By Matthew B. HarrisonTALKERS VP/Associate PublisherHarrison Media Law, Senior PartnerGoodphone Communications, Executive Producer A radio (or video podcast) host grabs a viral clip, tosses in some sharp commentary, and shares it online. The goal? Make some noise. The result? A takedown notice for copyright infringement – and then a letter threatening a defamation suit. Sound […]
The Soundbite Trap: How Editing in Radio and Podcasting Creates Legal Risk
By Matthew B. HarrisonTALKERS, VP/Associate PublisherHarrison Media Law, Senior PartnerGoodphone Communications, Executive Producer In radio and podcasting, editing isn’t just technical – it shapes narratives and influences audiences. Whether trimming dead air, tightening a guest’s comment, or pulling a clip for social media, every cut leaves an impression. But here’s the legal reality: editing also creates risk. […]
Neutraliars: The Platforms That Edit Like Publishers but Hide Behind Neutrality
By Matthew B. Harrison TALKERS, VP/Associate Publisher Harrison Media Law, Senior Partner Goodphone Communications, Executive Producer In the golden age of broadcasting, the rules were clear. If you edited the message, you owned the consequences. That was the tradeoff for editorial control. But today’s digital platforms – YouTube, X, TikTok, Instagram – have rewritten that […]
Jimmy Kimmel’s Fair Use Victory: What It Means for Content Creators
By Matthew B. Harrison TALKERS, VP/Associate Publisher Harrison Media Law, Senior Partner Goodphone Communications, Executive Producer In a recent high-profile case, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel successfully defended himself against a copyright infringement lawsuit brought by former congressman George Santos. The case, which centered on Kimmel’s use of prank videos involving Santos, highlights the ongoing importance […]
Neutraliars: The Platforms That Edit Like Publishers but Hide Behind Neutrality
By Matthew B. Harrison TALKERS, VP/Associate Publisher Harrison Media Law, Senior Partner Goodphone Communications, Executive Producer In the golden age of broadcasting, the rules were clear. If you edited the message, you owned the consequences. That was the tradeoff for editorial control. But today’s digital platforms – YouTube, X, TikTok, Instagram – have rewritten that […]
Is That Even Legal? Talk Radio in the Age of Deepfake Voices: Where Fair Use Ends and the Law Steps In
By Matthew B. HarrisonTALKERS, VP/Associate PublisherHarrison Media Law, Senior PartnerGoodphone Communications, Executive Producer In early 2024, voters in New Hampshire got strange robocalls. The voice sounded just like President Joe Biden, telling people not to vote in the primary. But it wasn’t him. It was an AI clone of his voice – sent out to confuse voters. […]
Smoke and Mirrors: Fair Use Lessons from Pop Smoke and Bruno Mars
By Matthew B. HarrisonTALKERS, VP/Associate PublisherHarrison Media Law, Senior PartnerGoodphone Communications, Executive Producer The intersection of copyright and fair use remains a gray area for media creators, especially in music. Two cases – Pop Smoke’s use of an interview clip in Tunnel Vision (Outro) and Bruno Mars’ use of a voicemail from Halle Berry in Calling […]
Fair Use or Foul Play? Lessons from “Equals Three”
By Matthew B. HarrisonTALKERS, VP/Associate PublisherHarrison Media Law, Senior PartnerGoodphone Communications, Executive Producer In the ever-evolving landscape of digital media, creators often walk a fine line between inspiration and infringement. The 2015 case of Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc. offers a cautionary tale for anyone producing reaction videos or commentary-based content: fair use […]
Fair Game, Not Free Game: Navigating the Limits of Fair Use
By Matthew B. HarrisonTALKERS, VP/Associate PublisherHarrison Media Law, Senior PartnerGoodphone Communications, Executive Producer In 2016, YouTubers Ethan and Hila Klein of H3h3 Productions were sued by Matt Hosseinzadeh for copyright infringement after they used portions of his video in their reaction content. The court ruled in their favor, emphasizing that their use was transformative, added […]