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Over the last few years, lawsuits have come against celebrities like Nicki Minaj, Khloé Kardashian, Ariana Grande, and Jennifer Lopez for posting photographs taken by paparazzi onto their social media accounts without permission or license to repost the photos. Top model Gigi Hadid follows as she is recently the center of attention in a copyright infringement case after being sued by Xclsuive-Lee, Inc. for reposting a photograph of herself onto her Instagram account @gigihadid in October of 2018. 

On July 29th, a jury in California decided that Katy Perry’s 2013 hit “Dark Horse” infringed on the copyright of “Joyful Noise,” written by Christian rapper Marcus Gray, aka Flame, in 2008. Following this verdict, the jury determined that Katy Perry, her music label Capital Records, and co-writers owe Marcus Gray a portion of the profits from the success of the hit – 22.5% or roughly $2.8 million to be exact. This case follows a string of other copyright infringement lawsuits within the music industry in recent years. Notably, Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams lost in defense of their 2013 chart topper “Blurred Lines” and were ordered to pay $5.3 million for copying elements of Marvin Gaye’s 1977 hit “Got To Give It Up.”

Cardi B, the Grammy award winner for Best Rap Album of the Year, has filed the paperwork with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a trademark over her viral catchphrase, ‘Okurrr.’ The 26-year-old female rapper has taken over the rap world and pop culture scene along with her signature phrase, which has even made appearances in this year’s Pepsi Super Bowl ad.

After weeks of king cakes, beads, and parades, Lent has arrived. Unfortunately, this means that the Mardi Gras festivities have come to a close. However, the lawsuit filed between two local New Orleans businesses in the weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday is just getting started. For many, beer is an essential part of the celebration, and the two Bourbon Street businesses have entered a legal battle involving trademarks over the beverage. “Huge Ass Beers” has filed suit against its competitor, “Giant Ass Beer,” claiming an alleged trademark violation by using the term giant, a synonym for their trademarked word— huge.

In the beauty and skin care industry, there is one trend more popular than matte lipsticks, blinding highlighter, and #selfcare combined. This is duping. For those of you who do not watch Jeffree Star videos religiously, duping is when cheaper products are created to be comparable to higher quality and more expensive products.