California Sets Groundbreaking AI and Performer Rights Laws: New Measures to Shield Artists from Unauthorized Digital Replicas

Sacramento, CA – California has positioned itself at the forefront of safeguarding performers in the era of generative artificial intelligence. Governor Gavin Newsom signed two landmark bills into law on September 17, 2024, strengthening the rights of both deceased and living performers against unauthorized uses of their digital likenesses or voices. These groundbreaking legislations, Assembly Bill 1836 and Assembly Bill 2602, address the increasing use of AI to create eerily realistic digital replicas in film, music, and television, which could potentially exploit performers’ likenesses without their consent. The new laws, which are scheduled to take … Read more

Chicago Public Schools Hit with $750K Verdict After Unauthorized Aunt Beats Student with Belts

CHICAGO — A federal jury in Chicago has ruled against the Chicago Public Schools, awarding $750,000 to a former fourth grader who was subjected to a severe belt beating by an unauthorized individual at his elementary school. The verdict came after a 10-day trial in U.S. District Court, marking a significant decision in a distressing case of corporal punishment involving a young student. Victim Jomaury Champ, who was just 9-years-old at the time of the incident, reported enduring physical and emotional trauma as a result. According to his lawyers, Jomaury suffered welts on his back … Read more

Judge Rules Against Trump in Copyright Infringement Case Over Unauthorized Use of Eddy Grant’s ‘Electric Avenue’

NEW YORK — In a recent legal decision, former President Donald Trump was found to have violated copyrights by using the song “Electric Avenue” by Eddy Grant in a 2020 campaign video without the artist’s permission. The ruling, delivered by Federal Judge John G. Koeltl, dismissed Trump’s claim that his use of the song fell under the fair use provisions, marking a significant setback for Trump amid ongoing copyright disputes with various artists. Eddy Grant initiated legal action against Trump after the latter utilized the 1982 hit to underscore a social media campaign video that … Read more

California Set to Enforce New Penalties for Unauthorized Digital Cloning of Deceased Entertainers

Los Angeles, CA – California is on the verge of passing legislation that targets the digital replication of deceased performers, requiring prior consent from their estates before they can be visually or vocally resurrected in media through artificial intelligence and other technologies. This move is seen as a response to the growing concern over the ethical use of celebrities’ likenesses and the potential exploitation of deceased artists for profit without appropriate permissions. The bill, propelled forward by instances wherein performers such as Carrie Fisher and James Dean were digitally recreated for film long after their … Read more