IPSERIESWithRAC

Every holiday season, Mariah Carey’s 1994 smash hit "All I Want for Christmas Is You" dominates the charts. Passing 2 billion Spotify streams, it serves as the ultimate case study in music publishing, sync licensing, and intellectual property longevity.

​In this post, we break down:
​How one song generates revenue across master rights, publishing, sync, and brand extensions 30+ years later.
​The 2023 copyright lawsuit against the track (and its 2025 summary judgment outcome).
​Practical IP advice for indie musicians and artists looking to monetize long-term.
​How entertainment lawyers can move from simple registration to active IP commercialization.

Question of the day: If your next release goes viral tomorrow, is your legal and backend infrastructure ready? Let us know in the comments!

​#MariahCarey #MusicBusiness #IntellectualProperty #EntertainmentLaw #MusicCopyright #ipderies

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1 day ago | [YT] | 0

IPSERIESWithRAC

Is AI Stealing Music Catalogues? The $48M Elvis Lawsuit & What It Means for African Music Estates

Could AI models be training on legendary African music catalogues without permission?
​In one of the biggest copyright cases of the year, rights holders for Elvis Presley have filed a federal lawsuit against Anthropic (creators of Claude AI). The lawsuit alleges that Anthropic scraped lyrics from 274 iconic songs without paying or securing a license.

​Anthropic disputes the claims, but this case opens a massive debate for the global music industry: How do we protect an artist’s legacy, voice, and rights in the age of artificial intelligence?
​For African artists, music executives, legal teams, and families managing late artists' estates, the stakes couldn't be higher. Legacy catalogues across Africa are prime assets for AI training, machine learning, and synthetic performances.

​In this update, we explore:
• The mechanics of the Elvis vs. Anthropic AI lawsuit
• Why posthumous intellectual property protection is crucial
• Steps African music estates must take to audit and secure their digital catalogues

​Read the full detailed post here:
lnkd.in/p/eeYamk2b

​Join the Conversation: Do you think current copyright laws are enough to protect deceased artists from unauthorized AI use? Drop your thoughts below!

​#AICopyright #MusicLaw #ArtificialIntelligence #AfricanMusicIndustry #IntellectualProperty #IPSeries #MusicBusiness

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3 days ago | [YT] | 1

IPSERIESWithRAC

Welcome back, #ipfriends, to Day 43 of the #IPSERIESChristmasCountdown! Today's session is a fun test of your legal and creative knowledge with our special IP Crossword Challenge.

​Test your expertise in intellectual property law, challenge your colleagues, and brush up on key concepts like copyright, trademarks, contracts, and commercialization.

​Play the Crossword Here: lnkd.in/p/e5iAXQi5

​Key Takeaways from Today:
1. ​Why you must audit your intellectual property assets.
2. ​How to review contracts for ownership and monetization.
3. ​Bridging the gap between IP theory and real-world protection.

​“You cannot protect what you do not understand.”
​Connect with the platform and join the conversation across our channels. I am Rita Anwiri Chindah, and this is #IPSeriesWithRAC.

​#IPLaw #IntellectualProperty #Lawyers #IPPolicy #EntertainmentLaw #IPSERIES #CrosswordChallenge

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5 days ago | [YT] | 3

IPSERIESWithRAC

​Can a brand use your face after your contract ends?

​In Day 41 of the #IPSeries Christmas Countdown, we break down a massive real-world conversation: Who actually controls a photograph?

​When model Gladys Wambui Irungu allegedly sued L’Oréal for KSh 8M+ after her likeness was used post-licence expiry, it exposed critical legal gaps that many Nigerian agencies and creators ignore.

​Key Topics Covered in this Post/Video:
• Section 28 of Nigeria’s Copyright Act 2022 explained.
• Does paying a photographer transfer copyright ownership?
• The crucial difference between Copyright and Image Rights (Likeness).
• What happens to inventory when a commercial license expires?
• 6 essential clauses every photography contract must include.

​ Read the full written analysis here: lnkd.in/p/e9QaN9CM
​
Don't forget to Subscribe and hit the bell icon for daily Intellectual Property tips!

​#IPLaw #CopyrightLaw Nigeria

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1 week ago | [YT] | 2

IPSERIESWithRAC

Sorry, I can’t tonight..."

​For Day 40 of the #ipserieschristmascountdown, we hopped on the trend to see what every type of IP is up to tonight! Remember: IP is always quietly working for its owner, but unregistered IP is a plan no one is keeping.

​Check out Day 40 here and let us know your favourite in the comments! 👇
lnkd.in/p/eguQuY5W
​#IntellectualProperty #IPLaw #Trademark #Patents #IPStrategy

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1 week ago | [YT] | 2

IPSERIESWithRAC

Did you know that according to the latest UPOV report, China recorded over 20,000 plant variety applications in a single year? Worldwide, applications surged to nearly 34,000—marking ten consecutive years of growth.

​Plant variety protection is exploding globally. But beyond these massive numbers lies a critical question for Africa:
How can Nigeria reward agricultural innovation without sidelining our smallholder farmers, indigenous knowledge, and local biodiversity?

​Welcome back to the IPSERIES Christmas Countdown! I’m Rita, and today for Day 39, we are diving deep into crucial questions Nigeria’s agricultural and legal sectors must confront right now.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE & ANALYSIS:
lnkd.in/p/di7xVMy3

QUESTION FOR THE COMMUNITY:
If you are a farmer, breeder, researcher, or policymaker: What is the biggest bottleneck in your work today? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

🔔 Subscribe to IPSERIES for more practical insights on Intellectual Property, Innovation, and Policy across Africa!

#IPSERIES #PlantVarietyProtection #AgricultureNigeria

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1 week ago | [YT] | 4

IPSERIESWithRAC

Will a celebrity collection overshadow your brand overnight?

​When Billie Eilish and Finneas co-designed their luxury jewellery line with John Hardy ($195–$2,400), it proved once again that when big money enters a creative category, unregistered independent brands get pushed out.

​In this breakdown, we examine 3 landmark cases:
​Wavythe Creative vs. Adekunle Gold (Nigeria)
​Katie Perry vs. Katy Perry (Australia)
​Rihanna vs. Ronald Fenty (USA)

​Key Takeaway for Nigerian Creatives:
Without a registered trademark under the Nigerian Trademarks Act, you have ZERO infringement claims if a celebrity or massive corporation uses your brand name. Passing off is an expensive uphill battle.

​Protect your asset before someone bigger takes it.
​Read the full IPSERIES guide here:
lnkd.in/p/dqNGi-Yq

​#NigerianIPLaw #TrademarkNigeria #IntellectualProperty #BillieEilish #JohnHardy #AdekunleGold #KatyPerry #Fenty #Rihanna #BrandProtection #NigerianCreatives #IPSERIES #NigerianIPLawyer

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1 week ago | [YT] | 1

IPSERIESWithRAC

In a German copyright dispute, someone claimed a songwriter didn't write her lyrics because they sounded 'over-the-top' and made no sense. They claimed it was AI!

​But the court said NO. The songwriter had saved all her original drafts and voice notes, proving she created the core idea first."


"The lesson? If you're a songwriter, ALWAYS save your initial drafts and project files! Unusual art is still human art.

​Follow for more music law updates!"
#ipserieschristmascountdown
#ipseried

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1 week ago | [YT] | 1

IPSERIESWithRAC

What happens when intellectual property rights become so busy protecting creativity that they forget how to create?


In this funny IPSERIES commentary, we explore intellectual property law, copyright, trademarks, patents, trade secrets, commercialisation and the creative economy.

But the jokes raise a serious question: are we so focused on intellectual property protection, registration, licensing and enforcement that we sometimes forget the creativity, innovation and cultural meaning these systems are meant to support?

This is not an argument against IP protection. It is a conversation about balancing legal rights, commercial value, creative freedom and the public interest.

Subscribe to IPSERIES for conversations about intellectual property law, African innovation, cultural heritage, technology and the creative economy.

#IntellectualProperty #IPLaw #Copyright #Trademark #Patent #CreativeEconomy #IPSERIES

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1 week ago | [YT] | 1

IPSERIESWithRAC

In Day 33 of the IPSERIES Christmas Countdown, we explore a provocative Sunday reminder for creators, intellectual property owners, researchers, investors, academics and IP professionals.

Your work may be criticised before it is understood. Your research may have potential that has not yet been realised. Your intellectual property may be protected without being commercially developed. Your expertise may deserve a wider audience.

But recognition alone is not a business strategy.

This message challenges us to think beyond likes, applause and external validation. It is a reminder to protect creative works, investigate commercialisation opportunities, develop research into practical solutions and communicate professional expertise more strategically.

Whether you work in copyright, trademarks, patents, licensing, technology transfer or the creative industries, ask yourself: are you simply waiting for people to notice your work, or are you actively building its value?

Watch, reflect and share your answer in the comments.

Subscribe to IPSERIES for conversations about intellectual property, innovation, creativity and the business of ideas, with an African perspective.

#IntellectualProperty #IPCommercialisation #IPSERIES #IPSERIESChristmasCountdown

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2 weeks ago | [YT] | 1