Missy Takes On Teddy: Does she own the copyrights?

Photo Source: Sterogum

Missy has had a long career in the music business. Early on in Missy’s career, she was part of a group called Sista. Teddy Campbell, the producer, has recordings from those days and gave Missy the opportunity to buy them or he would sell them to someone else. Long story short, Teddy sued Elliot for breach of contract. That case was thrown out of court in February 2020 after Missy claimed no contract existed. Now, Missy is suing Teddy for copyright ownership of her 1990’s recordings. Her claim: She’s the lawful owner.

What does it mean if Missy is the copyright owner?

It’s a power move blocking Teddy from profiting off of selling the recordings. He can’t sell what he doesn’t own. He could, but there would be serious legal consequences.

Want to learn more about copyrights and trademarks? How to protect your creative genius from other people profiting off it, now or decades later? Sign up to be notified for when doors open to my Intellectual Property 101: How to Protect Your Creative Genius course launching in late September 2020. Get on the list and be the first one when doors open here: BIT.LY/IP101VIP

The Battle of the Reelz® : Instagram Reels May Be In Trouble

Instagram rolled out their new video sharing reels this August, but what folks might now know is that a Minnesota broadcasting company, Hubbard’s, owns a trademark for REELZ®. Now, when you own it, you protect it. Hubbard’s has filed a federal lawsuit against Facebook and Instagram to demand they stop using the name Reels. The claims: trademark infringement, trademark dilution, and unfair competition.

Basically:

1. Trademark infringement: IG is encroaching on their trademark rights to exclusivity in the marketplace aka the reason they filed the trademark

2. Trademark dilution: IG’s use of the term Reels and infringement, dilutes the worth of the trademark because of how famous IG is and distinctiveness of REELZ® trademark

3. Unfair competition: REELZ® now has to unfairly compete with Facebook and IG and potentially having people questing which one?

As a CEO, it’s important you check that you can use that name before you launch. Facebook and Instagram may be able to foot the bill for a lawsuit like this. Can you?

Sign up for the Start-up 101: Foundations Bootcamp. Learn how to do a due diligence check for the product, service, or brand name before you launch to clear it for use. ENROLL HERE: BIT.LY/STARTUP101BOOTCAMP

What Nick Cannon’s Story Teaches Us About Protecting Your Genius?

Photo Credit: @TheWrap @MTV

Nick Cannon’s story has been circulating of him speaking out and being fired from Viacom. Well heres the thing... it appears Nick never secured his intellectual property rights to any of the shows he helped grow into a billion dollar portfolio for Viacom.

He poured his creative genius into the company and he left with no rights to it at all. Can you imagine doing the work and leaving with nothing?

If you have a podcast, you could be doing that. If you are working on your business while at your full time job, you can be doing that. There are so many ways you could be putting yourself at risk and not even know it.

Download a free copy of Protect Your Brand and Build It Wisely - Intellectual Property Edition To Make Sure That Doesn’t Happen To You at bit.ly/ProtectMyBrandFreeBook

Don’t make the same mistake Nick made.

P.S. The ebook is the intellectual property chapter from my book Build A Legit Business. If you have the book, you already have it.

3 Ways to Avoid Legal Entanglements in Your Business

Jada & Will and their marriage are the talk of the town.

Soooooo... it’s the perfect time to talk BUSINESS ENTANGLEMENTS.

Before you let another person, potential investor, collaborator, or company into the intimate parts of your business and creative ideas... get a non-disclosure agreement or a confidentiality agreement signed. A NDA prevents disclosure but a Confidentiality Agreement requires the other

party to take preventive measures to protect the information you plan to share unlike a NDA. If they breach... you may be able to sue.

Protect Your Assets & Your Profits.

#BeLegit #StayLegit

#BuildALegitBiz

On top of that, don’t steal someone else’s work. Infringing on another person’s trademark or copyright can cost you a pretty penny.

Don’t get caught up in a legal entanglement. It’s not cute and it can cost you. Purchase Build A Legit Business and Avoid Those Costly and Deadly Legal Entanglements that can kill your business and profits. www.buildalegitbiz.com