Issue No. 041
August 14, 2026
New York
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The IP Briefing · by ESCA Legal
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| Hirose Enterprise LLC and producer Shuji Hirose filed a California federal copyright complaint naming Beyonce and several music companies over the spoken introduction sampled in Alien Superstar. |
| § | The August 10 complaint alleges that Alien Superstar used the introduction from the 1998 house track Moonraker without a valid license when Beyonce's Renaissance album was released in 2022. | | § | The plaintiffs claim performer John Holiday had already transferred his interest in Moonraker and therefore could not grant the later license obtained by Parkwood Entertainment. | | § | The defendants include Beyonce, Parkwood Entertainment, Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Music Publishing, W Chappell Music, and Holiday. | | § | The complaint seeks damages, profits, an accounting, and a permanent injunction under direct, contributory, and vicarious copyright theories. |
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| Continue reading → |
| § ESCA Takeaway |
| This issue tracks how chain of title, ownership records, and platform roles can determine whether an IP claim reaches the merits. |
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| More IP Stories |
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| § Copyright · Pending |
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| A Texas federal judge narrowed a lawsuit challenging the Sixth Floor Museum's copyright in the Zapruder film while allowing a fair use claim over a book reproducing frames from the film to continue. |
| § | The Forum on Open Access to Government Records published a book reproducing dozens of frames and sued the Museum and the National Archives for declaratory relief. | | § | The Museum owns the copyright while the National Archives holds the physical film, separating ownership of the work from custody of the reel. | | § | The court rejected claims that alleged alterations defeated originality and dismissed the argument that the film's historical importance caused its facts and expression to merge. | | § | The fair use claim remains pending, and the ruling did not decide whether the book's use of the frames is lawful. |
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Why it matters
The dispute applies core copyright concepts to one of the most recognizable pieces of documentary footage in American history. It separates ownership of a physical film from ownership of copyright and leaves fair use for later proceedings.
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| § Copyright · Update |
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| The UK High Court dismissed Shein operator Roadget Business's copyright claims against Temu operator Whaleco UK over product photographs uploaded to marketplace listings by independent sellers. |
| § | The case covered 2,559 listings and went to trial using a representative sample that narrowed to five photographs. | | § | The court found that Roadget failed to establish ownership of the copyrights asserted in the remaining sample photographs. | | § | The judge also found that Temu did not authorize the sellers' alleged infringement and could rely on the hosting defense for passive intermediaries. | | § | Temu's damages request tied to listings removed under interim injunctions and its separate competition claim remain unresolved. |
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Why it matters
The ruling shows how ownership evidence and marketplace conduct can shape platform liability for seller-uploaded content. Its legal effect is specific to the UK, but the operational questions are relevant to fashion brands and online marketplaces serving U.S. consumers.
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QUICK HITS
| § Trade Secret | A Texas magistrate judge recommended denying dismissal motions in o9 Solutions' trade secret case alleging that SAP used confidential supply-chain software information obtained through former o9 executives. [source] |
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This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Published by ESCA Legal. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Attorney advertising; prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
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