Month: August 2025

STATUTORY DAMAGES REALITY CHECK:  For non-willful copyright infringement, courts typically award $2,500-$15,000 per work, while willful infringement can command $50,000-$150,000 per work. The landmark case Scott Hargis v. Pacifica Senior Living Management LLC, No. 3:22-cv-05352-JSC (N.D. Cal. 2023) shattered records with a $6.3 million verdict ($150,000 × 43 photos) – sending a clear message about willful infringement. See 17 USC 504 et seq. DOUBLE YOUR RECOVERY WITH DMCA: Don’t overlook 17 USC 1202! While regular infringement Continue reading $150K Per Photo? Statutory Copyright Damages & DMCA→

The Artistic Vision: A Fusion of Past and Future Just dropped a reimagined version of The Magic of You, a tune I wrote and released with The Ink Spots over 40 years ago. This redux features Kalina, an AI-generated artist born from Mark Seidenfeld’s Papua New Guinea “Mud Queen” photography. Her face and voice were synthesized using Suno (audio) and Pixnova (visuals). The result? A surreal blend of nostalgia and cutting-edge tech, now live on Continue reading Ink Spots Covered by AI: Whose Work Is It Anyway?→

🔒 Know Your Rights. According to the U.S. Copyright Office (88 Fed. Reg. 16,190, March 16, 2023): Human authorship is required for copyright protection—even with AI involvement. Good news: You can protect your AI-enhanced tracks—if your creative input is significant. ✅ Protect Your Copyright: Do This Now AI-generated elements cannot be copyrighted. But your artistic choices—vocal performances, mixing, editing, and direction—can and must be protected. When registering: This keeps your registration valid and enforceable. 💰 Continue reading AI-Updated Music?→

Twelve years ago, I created a musical track called Cyber Me Baby using, ironically, full computer assistance and virtual instruments to rescore Max Fleischer’s 1938 cartoon All’s Fair at the Fair. Note, Fleischer produced the Betty Boop and Popeye cartoons. Given my current work advocating for human review of AI systems, the irony wasn’t lost on me then, and it’s even sharper now. Watch my creation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlOPeDSDO9w&ab_channel=ElliotZimmermanOriginal 1938 cartoon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAFqAbrPKxQ&pp=0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD The 1938 Crystal Ball Fleischer’s Continue reading When AI Meets 1938: A Musical Warning from the World’s Fair→