Ed-Sheeran-Found-Not-Liable-affa-global

Ed Sheeran Found Not Liable for Plagiarizing Marvin Gaye

Intellectual Property

A federal jury in New York City found on Thursday that Ed Sheeran did not copy Marvin Gaye’s classic “Let’s Get It On” for his own 2014 hit “Thinking Out Loud.” The verdict came after a two-week trial in which Sheeran and his co-writers testified that they came up with the song independently. The lawsuit was filed by the heirs of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote “Let’s Get It On.” They argued that “Thinking Out Loud” copied the structure, melody, and rhythm of their song. However, the jury found that the similarities between the two songs were not substantial enough to constitute copyright infringement. The verdict is a victory for Sheeran, who has been one of the most successful pop stars in the world in recent years. It is also a setback for the heirs of Townsend, who had hoped to win a large settlement from Sheeran. The case was closely watched by the music industry, as it could have set a precedent for future copyright infringement cases. The verdict suggests that courts will be reluctant to find copyright infringement when there are only superficial similarities between two songs. This is not the first time that Sheeran has been accused of plagiarism. In 2017, he settled a lawsuit with the songwriters of the song “Amazing” by Matt Cardle. The songwriters alleged that Sheeran had copied the melody of their song for his own song “Photograph.” Sheeran has denied all allegations of plagiarism. He has said that he writes his songs from scratch and that he does not intentionally copy other artists’ work. The verdict in the Marvin Gaye case is a relief for Sheeran and his fans. It is also a victory for the music industry, as it sends a message that courts will not be quick to find copyright infringement in cases where there are only superficial similarities between two songs.   If you need further information about copyright recordation in Indonesia and other countries, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. Source: The Guardian

Patent-x-Trademark-x-Industrial-Design-x-Copyright-affa-global

Patent, Trademark, Industrial Design, Copyright: Sorting Out Your Intellectual Property

Patent

Intellectual Property (IP) is a term used to describe a variety of intangible assets or creations of the mind that are given legal protection. The three main objects of Intellectual Property are Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights. Here’s a brief explanation of each: 1. Patents Patents are legal protections for inventions. A patent gives the owner the exclusive right to make, use, and sell the invention for a certain period of time, typically 20 years from the date of filing the patent application. 2. Trademarks Trademarks are distinctive signs that are used to identify and distinguish the goods or services of one business from those of another. Trademarks can be in the form of words, logos, symbols, or a combination of these, and they are used to build brand recognition and goodwill. In general, a trademark registration provides protection for 10 years. However, trademark protection can be renewed indefinitely as long as the trademark owner continues to use the mark and pays the necessary renewal fees. 3. Industrial Design Industrial Design is a creation of shape, configuration, or composition of lines or colors, or lines and colors, or a combination thereof in a three-dimensional or two-dimensional form which gives an aesthetic impression and can be realized in a three-dimensional or two-dimensional pattern and can be used to produce products, goods, industrial commodities or handicrafts. 4. Copyrights Copyrights protect original works of authorship, such as books, music, art, and software. Copyright gives the owner the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, and display the work for a certain period of time, typically the life of the creator plus 70 years.   In addition to these three main objects, there are also other forms of Intellectual Property, such as Trade Secrets and Industrial Designs, which provide protection for confidential information and the aesthetic design of products, respectively. Understanding the different categories of Intellectual Property can be crucial for protecting your intangible assets and creations of the mind. Patents provide protection for inventions or discoveries, Trademarks protect distinctive signs that identify and distinguish goods or services, and Copyrights safeguard original works of authorship. By understanding and utilizing these legal protections, individuals and businesses can ensure that their intellectual property is protected and secure. If you need more advice for protecting your IPs in Indonesia and other countries, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. Sources: Law No. 13 of 2016 on Patents (Patent Law); Law No. 20 of 2016 on Trademarks and Geographical Indications (Trademark Law) Law No. 28 of 2014 on Copyrights (Copyright Law);

Perlindungan Hak Cipta dalam NFT (Non-Fungible Token)

Intellectual Property

Non-Fungible Token atau NFT merupakan sebuah aset digital yang mewakili objek di dunia nyata seperti seni, musik, item dalam game, dan video. NFT dijumpai dalam blockchain, yang merupakan buku kas publik terditribusi yang mencatat transaksi dan menyediakan informasi tentang apa yang dijual, oleh siapa dan berapa harga yang dibayarkan. Berbeda dengan Cryptocurrencies, yang merupakan fungible tokens (token yang dapat dipertukarkan), artinya setiap cryptocurrency sama dengan yang lainnya, setiap unit NFT unik dan dapat diidentifikasi dengan jelas. NFT merupakan versi digital dari sertifikat kepemilikan atau keaslian yang secara aman tercatat dalam buku kas blockchain. Pada awalnya NFT hanyalah rekreasi digital dari karya yang ada, sekarang tidak lagi. Saat ini, NFT dibuat dari bentuk yang telah ada seperti seni digital atau bahkan meme. Perlindungan Hak Cipta ada dalam karya asli dari pencipta yang terwujud dalam media ekspresi apapun yang nyata, yang sekarang dikenal, atau kemudian dikembangkan, dimana karya tersebut bisa dirasakan, direproduksi, atau dikomunikasian, baik secara langsung atau dengan bantuan sebuah perangkat. Dengan demikian, karya asli yang diwakili oleh NFT dapat dilindungi oleh Undang-Undang Hak Cipta di sebagian besar yurisdiksi, termasuk di Indonesia. Di Indonesia sendiri Undang-Undang yang mengatur tentang perlindungan Hak Cipta adalah Undang-Undang Nomor 28 Tahun 2014 tentang Hak Cipta. Kepemilikan dari NFT belum tentu berarti kepemilikan atas karya yang diwakili oleh NFT. Seperti lukisan, ketika sudah terjual, hanya ada satu pemilik dari lukisan asli, tetapi, pencipta lukisan tersebut memiliki hak kekayaan intelektual yang mengizinkan mereka untuk membuat salinan, cetakan, atau karya turunan dari lukisan tersebut. Hak cipta dipertahankan oleh pencipta asli dari lukisan tersebut. Kecuali jika ada perjanjian pengalihan hak antara pencipta dan pembeli, berkas dan dokumen hak cipta untuk NFT masih menjadi milik pencipta aslinya. “Pembeli NFT tidak memiliki apapun kecuali hash unik di blockchain dengan catatan transaksional dan hyperlink ke file karya seni”. Pencetakan dan penjualan NFT rentan terhadap penipuan hak cipta dan pelanggaran atas karya yang mendasarinya. Hal tersebut terjadi ketika seseorang mencetak NFT dari sebuah karya, dan secara keliru mengklaim dirinya memiliki hak cipta atas karya tersebut. Singkat cerita, karya yang diwakili oleh NFT dapat dilindungi oleh Undang-Undang Hak Cipta, tetapi NFT itu sendiri tidak bisa. Untuk informasi lebih lanjut tentang perlindungan Hak Cipta NFT, silakan hubungi [email protected].