Judge Rules Nobody Owns "Happy Birthday To You"

by Ted Johnson.       A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that the lyrics to “Happy Birthday to You” are not protected by copyright, concluding that Warner/Chappell Music does not hold a valid claim to the song. It raises the prospect that royalties will no longer be collected from public performances of the song in movies, TV shows and other         ... MORE

VIDEO: An American Disgrace - Man Jailed For His Speech

No First Amendment protection for unpopular speech? 

Learn about JURY NULLIFICATION

Mike Masnick: GM Says That While You May Own Your Car, It Owns The Software In It, Thanks To Copyright Laws

You buy but you don't own it.  Last week, we noted that Senator Ron Wyden and Rep. Jared Polis had introduced an important bill to fix a part of the DMCA's broken anti-circumvention laws found in Section 1201 of the DMCA. For whatever reason, some people still have trouble understanding why the law is so broken. So here's a story that  ... MORE

VIDEO: John Stossel - How Culture Kills Capitalism

Katie Kieffer: AWESOME! TSA Creepers Just Got Creepier

Government gropers to become ubiquitous.   Janet Napolitano’s TSA agents won’t keep their blue, latex-covered paws to themselves. The TSA is now expanding its grope to rodeos, sports stadiums, music festivals and train stations. The TSA’s signature move is like the signature move of a guy who “accidently” brushes his hand against a woman’s   ... MORE

Jennifer Waters: Right To Sell Your Own Stuff Is In Peril

It could even become illegal to resell almost anything. Tucked into the U.S. Supreme Court’s agenda this fall is a little-known case that could upend your ability to resell everything from your grandmother’s antique furniture to your iPhone 4. At issue in Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons is the first-sale doctrine in copyright law, which allows you to ... MORE

VIDEO: Paul Harvey - You Can't Come Inside