This newsletter is written and curated by Robert Caple, founder of Stop Content Theft, with over a decade’s experience in content protection and online investigations.

TL;DR

• Encyclopaedia Britannica sues OpenAI over alleged large-scale training use

• UK government publishes AI/copyright report but avoids immediate regulation

• Medium introduces AI training opt-out

• Hachette pulls a novel over suspected AI involvement

• Spotify tests artist verification to tackle AI impersonation

• OpenAI shuts down Sora amid cost and competition pressures

• Katy Perry loses trademark battle to Australian designer Katie Perry

• Buc-ee’s continues aggressive trademark enforcement

• Nike wins $11m case against influencer over counterfeit-style sneakers

• ACCC fines company for undisclosed influencer advertising

• EU increases pressure on AliExpress

• Nepal tightens trademark enforcement

Artificial intelligence

Encyclopedia Britannica sues Open AI for illegally using their content for training

Another day, another OpenAI lawsuit. This time, the iconic Encyclopaedia Britannica (the company who made those encyclopaedias gathering dust on your parents’ bookshelf) have taken legal action against OpenAI for copyright and trademark infringements. They have alleged that OpenAI illegally used its “copyrighted content at a massive scale”, along with generation “made-up content or ‘hallucinations” that are then falsely attributed to Britannica. They’re not the first to sue an AI company – Merriam-Webster (owned by Britannica) sued Perplexity last year – and they certainly won’t be the last.

UK government publishes report on AI and copyright

The UK government published their long-awaited Report on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence, covering various areas of the battle between copyright protection and AI development. The report was less about making immediate policy changes and more focused on mapping the AI landscape, understanding the friction between AI and copyright, and establishing a shared baseline before taking firm action. It’s a wide-ranging report but restrained in its conclusions. You can read the report in full here.

Medium makes it easier for writers to opt out of AI training

Medium now allows writers to opt out of having their content used by AI systems through its platform. This gives contributors more control over how their work is accessed for training, but it does not prevent third parties from using content obtained elsewhere, nor does it guarantee removal from existing datasets. Opting out may also reduce the likelihood of their work appearing in AI-generated outputs, creating a trade-off between control and visibility.

If you’re a Medium user, you can update your preferences here.

Publisher cancels horror novel’s release over AI claims

Book publisher Hachette have cancelled the scheduled US publication of Shy Girl by Mia Ballard, and has discontinued the UK version, published in November 2025. The book was pulled following claims of extensive AI usage, which the author has firmly denied, claiming that the person she hired to edit the original self-published version had used AI.

Being one of the first instances of a commercially published novel withdrawn by a major publisher due to AI involvement, other publishers will likely increase their due diligence around editorial processes and the use of third-party services.

Spotify tackles AI slop

With AI-generated music flooding Spotify, they are now testing Artist Profile Protection. It is an opt-in system for artists to verify their profile with the aim of reducing impersonation and unauthorised releases, helping to ensure that content released under their name is legitimate.

OpenAI shutting down Sora

OpenAI has announced it will be closing Sora, its AI video-generation app, launched two years ago. Its ability to easily generate high-quality video from text was popular upon launch and peaked not long after its second-generation model was released in September 2025. But usage soon peaked while remaining resource-intensive and facing increasing competition in the AI video space, including models such as ByteDance’s Seedance.

The app’s closure has also effectively brought an end to OpenAI’s controversial deal with Disney, reportedly worth around $1bn. The agreement made Disney the first major studio to license its IP to OpenAI for use in its AI video platform, covering over 200 characters across its franchises.

David vs Goliath

Katie Perry vs. Katy Perry

For nearly 20 years, Katie Perry (Australian designer) and Katy Perry (American pop star) have been battling it out in the courts over a trademark dispute over the use of the name “Katie Perry” on clothing in Australia. It’s been through multiple court cases but Katie Perry won her appeal in the High Court of Australia, allowing her trademark to remain on the Australian register. It’s a win for the designer but also for small businesses and influencers who may come up against the same issues, especially as more people become content creators and the likelihood of similarly-named brands emerging increases tenfold.

The Beaver vs the Moose: Buc-ee’s sues Mickey’s

Ever seen a beaver take on a moose? You’re about to, as Texas-based convenience chain Buc-ee’s is once again protecting its IP against anyone who dares to use a cutesy cartoon critter in their logo. This time they’re suing Mickey’s, a chain of convenience stores in Ohio with a cartoon moose in their logo. They are challenging the logo, for its use of a cartoon animal facing to the right with wide eyes and a smile against a round background, along with their recent change of name from ‘Mickey Mart’ to ‘Mickey’s’.

Buc-ee’s are renowned for aggressively defending their trademark, as their beaver has previous fought an alligator (Choke Canyon BBQ, Texas), a dog (Barc-ee’s, Missouri and Super Fuels, Texas), a duck (Duckee’s Drive Thru, Missouri), a deer (Bucky’s, Nebraska), a squirrel (Nut Huggers), chickens (Chicks, Texas) and even another beaver (Born United, South Carolina). They are a prime example of trademark defence and why small businesses should be careful about their name, logo, mascot, and slogan, as it may result in trademark challenges further down the line.

Influencer has to pay Nike $11 million in lawsuit

Nike have won an $11 million verdict against influencer Nicholas Tuinenburg and his brand, Divide the Youth. Their litigation was based around the sale of counterfeit sneakers but centred specifically on shoes in the style of “Nike Dunk”. The counterfeits do not use Nike’s famous “Swoosh” logo, but the legal protection covers the product’s design, visual identity, and even its silhouette. This was considered enough to cause consumer confusion.

This is a significant case, and an important lesson for influencers, as they are no longer considered merely passive promoters. If the influencer or creator controls the branding, profits from their trading, and builds their reputation around the sale of replicas, they are directly and personally liable.

Tools and Opportunities

Goalhanger open their accelerator program for UK creators

Goalhanger, the UK-based podcast and media company, have provided a great opportunity for UK-based digital creators with an established online presence across a range of genres. Their ‘Accelerator’ program is a three-month creative business incubator where successful applicants will receive “up to £10,000 in content investment, along with training, mentorship” and access to Goalhanger’s team. Applications opened on March 24th and close on April 14th.

Creators Guild of America creates ‘Mosaic’ for creators to verify their work

The Creators Guild of America has launched its open beta version of ‘Mosaic’, offering creatives a digital resume to help them showcase their work history collaborators, brands, and audiences. Nicknamed the “IMDB for creators”, it will assign each participant a unique Creator ID for use across social media and will act as a form of credential while also protecting influencers from being associated with fake promotions.

YouTube launch new Brand Partnerships portal - YouTube Creator Partnerships

YouTube have announced the launch of YouTube Creator Partnerships (an AI-fuelled evolution of BrandConnect), a platform connecting brands with creators and measuring campaign impact. It is integrated directly into YouTube Studio for creators, and Google Ads, while incorporating AI and updated measurement tools.

Around the world

Nepal businesses challenged over trademark infringement complaints

Trademark infringement is widespread in Nepal as global brands are regularly imitated through replicated products (i.e. ‘Club-Cola’ instead of ‘Coca-Cola’, and ‘Maintain Dew’ instead of ‘Mountain Dew’.) With over 300 cases being filed in the last year, and hundreds more waiting for many years, the Nepalese government is now clamping down on trademark infringement with the proposed ‘Industrial Property Rights Bill 2025’ to make the punitive process more efficient and effective, with stricter penalties and tighter regulation.

China’s AliExpress working to comply with EU law

AliExpress, one of China’s largest online shopping platforms, has told EU lawmakers that it is improving control to comply with EU regulations. This follows the EU’s increased scrutiny of AliExpress, Temu and Shein who ship cheap products made in China into the EU. The concerns are about safety but also about unfair competition, as China is able to ship to the EU duty-free due to a waiver on low-value e-commerce parcels.

ACCC issues first ever fine for hidden influencer deals

The ACCC, Australia’s competition regulator, has fined online printing service Photobook Shop $39,600 (AUD) for providing products to influencers in return for reviews with explicit instructions not to disclose that they had received the products for free, presenting their reviews as organic, unpaid endorsements.

It is a notable escalation from guidance and warnings to monetary enforcement through significant fines. Influencers are increasingly important elements of marketing with growing audiences, and buying reviews from them would constitute unfair competition as the ability to purchase reviews would be available only to wealthier companies.

Featured article

The collapse of copyright trolling

This month’s featured article comes from Jonathan Bailey at PlagiarismToday who has written a fascinating article about ‘copyright trolling’. If, like me, this term is new to you, it is when a rights holder threatens a number of alleged infringers with the aim of settling quickly and making a quick buck, often off the backs of small businesses and freelancers. Worth a read to protect yourself.

Explainer of the month

The basics of copyright in the age of AI

This month’s explainer comes from Katelyn Chedraoui at CNET.com making sense of copyright law in the age of AI and why we should all be paying attention to it. It is especially useful for those who are new to copyright and fair use, with an overview of current AI policy frameworks and what these mean for the future.

Disaster of the month

Grammarly sued over its curtailed ‘Expert Review’ feature

Grammarly close their ‘Expert Review’ feature after awful feedback as it offers ‘expert’ advice that are AI agents based on experts who didn’t give their permission for their likeness to be used, and many of them are long dead.

Events

10 April - SAE Webinar: The Creator Economy - How People Turn Content Into Careers [online]

• This online session will look beyond influencers to highlight the wide range of opportunities available in areas such as social media management, brand storytelling, video production, digital marketing, and user-generated content. We will explore how creators build audiences, how brands collaborate with creators, and the key creative and technical skills needed to produce engaging content.

• Organised by SAE Institute

14 April - Progress with IP - Building an IP Strategy [online]

• This webinar is designed for entrepreneurs, startups, and early-stage business owners who want to understand how to protect and leverage their ideas. We’ll walk you through why it’s important to think about IP early, how it ties directly to your business goals, and the steps you can take to build an IP strategy that supports your long-term success.

• Organised by Invest Ottawa Education Centre

14 April - Navigating the new EU Digital Regulation landscape [online]

• This session will unpack how new EU digital regulation intersects with IP, covering early Digital Services Act enforcement trends, implementation of the Data Act, and horizon scanning for the proposed Digital Fairness Act.

• Organised by Osborne Clarke

15 April - Why Intellectual Property Matters? [online]

• In this live presentation, you’ll learn what patents, trademarks, industrial designs and copyrights are. Learn how these rights are used to protect a business and how they help it grow and become more competitive. The Canadian Intellectual Property Office representative will talk about how to identify and manage IP and explain ways to avoid some of the most common mistakes with IP.

• Organised by Small Business Centre / Fanshawe College

22 April - The Ecommerce Tune-Up: Removing Friction from the Buying Process [online]

• In this webinar, we shift focus from finding you online to buying from you online. We will walk through the customer’s journey step-by-step, looking at your online store through the eyes of a first-time shopper. We aren’t rewriting code; we are identifying the small but costly obstacles that stop a sale from happening.

• Organised by Main Street America - Small Business Hub

22 April - Intellectual Property and E-Commerce: Protection, Action, Performance [online]

• In this constantly changing context, Lavery invites you to its annual intellectual property symposium: a strategic morning event designed to provide practical answers that apply directly to today’s business realities.

• Organised by Lavery

22 April - Navigating Copyright in a Complex Global Landscape [online]

• This session will cover Global complexities of copyright Addressing common compliance challenges Intersections of AI & copyright Strategies and solutions for success

• Organised by Copyright Clearance Center

23 April - Ecommerce Camp [online]

• This event is for active e-commerce founders, brand owners, operators, growth leads, and decision-makers running live e-commerce, including marketplace professionals.

• Organised by Ecommerce Camp

23 April - The Business of Sports & Copyright [online]

• A World IP Day panel on how sports content is actually protected and monetised, covering eSports, licensing, and the realities of tackling piracy through DMCA enforcement and site-blocking, with speakers from the UFC, MPA/ACE, BMI, ESA, and the U.S. Copyright Office.

• Organised by Copyright Alliance

If you’re a creator or independent business dealing with content theft, get in touch.

This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

Written and produced by a human. All opinions are my own.