Connect with us

Technology

UHLC professor Gebru says copyright law struggles to protect group creativity

Published

2 years ago

on

HOUSTON, Aug. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Memes, dance crazes, hackathons and traditional cultural expression are increasingly important to how we express ourselves. Despite their popularity and impact, these collaborative creative efforts face significant challenges in gaining protection and enforcement under current copyright law.

“Solo and team authorship(s) are covered, but copyright law fails in the third category – communal authorship,” said University of Houston Law Center Assistant Professor Aman Gebru.

In his paper “Communal Authorship,” Gebru explores the legal challenges and raises critical questions about copyright law’s ability to adapt to these evolving forms of creativity.

Forms of communal creativity often involve contributions from countless individuals, complicating traditional notions of ownership and copyright.

“Now we’ve come to learn that usually, creators are standing on the shoulders of giants, which is to say you build on what you’ve read before, what you’ve consumed before. We’ve ignored that for a while and just said, ‘It’s a single person or a single company that owns the copyright because they created it, and they deserve to get all the benefits.’ But now, especially because of technological advancements, we’re seeing instances where a single unit of expression, like a book or a photo or a musical work, is actually the result of hundreds or thousands of people contributing. It’s not easy to define the thing because it’s constantly changing,” Gebru said.

“Memes are the perfect of examples because there are usually hundreds of thousands of variations of a meme, especially if it’s a viral one.”

Communal authorship challenges the very core of copyright law because it has relied on a fictitious notion of a solo author since its inception and implementation in the 18th Century, explained Gebru.

“We have complicated this universe of rights, given that the subject matter of what’s protected has always been expanding. Then technology comes in, first the printing press, then computers and now artificial intelligence, all these advancements keep disrupting the system. Every now and then we have to update how the rights are acquired and how they are enforced. It’s definitely more challenging.”

Gebru said all is not lost: “In the past, it was really hard to trace authors or owners of the copyright, but now you have the internet making it easier.”

His fascination with copyright law was sparked during law school. “I took a course in intellectual property law, this area of law we decided to use to govern the creative industries. I was drawn to it because I love music, movies, and books. It was so fascinating to me that we have created this theory for why people need to own expressions and inventions. It’s one of the most creative areas of law. It’s one of those advanced areas where you have to go through multiple steps of logical analysis before you can agree with this idea of owning something you can’t touch or feel.”

University of Houston Law Center media contacts: Carrie Anna Criado, UH Law Center Assistant Dean of Communications and Marketing, 713-743-2184, cacriado@central.uh.edu; Bonnie Buffaloe, Communications Manager, 713-743-9137, blbuffaloe@uh.edu.

About the University of Houston Law Center

The University of Houston Law Center (UHLC) is a dynamic, top-tier law school located in the nation’s 4th largest city. UHLC’s Health Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Part-time programs rank in the U.S. News Top 10. It awards Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) degrees, through its academic branch, the College of Law. The Law Center is more than just a law school. It is a powerful hub of intellectual activity with more than 12 centers and institutes that fuel its educational mission and national reputation. UHLC is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.

About the University of Houston

The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter for excellence in undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation’s fourth-largest city and one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse regions in the country, UH is a federally designated Hispanic- and Asian-American-Serving institution with an enrollment of more than 47,000 students.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/uhlc-professor-gebru-says-copyright-law-struggles-to-protect-group-creativity-302222842.html

SOURCE University of Houston Law Center

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Technology

HitPaw Black Friday 2026: Save Up to 60% on AI Creative Tools

Published

2 seconds ago

on

November 12, 2026

By

NEW YORK, Nov 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HitPaw, an AI-powered multimedia platform specializing in video, image, and audio enhancement, generation, and editing solutions, today announced its 2026 Black Friday Mega Deal. Running from November 10 to December 7, the campaign offers savings of up to 60% OFF on a wide range of AI-powered creative tools, giving creators, businesses, and everyday users an opportunity to upgrade their creative workflows at exceptional prices.

Explore HitPaw’s AI Creative Tools

HitPaw offers specialized AI solutions for multimedia enhancement, generation, and editing, covering a wide range of creative needs:

HitPaw VikPea (AI Video Enhancer): Upscale videos to 4K, restores damaged footage, and enhances clarity, details, and colors by reducing blur and noise.HitPaw FotorPea (AI Photo Enhancer & Generator): Enhance image quality, restore old photographs, sharpen portraits, remove unwanted objects, and create AI-generated artwork.HitPaw Edimakor (AI Video Generator & Editor): Combines AI video generation with video editing capabilities, helping users create and edit engaging videos more efficiently.HitPaw VoicePea (AI Voice Changer): Transform voices in real time with realistic AI voice effects for streaming, gaming, content creation, and online communication.HitPaw Univd (AI Video Converter & Compressor): Convert and compress videos without sacrificing quality for seamless sharing across devices and platforms.HitPaw Watermark Remover (AI Watermark & Object Remover): Remove unwanted watermarks, objects, and distractions from photos and videos with ease.

From restoring cherished memories and producing social media content to creating product visuals and promotional videos for e-commerce, HitPaw’s tools support a variety of creative needs.

Unlock Exclusive Black Friday Discounts

During the Black Friday Mega Deal, customers can enjoy special discounts across HitPaw’s product lineup:

60% OFF 5-in-1 Ultimate Bundle: Get VikPea, FotorPea, Edimakor, Univd, and Watermark Remover in one package. Ideal for creators seeking an all-in-one toolkit for AI creation, video and image enhancement, editing, and file management.50% OFF 2-in-1 Bundles: Choose from two combinations: VikPea + FotorPea or VikPea + Edimakor. The first pairs video and photo enhancement, while the second offers a one-stop workflow for AI video creation and enhancement.40% OFF Individual Products: Save 40% OFF on HitPaw VikPea and HitPaw FotorPea, ideal for users focused on improving video and image quality.30% OFF Individual Products: Get 30% OFF on HitPaw Edimakor, HitPaw VoicePea, HitPaw Univd, and HitPaw Watermark Remover, catering to video creators and users looking for flexible editing and media utilities.20% OFF HitPaw Online AI Credits: Save on AI credits for browser-based tools, including video enhancement, AI image generation, photo restoration and more. A convenient option for users who prefer online creative tools without installing software.

How to Get HitPaw Black Friday Deals

HitPaw’s 2026 Black Friday Mega Deal runs from November 10 through December 7, 2026. Customers can visit the official campaign page to explore participating products, compare available plans, and claim discounts of up to 60% OFF.

For more information checking, you may visit: HitPaw Black Friday 2026: Save Up to 60% OFF, Best Deals

ABOUT HITPAW

HitPaw is a leading AI-powered multimedia platform offering video, image, and audio generation, enhancement, and editing tools. It helps millions of creators worldwide easily produce high-quality content, from transforming media to creating new visual and audio works. Learn more at: [OFFICIAL] HitPaw – AI Video, Photo & Audio Enhancer Solutions

Follow Us

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hitpaw

X (Twitter): https://x.com/HitPawofficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hitpawofficial/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/HitPawofficialwebsite

This release was issued through Send2Press® on behalf of the news source. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.send2press.com/.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hitpaw-black-friday-2026-save-up-to-60-on-ai-creative-tools-302938195.html

SOURCE HitPaw. Co., Ltd

Continue Reading

Technology

California Supreme Court to Decide Whether Insurers Can Hide Illegal Overcharges Behind Approved Rates, Says Consumer Watchdog

Published

3 seconds ago

on

November 12, 2026

By

Ruling Will Impact Millions of State Consumers

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The California Supreme Court will decide whether consumers can sue insurance companies for overcharges that are illegal under Proposition 103, the insurance reform enacted by the voters 38 years ago.

The case before the court concerns a class action lawsuit brought by enlisted policyholders who are good drivers. They allege that USAA, a military insurer, charged them a higher price for auto insurance than it charged officers. Proposition 103 mandates a 20% Good Driver Discount for qualified drivers and state law requires an insurance company to offer good drivers the lowest rate available, regardless of military rank.

Proposition 103 authorizes consumers to challenge violations like that in court. However, some courts have ruled that those lawsuits cannot be brought if the insurance company can argue that the Insurance Commissioner approved the rates being charged.

About 200,000 enlisted USAA customers were overcharged. However, the Supreme Court’s decision will ultimately affect millions of Californians who buy insurance for their autos, homes and businesses.

Ninth Circuit Asks California Supreme Court to Address Pocketbook Issues

The case began in federal court in San Diego, the home of many people in military service. The United States District Court for the Southern District of California ruled that after the passage of Proposition 103, the California legislature passed a bill exempting companies that only insured military personnel from the application of Proposition 103’s protections for good drivers. The plaintiffs appealed to the Ninth Circuit, pointing out that under California’s Constitution the Legislature cannot undermine laws passed by the voters through a ballot initiative.

Before the 9th Circuit, USAA made a second argument, which had been rejected by the District Court: that other state insurance laws shield insurance companies from consumer lawsuits seeking refunds, notwithstanding Proposition 103. Plaintiffs noted that Proposition 103 specifically authorizes lawsuits under the state’s consumer protection laws.

Noting that California courts have adopted conflicting interpretations of Proposition 103, the Ninth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeal then asked California’s Supreme Court to decide these issues of state law.

Representing the enlisted military in the litigation are Consumer Watchdog, the California based non-profit that defends and enforces Proposition 103; Mehri & Skalet, a Washington, D.C.-based law firm specializing in class actions and complex litigation; Mason & Perry LLP, a class action and complex litigation firm also based in D.C., Matthew Seligman, of Grayhawk Law, [more], is leading the plaintiffs’ team before the Supreme Court.

The case is Coleman v. United Services Automobile Association, No. S298496. Review the complaint in the lawsuit. The Ninth Circuit’s certification to the California Supreme Court is available here. (Coleman v. United Services Automobile Ass’n, No. 25-793, slip op. at 3–15 (9th Cir. Sept. 10, 2026)).

Consumer Watchdog is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that advocates for taxpayer and consumer interests, with a particular focus on insurance, health care, privacy, energy, and corporate accountability. Consumer Watchdog represents consumers in proceedings enforcing Proposition 103’s protections.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/california-supreme-court-to-decide-whether-insurers-can-hide-illegal-overcharges-behind-approved-rates-says-consumer-watchdog-302938290.html

SOURCE Consumer Watchdog

Continue Reading

Technology

Mindmatrix and Bodine and Co. Partner to Help Companies Get Improved Results from More Partners

Published

6 seconds ago

on

November 12, 2026

By

The Partnership pairs Mindmatrix GTMOS with Bodine and Co.’s Partner Experience (PX) services so partner strategy and technology work together to drive pipeline, revenue and customer success

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mindmatrix, the company behind GTMOS, the AI-powered GTM Operating System, today announced a partnership with Bodine and Co., the experience strategy firm founded by customer experience author Kerry Bodine. The partnership combines GTMOS with Bodine and Co.’s Partner Experience (PX) services to help companies align their partner strategy and technology around one outcome – more partners contributing to pipeline, revenue and customer success.

In most partner programs, a small group of partners produce the majority of the pipeline while the rest of the ecosystem underperforms or does not engage. Closing that gap takes more than a new portal or a new playbook. It takes a partner program built around how partners actually work, and a platform that turns partner data into action. Bodine and Co. and Mindmatrix bring both.

GTMOS delivers the intelligence and execution. Bodine and Co. brings the expertise to build, optimize and accelerate partner programs. Together, companies can strengthen their program structure, make it easier for partners to do business with them, and give partners the enablement they need to go to market successfully. With strategy and platform aligned, companies get more results from more partners and faster returns on their ecosystem investments.

Mindmatrix introduced GTMOS in October 2026, building on its foundation in partner relationship management and partner marketing automation platforms. GTMOS turns go-to-market data into intelligence, recommendations and coordinated action, and brings that intelligence into the tools partners already use every day. As AI connects intelligence with action across go-to-market activities, companies can bring partner experience and customer experience into closer alignment. Bodine and Co. and Mindmatrix see significant potential to help companies use those capabilities to improve partner execution, deliver better customer outcomes and drive growth.

Partner programs stall when strategy and technology pull in different directions, said Vaughn Mordecai, Chief Revenue Officer at Mindmatrix. GTMOS gives companies the intelligence to see what is working across their ecosystem and the ability to act on it. Bodine and Co. makes sure the program behind it is built for partners to win. Together, we help companies get more partners producing pipeline, faster.

We’re excited about what this relationship makes possible, especially with the launch of GTMOS, said Jeff Ballard, Managing Director and Head of Partner Experience at Bodine and Co. Our shared focus is helping companies get more results from more partners. That means making sure their partner strategy and technology work together to help partners build pipelines, win business, and deliver for customers. Mindmatrix brings powerful capabilities to that equation, and we bring the experience to help companies put them to work. The opportunity to extend that across PX, CX, and AI is particularly exciting.

About Mindmatrix

Mindmatrix is an AI-powered GTM Operating System that turns structured and unstructured GTM data into intelligence, recommendations and coordinated action for revenue and partner teams. Its platform brings together partner relationship management, partner marketing automation and sales enablement. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, Mindmatrix serves enterprise and midmarket companies in more than 25 countries. Learn more at www.mindmatrix.ai.

About Bodine and Co.

Bodine and Co. helps organizations turn research into results through consulting, training, coaching, speaking and facilitation. Its Partner Experience (PX) helps companies build, optimize, and accelerate partner programs by aligning strategy, operations, and execution around partner performance and customer outcomesand its Customer Experience (CX) practice transforms customer journeys through research-backed methods. Founder Kerry Bodine is the author of Outside In and has advised Fortune 500 companies and startups for nearly two decades. Bodine and Co. is based in San Francisco. Learn more at www.kerrybodine.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mindmatrix-and-bodine-and-co-partner-to-help-companies-get-improved-results-from-more-partners-302938253.html

SOURCE Mindmatrix

Continue Reading

Trending