Intellectual Property Law

Nicki Minaj’s legal team sues singer for unpaid fees

A law firm is suing singer Nicki Minaj for failure to pay legal services it provided for the entertainer in 2024. Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani filed suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court for over roughly $230,000 in unpaid legal fees it says is owed by Minaj, according to court…

Jul 14, 2026 10:47 AM CDT

Taylor Swift wins poetry copyright suit just days after marrying Travis Kelce

Pop superstar and singer Taylor Swift married Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce over the July 4 weekend, and they celebrated their nuptials with friends and family in New York City. Now Swift has another reason to celebrate and shake off the claims: A Florida copyright infringement lawsuit against her has been dismissed—for good.

Jul 7, 2026 1:19 PM CDT

Patagonia accuses drag queen Pattie Gonia of trademark violation, risks its reputation

Outdoor clothing brand Patagonia and drag queen and environmentalist Pattie Gonia are enmeshed in a legal dispute in which the apparel company claims trademark infringement in violation of a 2022 agreement with the climate activist.

Jun 22, 2026 10:28 AM CDT

AI.Law sues competitor Eve Legal for alleged patent infringement

Legal technology company AI.Law has accused competitor Eve Legal of infringing a patent that covers the use of artificial intelligence for transforming unstructured materials into formatted legal documents.

Jun 18, 2026 10:10 AM CDT

SCOTUS declines to hear appeal of oldest active federal judge’s suspension

Updated: The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear an appeal from a 98-year-old judge—who’s also the oldest active federal judge—of an order suspending her from her duties.

Jun 16, 2026 2:24 PM CDT

Celebrities like Taylor Swift and Megan Thee Stallion deal with defamation and deepfakes in various ways

Fake, defamatory images of people are among the many complaints about generative artificial intelligence, and celebrities are fighting back by copyrighting their images, sending takedown notices and filing lawsuits.

Jun 16, 2026 12:30 PM CDT

Increase in legal jobs driven by litigation, life sciences work

The legal sector is continuing its rebound, adding 1,200 more jobs in May, according to seasonally adjusted data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Jun 8, 2026 10:37 AM CDT

Fender warns guitar makers to stop producing Stratocaster look-a-likes

Musical instruments manufacturing company Fender is trying to stop companies from making guitars that resemble its iconic Stratocaster—an instrument favored by rock stars such as Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Holly and Eric Clapton.

May 29, 2026 9:40 AM CDT

Can trademarking Taylor Swift’s voice, likeness combat deepfakes?

Pop supernova Taylor Swift has filed two trademark applications to protect her voice and likeness from artificial intelligence-generated deepfake videos and audio.

Apr 28, 2026 1:09 PM CDT

Judge Albright, patent dispute magnet, leaving bench in August

U.S. District Judge Alan Albright, known for overseeing a flood of patent cases, is stepping down from his position in the Western District of Texas in August and returning to private practice.

Apr 27, 2026 8:20 AM CDT

Taylor Swift in legal showdown over ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ album title use

A Las Vegas showgirl is suing Taylor Swift over the pop singer’s use of a phrase for her newest album title, which is similar to a trademarked term, according to a claim in California federal court.

Mar 31, 2026 2:46 PM CDT

Law firm targets businesses for allegedly misleading ‘sale’ prices

Small business owner Deborah Dombrowski’s Lighthouse Trails Publishing is among dozens of online retailers around the country that have been sued by the Institute for Truth in Marketing, an 11-year-old Washington, D.C., nonprofit that bills itself as protecting consumers against deceptive advertising.

Mar 30, 2026 2:46 PM CDT

Supreme Court finds internet service providers not liable for users’ pirated music

The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that internet service providers are generally not responsible for the illegal distribution and downloading of music on their services, a blow to the music recording industry’s efforts to curb online piracy.

Mar 25, 2026 10:00 AM CDT

Musicians in this state are suing AI companies under biometric privacy law

Musicians who argue that artificial intelligence companies have used their songs without permission are bringing litigation under a unique law in Illinois.

Mar 23, 2026 1:39 PM CDT

Barbecue term catches fire on social media; who will get smoked on trademark rights?

If you like barbecue and use social media, you may have heard of Walter Johnson, a senior citizen social media influencer who goes by “Mr. Tendernism.” It references a term that he uses to describe smoked meat so tender that it falls right off the bone. In November, a North Carolina civil litigator who didn’t know Johnson filed two trademark applications for “Tendernism” for restaurant services and clothing.

Mar 12, 2026 8:55 AM CDT