Comedy Streaming Legal Fight Shows Tech Testing Copyright: Lawyers

The legal fight between an array of high-profile comedians and Pandora over its streaming their comedy routines illustrates how emerging technologies and distribution methods are testing the traditional boundaries of copyright law, Sheppard Mullins entertainment lawyers Alexis Robinson and Samuel Cohen blogged Monday. The case hinges on whether licenses for sound records of comedy routines also cover the underlying content -- the jokes themselves, they said. The outcome could be precedent-setting for how streaming platforms license nonmusical content, "potentially leading to broader industry-wide changes." A victory for the comics might mean streaming platforms start negotiating more comprehensive licensing agreements for an array of spoken-word content like podcasts and audiobooks, they said. The lawsuit, Yellow Rose Productions v. Pandora Media, includes George Lopez and Robin Williams' estate, said the blog.