By Michael Chmura | June 4, 2016
This Spring pop singer Justin Bieber was sued by indie artist Casey Dienel for stealing an eight second clip from her song, “Ring the Bell”. Commenting on the case, Babson Law Professor Toni Lester says: “Dienel is alleging that Beiber illegally used a short four note ascending music motif lasting eight seconds from her song. Most people…
By Michael Chmura | March 11, 2015
The jury verdict in the copyright theft lawsuit against Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke came out yesterday. The defendants were told to pay $7 plus million dollars in damages to Marvin Gaye’s estate for illegally copying his 1970s hit, “Gotta Give It Up” with their song, “Blurred Lines”. Composer and law professor Toni Lester has…
By Michael Chmura | March 7, 2015
Here’s what Babson entertainment law professor and composer, Toni Lester, has to say about the copyright case in the news brought by the family of the great soul singer, Marvin Gaye, against singer/songwriters Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams: “The case goes to the heart of how we decide what is innovative and creative, since this…