In Re: NASHVILLE

Lick this!

Chris Hugan — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 17:56:32 +0000

The United States Postal Service issued 86 million stamps containing the image of a sculpture on display at the Korean War Memorial in Washington D.C. The USPS obtained a license from the photographer—but not the sculptor.

So, sculptor sues and says it would have licensed the image for a 10% royalty rate. Damages would then be in the 3 million dollar range. The trial court said nyet and awarded $5,000.00—because that is the amount the USPS said it would have paid had it elected to follow the law and obtain a license. However, the COA (Federal Circuit) says the trial judge got it wrong and must weigh the licensor’s hypothetical rate.

Here’s the opinion: http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/images/stories/opinions-orders/11-5097.pdf

Unfortunately, there is no dicta about how I can stop delivery of the only thing that appears in my mailbox anymore–junk.

Fanfare!

Chris Hugan — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:40:33 +0000

CMA Music Fest has begun in Nashville. Those of us who have hung around Nashville awhile still call it Fanfare. It’s come a long way since the days when the artists signed autographs at the dingy Fairgrounds.

Amazing event–something any music fan should attend at least once in their life. Here’s a link to the 2012 schedule: http://lineup.cmaworld.com/

Diversify, I say!

Chris Hugan — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:36:42 +0000

My investment advisor promised that a diverse portfolio would protect me from market swings. He was wrong.

Interscope Records apparently thought diversity was a good idea, too. A manager of some Interscope rap guy named The Game ( I never listen to rap–life is too short for self-inflicted pain) was shipping tons of cocaine in road cases. The cases were delivered and picked up at Interscope. Diversity, indeed!

Here’s the story: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/interscope-records-cocaine-shipments-654820

Bag wars–may the farce be with you.

Chris Hugan — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:28:21 +0000

Don’t get me wrong–I love clean air, water, and diapers. But I grow weary of much of the “green” crowd who preach legislation and taxation but practice gluttony. I’m not naming names–you know who you are.

ChicoBag markets “environmentally friendly” grocery bags. It made allegedly false statements about the negative environmental impact of traditional plastic bags. Now, the plastic bag manufacturers have their polymers in a wad and are suing for lost sales. Here’s the complaint: Hilex.

When in Nashville…..

Chris Hugan — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:08:54 +0000

…you cannot go wrong dining at Tamarind Indian Bistro. Absolutely delicious, walk to Music Row.

View the menu here: http://tamarindnashville.com/

TOP 10 COPYRIGHT CASES FOR JULY

Chris Hugan — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:02:54 +0000

Some good stuff, courtesy of Lexis.

http://www.lexisnexis.com/community/copyright-trademarklaw/blogs/topcases/archive/2011/08/02/top-10-copyright-cases-for-the-month-of-july-2011.aspx

Bargain Wine Alert

Chris Hugan — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:20:24 +0000

I love wine. Liquid life. Nectar of the gods. But, I always stretch my inebriation dollar. Here’s one of my recent discoveries, about $7.99 street.

Redtree Pinot Noir. You cannot go wrong with this one!

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT!

Chris Hugan — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 19:56:04 +0000

If someone asks you to see Terrence Malick’s TREE OF LIFE, run for your damn life—this movie is friggin’ awful. I mean, it has to be the worst mess I have ever seen.

I hope someone files a class action suit against Malick for passing off dog poo as art. Unfortunately, new-age nimrods will probably rally behind this film–all professing to know its secret message. The only secret is that this snarky director stole money from unsuspecting viewers.

I hated this film. Here’s a picture of the stupid dinosaur in the movie.

I am not kidding–Malick had a couple of juvenile CGI dinosaurs hopping around–I was hoping Fred Flintstone would appear and make some sense of this awful movie. He didn’t, and the movie never made sense.

If you are the least bit suicidal, DO NOT attend the Tree of Life. It will drive sane people to their graves; death is better than having to sit through this 2 1/2 hour pile of vomit.

Did I say I HATED the Tree of Life?

Brianna Hugan at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center

Chris Hugan — Tue, 24 May 2011 13:53:47 +0000

My daughter playing at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville with Tracy Silverman and the Music City Youth Orchestra. Bravo, Brianna!!!!!

Roll with Slim Shady!

Chris Hugan — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:10:11 +0000

The US Supreme Court recently refused to consider a 9th Circuit decision which held that iTunes downloads were licenses and not sales when interpreting Eminem’s record contract. So, Slim Shady receives 50% of the money UMG receives from the download instead of the normal 12-15% he would received from a sale of a CD.

Up next: The Superfreak himself, Rick James. His Estate (yes, he died) is rollin’ with Slim and wants its download payday:

Roll With Slim