Episodes

Oct. 3, 2025

George Santos vs. Jimmy Kimmel: Why the 2nd Circuit Sided with Comedy

Former Congressman George Santos sued Jimmy Kimmel after the late-night host used Cameo videos in a comedy segment called “Will Santos Say It?” Santos claimed copyright infringement and fraud, but both the District Court and the Second Circuit said Kimmel’s use was fair use. In this episode of The Briefing, Scott Hervey and Tara Sattler break down: ● How Kimmel obtained the videos using fake Cameo accounts ● Why the District Court dismissed Santos’s case ● How the Second Circuit reinforced th...
Aug. 22, 2025

Publicity Rights and the Law – Using Real People in Your Work

Can you use a celebrity’s voice or image in your work? What about AI-generated versions? On this episode of The Briefing, Scott Hervey and Richard Buckley explore the right of publicity—how it protects names, likenesses, voices, and what happens when you cross the line. Watch this episode on YouTube. Show Notes: Scott: Can you use a celebrity’s name or likeness in your film, in your podcast, or in an advertisement? Well, you shouldn’t do that without understanding the right of publicity, becau...
233
Aug. 1, 2025

What Is Fair Use and Why Does It Matter?

Creators, beware: just because it’s online doesn’t mean it’s fair game. In this episode of The Briefing, Scott Hervey and Richard Buckley break down one of the most misunderstood areas of copyright law—fair use. In this episode, they cover: What makes a use “transformative”? Why credit alone doesn’t protect you How recent court rulings (Warhol v. Goldsmith) are changing the game Tips to stay on the right side of the law Watch this episode on YouTube or listen to this podcast episode here.
221
May 9, 2025

No CTRL-ALT-DEL For the Server Test

On this episode of The Briefing, Scott Hervey and James Kachmar break down the Supreme Court’s decision to pass on the McGuckin v. Valnet case—and how it keeps the legal confusion swirling around the “server test” for embedding online content. With courts on opposite coasts taking different stances, what does this mean for publishers, bloggers, and social media managers? They talk about the risks, what you can do to stay safe, and why your location might matter more than you think. Watch this e...
213
March 14, 2025

Court Drowns Pepperdine’s ‘Waves’ Trademark Battle Against Netflix

On the latest episode of The Briefing, Weintraub attorneys Scott Hervey and Jessica Corpuz break down the court’s decision in Pepperdine’s trademark fight with Netflix over the name “Waves” in the new series Running Point. Tune in for insights on this case and how the Jack Daniel’s ruling is reshaping trademark law in entertainment. Watch this episode on the Weintraub YouTube channel. For more content like this, subscribe here.
210
Feb. 14, 2025

Bad Spaniels: Infringement? No. Dilution? Yes

On this episode of The Briefing, Scott Hervey and Tara Sattler dive into the landmark Jack Daniels v. VIP Products case that changed trademark law. They break down the Supreme Court’s ruling on trademark infringement vs. dilution and explore how a dog toy parody nearly tarnished Jack Daniels’ brand. Watch this episode on the Weintraub YouTube channel. Show Notes: Scott: VIP products versus Jack Daniels’ properties brought a landmark Supreme Court case that forever changed the application of t...
204
Dec. 27, 2024

Navigating the Legal Risks for Brands in Social Media Marketing – Part 1 (Archive)

While influencer marketing has become popular in the creator space, it doesn’t come without risks. From IP infringement to FTC compliance, Scott Hervey and Jessica Marlow discuss the key issues surrounding brand endorsement deals in this archive two-part episode of The Briefing. Watch this episode on the Weintraub YouTube channel. Show Notes: Scott: Influencer social media marketing is big business, whether it’s a brand integration on Instagram by an influencer or a long-term brand endorseme...
203
Dec. 20, 2024

A Very Patented Christmas: The Quirkiest Inventions for the Holiday Season

Get into the holiday spirit with a look at some of the most unique Christmas patents ever filed. From Santa detectors to upside-down Christmas trees, Scott Hervey and Jamie Lincenberg explore festive inventions that add a little extra cheer to the season on this episode of The Briefing. Watch this episode on the Weintraub YouTube channel. Show Notes: Scott: Welcome to a special holiday edition of The Briefing. Today, we are decking the Halls with a look at some of the most unique Christmas-r...
201
Dec. 6, 2024

Trademark Turbulence – Oakland vs SFO in Trademark Showdown

Oakland’s attempt to rename its airport didn’t take off. On this episode of The Briefing, Scott Hervey and Jamie Lincenberg discuss the trademark dispute between San Francisco and Oakland over airport naming rights. Watch this episode on the Weintraub YouTube channel. Show Notes: Scott: When Tony Bennett sang about leaving his heart in San Francisco, he wasn’t singing about Oakland. There are no little cable cars climbing halfway to the stars in Jack London Square, as charming as it is. Essen...
189
Sept. 13, 2024

Does This Court’s Ruling Put an End to Tattoo Copyright Cases?

The US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio issued an opinion in Hayden V. 2K Games, Inc. that could potentially put an end to tattoo copyright cases. Scott Hervey and Tara Sattler discuss the court’s opinion on this episode of The Briefing. Watch this episode on the Weintraub YouTube channel here. Show Notes: Scott: Earlier this year, we discussed a jury ruling in Hayden versus 2K Games, Inc, where a jury in the US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio found video game...
187
Aug. 30, 2024

Deep Dive into the NO FAKES Act

A group of senators introduced an update to the ‘No Fakes Act,’ which protects the voice and visual likeness of individuals from unauthorized AI-generated recreations. Scott Hervey and James Kachmar discuss the changes to this act on this episode of The Briefing. Watch this episode on the Weintraub YouTube channel here. Show Notes: Scott: Senators Chris Coons, Marsha Blackburn, Amy Klobuchar, and Thom Tillis introduced an update to the ‘Nurture Originals Foster Art and Keep Entertainment Saf...
151
Dec. 8, 2023

Netflix to Pay $2.5M to GoTV for Patent Infringement

Netflix has been ordered to pay GoTV Streaming $2.5 Million in damages for infringing one of its wireless technology patents. Scott Hervey and Eric Caligiuri discuss this update on this episode of The Briefing. Watch this episode on the Weintraub YouTube channel here. Show Notes: Scott: I’m Scott Hervey with Weintraub Tobin. In a prior discussion with my colleague, Eric Caligiuri, earlier this year, we talked about a case where a federal court denied discovery requests aimed at uncovering det...