New Media Rights Joins the Free Expression Legal Network!

We are thrilled to announce that we joined the Free Expression Legal Network. Supporting journalists and nonprofit news organizations has always been an important part of our work. Journalists face many of the same intellectual property, privacy, and media law issues that challenge other creatives and entrepreneurs.

The Free Expression Legal Network is a nationwide coalition of school clinics, academics, and practitioners focused on promoting and protecting free speech, free press, and the free flow of information to an informed and engaged citizenry. The creation of the network was led by the Reporter's Committee for the Free Press and Yale Freedom & Information Access Clinic.  Members work on media law, transparency, and/or access issues, either as their primary focus or as it intersects with their work on other issues. READ MORE
 

Submitted by New Media Rights last modified Mon, 09/09/2019 - 1:00pm

Device: A Podcast that Explores Scientific Plot Devices and how they Affect the Public’s Understanding of Science

Device is a monthly book discussion with a science-based twist, hosted by creator Emily Griffiths. The podcast focuses on how authors often rely on scientific phenomena as plot devices, altering what’s scientifically possible to create an engaging plot line, which can often result in great storytelling, but the science can be exaggerated or lost in the process. Currently distributed by KPBS as part of its Explore Local Content Project, Device talks to local scientists in San Diego and throughout California to talk what’s real, and what’s science fiction.

Once a program like Device is up and running, creators will often reach out to various distributors to share their content on broader platforms and with audiences throughout the world. There are legal needs at all stages of producing content like a podcast, and New Media Rights was glad to be able to provide services to Emily to help interpret and understand her distribution agreement with KPBS.

Submitted by New Media Rights last modified Thu, 05/28/2020 - 2:04pm

Event: KPBS Explore Program Orientation Workshops

Staff Attorney Erika Lee and Student Fellow Alexandra Inman will be at the KPBS Explore Local Content Program orientation workshops on August 27th and 28th at 7pm!

They'll be speaking about what kind of legal issues filmmakers, podcasters and other content creators need to be aware of throughout all stages of production, as well as how copyright and music licensing affects production.

 

Submitted by New Media Rights last modified Fri, 09/06/2019 - 1:34pm

Media and Data Privacy Law at Hoover High School

New Media Rights recently teamed up with California Western's Community Law Project (CLP) to present a media and privacy law presentation at Hoover High School!  

Assistant Director Shaun Spalding and Staff Attorney Erika Lee talked to three freshman classes about some of the laws that control deceptive advertising online, data collection laws like the Children's Online Privacy Act, and how social media sites comply with these important laws. We also got to talk about how some artificial intelligence technologies learn from the content that people post online. READ MORE

Submitted by New Media Rights last modified Thu, 04/25/2019 - 2:12pm

Event: SD Film Week "Funding and Distribution for Feature Films"

Staff Attorney Erika Lee will be participating in the "Funding and Distribution for Feature Films" panel duriing San Diego Film Week 2019! On Saturday at 1:30pm, Erika will be discussing film financing and distribution for the local San Diego market, and exploring the different or nontraditional approaches that are available.

 
Submitted by New Media Rights last modified Fri, 04/12/2019 - 6:46pm

Event: Intersections Art and Law at the Border

Executive Director Art Neill will be speaking at Intersections: Art and Law at the Border on Saturday, April 6 at 10am! He will be discussing intellectual property for artists in the digital age, including copyright, fair use, licensing, and some of the key issues that artists face on a global spectrum. 

Submitted by New Media Rights last modified Mon, 04/08/2019 - 3:58pm

Copyright & The Classroom: Using Copyrighted Material In Classrooms and Distance Learning

There are many situations, particularly in a classroom environment, where you might want to use copyright-protected material but you can’t obtain permission from the copyright holder. A common example would be a teacher who wants to read a poem from a book or show an educational cartoon to her class. Thankfully, copyright law addresses these particular types of uses directly, in 17 U.S.C. § 110. Section 110 provides important exemptions for certain performances and displays of copyrighted works in the classroom (and certain limited online learning situations) that would otherwise be considered infringement.

Submitted by New Media Rights last modified Thu, 04/23/2020 - 3:50pm

Event: SD Media Pros Meeting - Let's Talk Business

Staff Attorney Erika Lee and Assistant Director Shaun Spalding will be at the March SD Media Pros meeting to discuss copyright and creative contracts! 

Join us on Wednesday, March 27th as we cover some advanced copyright topics, including licensing and fair use, and a big picture discussion of contracts for creative professionals. What do you need to include in your freelance contracts? What do terms like "indemnification" and "representations and warranties" mean? How can I protect my interests when I enter into a contract with a distributor?  Join us to learn more about how you can use your creative content as leverage in your contracts.

Submitted by New Media Rights last modified Fri, 03/22/2019 - 2:41pm

New Media Rights Supports Copyright Registration Modernization in Copyright Office Study

While a person doesn’t need to register their work with the Copyright Office in order to receive copyright protection, registration provides significant benefits when copyright owners need to enforce their rights against infringers. But our current registration system is a two-tiered system. It benefits large copyright holders with deep pockets, but can be complicated, expensive, and time-consuming for individuals who produce a lot of works (like video creators, bloggers, podcasters and more).

On January 15, 2019, New Media Rights filed comments with the Copyright Office requesting modernization of the online copyright registration process to level the playing field.

 

Submitted by New Media Rights last modified Thu, 01/31/2019 - 4:52pm

Copyright Week 2019: Modernizing Copyright & Expanding the Public Domain

New Media Rights responds to over 500 requests for legal services every year, and over two thirds of these involve copyright law.  Copyright law protects the work of these creators, but it also controls how the existing culture around us can be reused and commented upon.  That’s why it’s our mission to make sure that copyright related legal services are available to all regardless of ability to pay. This way we can assist creators who are facing unfair copyright takedowns from people who want to troll or bully them, and we can also work with artists whose rights have been infringed to get justice responsibility and without overreaching in their claims. Read more

 
Submitted by New Media Rights last modified Fri, 03/22/2019 - 2:42pm

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Learn about our legal services for: App Developers, Artists & Graphic Designers, Bloggers & Journalists, Clothing Designers, Entrepreneurs, E-commerce Business People & Startups, Filmmakers & YouTube creators, Public Broadcasting producers,Game Developers, Internet users & Smartphone users, Makers, Musicians, Non-Profits, Photographers, Scholars, Researchers, and Writers and Publishers.