Katie and Steve speak with esteemed copyright lawyer Nancy Wolff about the Ninth Circuit case Sedlik v. Von Drachenberg, in which photographer Jeffrey Sedlik sued celebrity tattoo artist Kat Von D for copyright infringement related to her inking a copy of his photographic portrait of Miles Davis on a friend’s arm and publicizing the process on social media. They discuss the Ninth Circuit’s unique approach to copyright infringement in applying a subjective (jury-determined) test for substantial similarity based on “total concept and feel” and how that test may be in conflict with basic and established copyright principals.

Resources

https://cdas.com/people/nancy_wolff/

https://www.authorsalliance.org/2024/12/23/authors-alliance-submits-amicus-brief-in-sedlik-v-drachenberg/

Appellant’s Opening Brief [Dkt. 14] (10/15/2024)

Amicus Curiae Brief of the Copyright Alliance in support of Appellant [Dkt. 19] (10/22/2024)

Brief of Amicus Curiae Authors Alliance in support of Defendants-Appellees and Affirmance [Dkt. 42] (12/23/2024) – C. Bavitz

Brief of Amici Curiae Copyright Law Professors in support of Defendants-Appellees [Dkt. 43] (12/23/2024) – R. Tushnet

Appellant’s Reply Brief [Dkt. 71] (4/7/2025)

Memorandum [Dkt. 94] (1/2/2026)

Corrected Per Curiam Opinion [Dkt. 97] (1/2/2026)

Katie and Steve discuss topics based on news and magazine articles and court filings and not based on original research unless specifically noted.

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Episode Transcription Coming Soon

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Music by Chris Thompson. Produced by Jackie Santos.