On this episode of The Briefing, Scott Hervey and James Kachmar break down the Supreme Court’s decision to pass on the McGuckin v. Valnet case—and how it keeps the legal confusion swirling around the “server test” for embedding online content. With courts on opposite coasts taking different stances, what does this mean for publishers, bloggers, and social media managers? They talk about the risks, what you can do to stay safe, and why your location might matter more than you think.Continue Reading The Briefing: No CTRL-ALT-DEL For the Server Test

James Kachmar
James is a shareholder in Weintraub Tobin’s litigation section. He represents corporate and individual clients in both state and federal courts in various business litigation matters, including trade secret misappropriation, unfair business competition, stockholder disputes, and intellectual property disputes.
The Briefing: Trademark Mayhem – Lady Gaga Gets Sued for Trademark Infringement
Lady Gaga’s “Mayhem” tour has sparked legal trouble. In this episode of The Briefing, Scott Hervey and James Kachmar analyze a trademark infringement lawsuit filed by surf brand, Lost International, which claims Gaga’s use of “Mayhem” on merchandise violates their long-standing rights. The discussion explores the strength of Lost’s trademark, the likelihood of consumer confusion, and key legal takeaways for brands navigating crowded trademark landscapes.Continue Reading The Briefing: Trademark Mayhem – Lady Gaga Gets Sued for Trademark Infringement
The Briefing: The Fall of SUPER HERO – When Trademarks Become Generic
For more than half a century, Marvel Comics and DC Comics have jointly owned the trademark ‘Superhero.’ However, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board recently granted a petition to cancel that mark because it became generic. Scott Hervey and James Kachmar discuss this case and how marks become generic on this episode of The…
The Briefing: New California Laws for Digital Replicas Both Live and Dead
California recently passed two new AI laws that aim to protect individuals from the unauthorized creation of digital replicas. Scott Hervey and James Kachmar discuss these laws and their implications for the media industry on this episode of The Briefing.
Listen to the podcast episode here.
The Briefing: Deep Dive into the NO FAKES Act
A group of senators introduced an update to the ‘No Fakes Act,’ which protects the voice and visual likeness of individuals from unauthorized AI-generated recreations. Scott Hervey and James Kachmar discuss the changes to this act on this episode of The Briefing.Continue Reading The Briefing: Deep Dive into the NO FAKES Act