191 min read
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Music Modernization Act Signed into Law
The President recently signed the Music Modernization Act into law. This legislation streamlines payment to songwriters by creating a...
Hilary Sumner
Sep 29, 20191 min read
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Louis Vitton Doesn't See the Humor
A hand bag company called My Other Bag (MOB) has been engaged in a long legal battle with Louis Vitton. The company claimed that MOB's...
Hilary Sumner
Sep 29, 20191 min read
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Use Caution When Threatening an IP Action in the U.K.
"Threatening" a potential infringer for acts performed in the UK will now be governed by a new Intellectual Property Unjustified Threats...
Hilary Sumner
Sep 29, 20191 min read
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Are Culinary Creations Protected by Copyright Law?
While copyright law will not protect utilitarian articles, it will protect the creative expression in making those articles. As a...
Hilary Sumner
Sep 29, 20191 min read
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Are Tattoos Works of Art under Copyright Law?
LeBron James' tattoo artist recently filed suit against the makers of NBA2K16 claiming that their use of the tattoo in the video game...
Hilary Sumner
Sep 29, 20191 min read
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Google's Library Project Found to be a Fair Use
Google's Library Project offers digital versions of books sent to the project by libraries. Google has not secured permission to use...
Hilary Sumner
Sep 29, 20191 min read
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"Happy Birthday" Song now in the Public Domain
A California judge hearing a copyright suit against Warner/Chappell music recently ruled that the "Happy Birthday" song is in the public...
Hilary Sumner
Sep 29, 20191 min read
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Use Caution when Issuing Take Down Notices: "Copyright Law Does Not Authorize Thoughtless Censors...
A Pennsylvania woman recently faced a copyright infringement suit when she posted a video of her child dancing to Prince's "Let's Go...
Hilary Sumner
Sep 29, 20191 min read
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Artist Uses Snow As Canvas
Artist Simon Beck is well known for his artworks in the snow. Using snowshoes, he creates stunning geometric masterpieces often the size...
Hilary Sumner
Sep 29, 20191 min read
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Products Merely Having the "Look and Feel" of a Trademarked Brand Can Still Be a Counterfeit in t...
Designers have been increasingly proactive in protecting their marks and brands by filing trademark infringement suits against those...
Hilary Sumner
Sep 29, 20191 min read
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U.S. Copyright Office Proposes Creation of Small Claims Tribunal
The U.S. Copyright Office has proposed the creation of a 3 person tribunal to adjudicate smaller value copyright claims. Use of this...
Hilary Sumner
Sep 29, 20191 min read
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