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SummaryThis report examines the legal implications of uploading another’s photo to a “cheater check” service without his consent. These services use facial recognition technology to search dating platforms for matching profiles. The legality of this practice varies significantly based on jurisdiction, applicable privacy laws, the nature of the photograph, and how the “cheater check” service processes biometric data. The analysis considers privacy laws, biometric data regulations, copyright considerations, and potential civil liability.Understanding “Cheater Check” ServicesWhat Continue reading Uploading Photos to a “Cheater Check” Service→

Hypothetical Facts: Tectonic Drift Questions Posed Brief Legal Analysis 1. Fair Use vs. Derivative Work Answer: Likely a derivative work, not fair use. While MIDI conversion adds a layer of abstraction, the beatmaker is still using the fundamental musical elements (rhythm, structure, harmonic progression) from the original. The transformation is primarily technical rather than creative or commentary-based. Courts typically require more substantial creative transformation for fair use protection. 2. Sound Recording Infringement (§114) Answer: Probably avoids SR infringement. Continue reading Tectonic Drift Beat Maker Infringement?→

Major Copyright Cases and Their Current Status New York Times v. Microsoft/OpenAI The New York Times filed a lawsuit against Microsoft and OpenAI for copyright infringement, claiming unauthorized scanning and indexing of their paywalled articles [7]. As of early 2025, a federal judge has allowed the case to proceed [6]. Reuters reports that “All of our copyright claims will continue against Microsoft and OpenAI for their widespread theft of millions of The Times’s works” [3]. Continue reading Copyright and AI: Legal Battles Shaping the Future→

Northern Soul 2024, released in April 2024, featuring Elliot Zimmerman on Track 3, Stormy Weather, and Track 17, Heading Up North.

Suit was filed on December 27, 2023, by THE NEW YORK TIMES CORPORATION v. MICROSOFT CORPORATION, OPENAI, INC., et al. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Case 1:23-cv-11195. Plaintiff alleges in paragraph 2 of the Complaint: “Defendants’ unlawful use of The Times’s work to create artificial intelligence products that compete with it threatens The Times’s ability to provide that service. Defendants’ generative artificial intelligence (“GenAI”) tools rely on Continue reading The New York Times v. Microsoft Corp. and OPENAI, Inc. et al.→