In a striking development, Marvel Characters, Inc. and DC Comics have lost their trademark registrations for “SUPER HEROES” and “SUPER HERO” through a default judgment issued by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) on September 26, 2024. The Historical Journey of “Super Hero” The path to this moment began not with Marvel or DC, … Read more
In a case that echoes recent AI-related intellectual property disputes like Scarlett Johansson’s lawsuit over her voice being used without permission in AI training, Alcon Entertainment has filed a lawsuit against Tesla, Elon Musk, and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBDI) over the unauthorized use of Blade Runner 2049 imagery during Tesla’s cybercab launch event. The drama … Read more
In a stark reminder of the challenges facing our world, the Doomsday Clock remains set at a mere 90 seconds to midnight. This sobering assessment, made by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, reflects the ongoing high risk of global catastrophe that we face today. The threats driving this dire prediction are multifaceted and interconnected. … Read more
Isaac Asimov, renowned for his science fiction works, introduced the “Three Laws of Robotics” as cornerstone ethical guidelines for artificial intelligence. These laws have significantly shaped discussions on AI ethics, offering a conceptual framework that continues to influence our understanding of the moral challenges posed by advanced technologies. Asimov’s Three Laws state: These laws have … Read more
When we delve into the history of artificial intelligence, we usually focus on the scientists and engineers who developed the algorithms and hardware that power modern AI systems. However, the cultural foundations that shape our understanding and approach to AI have roots in unexpected places. One such influential figure is Fritz Lang, the visionary Austrian-American … Read more
In a bizarre case of life imitating art, actress Scarlett Johansson finds herself in a battle with OpenAI over the AI company’s alleged unauthorized mimicking of her distinctive voice. Back in 2013, Johansson voiced an advanced AI virtual assistant named Samantha in the Spike Jonze film “Her,” playing a role that explored the future implications … Read more
Sherlock Holmes in the public domain / Moriarity can only complain / The game is afoot / It’s time for a book / Sit back and have some [cough] champagne / More on copyright here and here.
Word, Kanye, Kyrie / National Brotherhood Week / Words, natch, Tom Lehrer / In recognition of International Day for Tolerance. More on Tom Lehrer here.
ComicMix, together with creators David Gerrold and Ty Templeton, created a Kickstarter campaign to fund the printing and distribution of a work, Oh, the Places You’ll Boldly Go!. The work was a clear nod to Theodor Geisel‘s [better know as Dr. Seuss] Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, a mash-up of the Seuss book with various … Read more
In an October 2020 decision, the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board refused to allow an applicant’s registration of the trademark “Millennial Falcon,” finding that Lucasfilm Entertainment Company had established the likelihood of confusion between “Millennial Falcon” and Lucasfilm’s “Millennum Falcon.” Of crucial importance: “Applicant believes that his mark “appropriately conjures up the phrase “Millennium … Read more
Looper reports that the late Sir Sean Connery — who will always be my James Bond — had an unusual clause in his movie employment contracts. According to Alan Moore, the award winning comic book writer and creator of Watchmen, V for Vendetta, Batman: The Killing Joke and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, among many … Read more
Tom Lehrer, the 92-year old musical satirist (and inventor of the jello shot), has released all of the lyrics to his musical works into the public domain. In the absence of this release, his words would have remained copyrighted until at least 70 years after his death. “I, Tom Lehrer, and the Tom Lehrer Trust … Read more