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Rap Battle: How Gilbert O'Sullivan changed hip hop

Gilbert O'Sullivan has been a respected hit-maker since the 1970s – but less well-known is how his music forever reshaped the genre of hip hop, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 21 Jun

The maker of Squishmallow has taken cases against other teddy bear firms claiming they stole their idea

Double Trouble: Claims of copycat toys, cakes and make-up

Squishmallows' case against Build-A-Bear is just the latest in a long line of cute-but-contentious legal battles over the alleged theft of a product idea, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 21 Feb 24

The earliest incarnation of Mickey Mouse - which appears in the cartoon 'Steamboat Willie' - enters the public domain next year

Free for all: What's coming out of copyright in 2024

When the clock strikes midnight on 1st January, hundreds of books, films, songs and other creations will come into the public domain. 2024's cohort includes a very famous mouse, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 20 Dec 23

Darth Vader's breathing is a registered trademark of Lucasfilm - so is the 'hum' of a lightsabre

UPS brown & Vader's breath: The odd world of trademarks

A spat between Photoshop-maker Adobe and colour firm Pantone has highlighted the complex, confusing and often strange world of legal copyright and trademarks, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 10 Nov 22

MEPs adopted the directive by 348 votes in favour, 274 against and 36 abstentions

EU directive on copyright explained

The European Parliament has approved new online copyright rules, which will mean rights holders will have greater scope for negotiating deals with internet platforms for use of their work.

Europe • 26 Mar 19

MEPs meeting in Strasbourg today passed the draft law with 348 votes in favour, 274 against, and 36 abstentions

European Parliament approves EU copyright reform

The European Parliament has today adopted controversial copyright reforms championed by news publishers and the music business, delivering a blow to the tech giants that lobbied furiously against it.

Business • 26 Mar 19

Politicians had beefed up the EU executive's proposal in favour of Europe's creative industries

EU lawmakers agree common stand on copyright reforms

EU lawmakers have today agreed on a common position on copyright reforms ahead of talks with the 28 EU countries on legislation to force the likes of Google and Facebook to share revenues more fairly with Europe's creative industries.

Business • 12 Sep 18

The three Apple patents covered design elements of the iPhone such as its black rectangular front face, rounded corners, and colourful grid of icons for programmes and apps

New trial to decide how much Samsung will pay Apple

A US judge has ordered a new trial to determine how much Samsung should pay Apple for copying the look of the iPhone.

Business • 23 Oct 17

Oracle had been seeking $9 billion in damages

Oracle loses copyright battle against Google

A US jury has handed Google a major victory in a long-running copyright battle with Oracle over Android software used to run most of the world's smartphones

Technology • 27 May 16

Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams will have to give Gaye's heirs the profit they earned from the song

'Blurred Lines' plagiarised Gaye song - US court

Recording stars Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams have been found liable for plagiarising the late soul singer Marvin Gaye in their hit single ‘Blurred Lines’.

News • 12 Mar 15

The European Court of Justice said freely-available articles were already regarded as public

Web links do not breach copyright - ECJ

The European Court of Justice has ruled that it is not an infringement of copyright to link to an article that is freely-available online.

Business • 14 Feb 14

EU Parliament rejects world copyright deal

European lawmakers have rejected the global Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), signalling the European Parliament may soon use new-found rights to derail an international trade agreement.

News • 21 Jun 12

German court finds YouTube responsible for content

A German court has ruled that Google's video sharing service YouTube is responsible when users post copyrighted music clips without permission.

News • 20 Apr 12

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