Podcast
The Briefing by Weintraub Tobin
Hosted by Weintraub Tobin · EN
In The Briefing by Weintraub Tobin, intellectual property attorney Scott Hervey and his guests discuss current IP issues related to trademark, copyright, and entertainment, as well as IP litigation and intellectual property in the news.
29episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
UMG v. Quince: When Trending Audio Becomes Copyright Infringement
3d agoTap to summarizeIn this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Jessica Marlow break down UMG Records v. Last Brand, the lawsuit targeting Quince’s alleged use of unlicensed music across social media marketing. In this episode, they cover: Why platform music libraries do not automatically clear commercial use How influencer briefs, reposts, and “trending audio” can create copyright risk What brands and creators should address in influencer agreements before content goes live For brands, agencies, and influencer marketing teams, this case is a reminder that viral content still needs to be legally cleared. Tune in for a clear look at where music licensing meets influencer marketing, brand control, and copyright liability.
Transcribe →Documentary Fair Use After Warhol: The Tenth Circuit Gets It Right
1w agoTap to summarizeDid the courts just preserve documentary filmmaking as we know it? In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin Partner Scott Hervey and Associate Caroline M. Korpiel revisit the Tiger King fair use dispute and break down the Tenth Circuit’s new opinion in Whyte Monkee Productions v. Netflix. In this episode, they cover: Why the original ruling alarmed documentary filmmakers and copyright experts How the Tenth Circuit reconsidered fair use after Warhol v. Goldsmith What this decision means for documentaries, biographical storytelling, and “biographical anchor” fair use Whether you’re a filmmaker, producer, content creator, or IP professional, this episode offers important insight into the future of fair use in documentary storytelling. Watch this episode on our YouTube or listen to the podcast here.
Transcribe →Amazon v. Perplexity: Can Websites Block AI Agents?
2w agoTap to summarizeWhat happens when your AI assistant can act for you, but the platform says no? In this episode of The Briefing, Scott Hervey and Richard D. Buckley, Jr. break down the high-stakes dispute between Amazon and Perplexity AI over AI agents accessing password-protected user accounts. In this episode, they cover: – What “agentic AI” means and how tools like Comet actually function – Why Amazon moved quickly for a preliminary injunction – How the CFAA and California law are being used to challenge AI-driven access Tune in for a clear look at whether platform owners can legally fence off AI agents from interacting with their systems.
Transcribe →Frida Kahlo vs. The 11th Circuit – A Warning for IP Owners Everywhere
3w agoTap to summarizeCan sending a cease-and-desist letter land you in court across the country? In this episode of The Briefing, Scott Herveyand Richard D. Buckley, Jr. break down a major Eleventh Circuit decision involving the Frida Kahlo brand and the risks tied to aggressive IP enforcement. In this episode, they cover: When cease-and-desist letters cross the line into tortious conduct How the corporate shield doctrine can fail when personal rights are asserted Why the “effects test” can pull IP owners into out-of-state litigation Tune in for a clear look at how a single demand letter can determine where you end up litigating.
Transcribe →Taylor Swift, Trademark Law, and the Fight Over ‘Life of a Showgirl’
Apr 17Tap to summarizeCan a five word phrase be worth millions? In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Matt Sugarman break down the high stakes trademark dispute between Las Vegas performer Maren Flagg and Taylor Swift over the phrase “The Life of a Showgirl.” In this episode, they cover: – Whether a phrase can function as a protectable trademark or just a descriptive title – How the Rogers test applies to tour names and merchandise – What recent Supreme Court rulings mean for First Amendment defenses in trademark law From concert tours to commercial merch, the line between branding and expression is getting harder to define. Tune in for a clear look at where trademark law meets the First Amendment.
Transcribe →March Madness or Trademark Madness? The NCAA v. DraftKings Lawsuit
Apr 10Tap to summarizeCan you use “March Madness” without getting sued? In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Jessica Corpuz break down the NCAA’s lawsuit against DraftKings and the high stakes fight over one of the most recognizable trademarks in sports. In this episode, they cover: What nominative fair use actually means and how courts apply it Why DraftKings says its use of “March Madness” is necessary for bettors How the NCAA argues the use creates false association and brand harm Tune in for a clear look at where trademark law meets sports betting. Watch this episode on our YouTube or listen to the podcast here.
Transcribe →Lemon Pound Cake and the First Amendment
Apr 3Tap to summarizeWhat happens when a failed police raid turns into a music video about lemon poundcake and a $3.9 million lawsuit? In this episode of The Briefing, Scott Hervey and Richard Buckley, Jr. break down the Afroman defamation case, where surveillance footage, satire, and public officials collide under First Amendment law. In this episode, they cover: Why the deputies’ defamation claims failed under the “actual malice” standard How satire and parody shape what counts as a statement of fact Why the lack of an anti-SLAPP law in Ohio changed the entire case strategy Tune in for a clear look at where defamation law meets satire and the First Amendment.
Transcribe →Vampires, Love Triangles, but No Infringement
Mar 27Tap to summarizeWhat happens when two fantasy stories share the same DNA? In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Matt Sugarman break down a major copyright decision involving the Crave series and what it means for substantial similarity in fiction. In this episode, they cover: – Why common genre tropes like love triangles, supernatural powers, and chosen one narratives are not protectable – How courts filter out unprotectable elements using the “more discerning ordinary observer” test – Why combining familiar elements is not enough to prove copyright infringement Tune in for a clear look at where copyright law draws the line between inspiration and infringement.
Transcribe →The Sound of a Lawsuit – David Greene vs Google NotebookLM
Mar 20Tap to summarizeWhen does an AI voice become your voice? In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Richard Buckley break down the lawsuit filed by longtime broadcaster David Greene against Google over its NotebookLM tool and its eerily familiar AI-generated voice. In this episode, they cover: What Greene must prove to win a Right of Publicity claim How Midler and Waits shape the legal standard for voice imitation Why Google’s training data and “knowing use” will be key to the case From forensic voice analysis to AI training practices, this case raises major questions about identity, ownership, and emerging technology. Tune in for a clear look at where the right of publicity meets artificial intelligence
Transcribe →No Paper, No Standing: Kanye West, Copyright Transfers, and the Writing Requirement
Mar 13Tap to summarizeWhat happens when artists agree to transfer rights to a musical composition but never put that transfer in writing? In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Jessica R. Corpuz break down a federal court decision arising from a copyright dispute tied to Ye’s Donda album. The case turned on a simple but unforgiving rule of copyright law: without a written assignment, you do not own the copyright and you cannot enforce it. In this episode, they cover: Why Section 204(a) of the Copyright Act requires copyright transfers to be in writing The legal difference between composition copyrights and sound recording copyrights How the lack of a written assignment wiped out most of the plaintiff’s infringement claims Tune in for a clear reminder that in copyright law, if it is not in writing, it may as well not exist.
Transcribe →