The Docket Archive
Welcome to The Docket Archive, a curated collection of every insight, strategy, and thought piece shared through The Docket. Here, you’ll find all past and present posts from Zamani Thomas Legal, covering topics at the intersection of law, creativity, and culture.
Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, or industry professional, this archive is your legal compass. Dive into a growing library of articles on intellectual property, entertainment law, creator rights, contract strategy, and more, written to empower, inform, and equip you to protect what you create.
The Copycat Came First
May 30, 2025
The Creative Shield… and Its Echo You spend months working on a project that’s taken decades to arrive at; drafting, editing, shaping ideas. You put your name to it, design the cover. build the foundation to launch. Then, after posting the first details about The Creative Shield: The Artist’s Guide to Copyrights, Trademarks & Brand
Mayhem in the Merch
May 28, 2025
Lady Gaga Faces $100M Lawsuit Over Trademarked Logo When does a logo become a lawsuit? For Lady Gaga, the answer may be now. In March 2025, Gaga and her creative team were hit with a $100 million trademark infringement lawsuit by California-based surf brand Lost International, who claim that the pop icon’s new “Mayhem” logo,
“Sabotage”: Right to Say No
May 24, 2025
Beastie Boys Settle with Chili’s Over Unauthorized Ad Use In a win for artistic control, the Beastie Boys and Universal Music Group have settled their lawsuit with Chili’s parent company, Brinker International, over the unlicensed use of their iconic 1994 track “Sabotage” in a 2022 ad campaign. The commercial mimicked the song’s original Spike Jonze-directed
Take it Down
May 23, 2025
A Win for Creators On May 19, the Take It Down Act officially became law, marking a major step forward in the fight against digital exploitation. While the headlines focused on revenge porn and deepfake crackdowns, this legislation quietly delivers something long overdue: real federal protection for creatives and everyday people navigating a rapidly evolving
The Voice Is Yours
May 21, 2025
Protecting Your Sound in the Age of AI Cloning What happens when your voice can be replicated, and sold,without your permission? Artificial intelligence has made it easier than ever to clone a human voice. From music hooks to podcast narration, AI-generated voices are reshaping the creative and commercial landscape. But for artists, voice actors, musicians,
From Beats to Brands
May 20, 2025
Turning Your Sound into Trademark Gold Your voice. Your intro drop. That unmistakable synth tag at the start of every track. These aren’t just creative flourishes, they’re brand assets. And in an industry where streaming revenue fluctuates and social platforms reward originality, trademarking your sound might be the most powerful legal move you can make.
Drake vs Universal
January 17, 2025
From Booth to Courtroom, a New Style of Rap Battle What started as a threat a month or so ago has now become an actual case. I guess this is what happens now when the two biggest names in rap clash. While I am not here to pass judgement on either side, there was a