Tamera H. Bennett-Attorney

02/16/2026

As brands appear more often in film, TV, gaming, and even NFTs, the line between fair use of a third-party trademark and infringement is shifting. I’m excited to present "Trademarks in the Wild: Real-World Lessons from Rogers, Jack Daniel’s, and Pop Culture Litigation" with my colleague Jordyn Hendrix at Harper & Bates LLP. We'll be sharing practical guidance in a fast‑evolving trademark landscape. Registration link for our February 27 virtual presentation is in the comments. https://mylawcle.com/

02/11/2026

Alright, Alright, Alright -- I’m excited to participate on Feb. 20, 2026 in the SMU 22nd Annual IP Symposium. I’ll be joining Craig Carpenter, Lisa Normand, and Shani Sh**ha on a panel discussing “IP Issues in Entertainment, Publishing and Digital Media in 2026.”

Can you guess one of the trademark topics we will be discussing?

This symposium is presented by the Intellectual Property Section of the Dallas Bar Association and the Tsai Center for Law, Science, and Innovation.

Learn more and register for the CLE - https://lnkd.in/gn7N8UEU or scan the QR code in the picture.

Harper & Bates LLP

01/12/2026

Blaze Presents: Rhymes & Rodeos — Dallas Sync Camp is a three-day creative experience (Feb 27–March 1) designed for independent artists, songwriters, producers, and studio musicians looking to expand how their music connects with film, television, advertising, and brand-driven content. Hosted by Blaze Unlimited, the camp brings together curated creatives in collaborative studio sessions while offering real insight into how music is evaluated and placed in today’s sync landscape—bridging the creative process with professional opportunity. Registrations close January 15th.

Blaze Presents: Rhymes & Rodeos — Dallas Sync Camp is a three-day creative experience (Feb 27–March 1) designed for independent artists, songwriters, producers, and studio musicians looking to expand how their music connects with film, television, advertising, and brand-driven content. Hosted by Blaze Unlimited, the camp brings together curated creatives in collaborative studio sessions while offering real insight into how music is evaluated and placed in today’s sync landscape—bridging the creative process with professional opportunity. Registrations close January 15th — SIGN UP NOW!

Participants work in fully equipped studio rooms, enjoy catered in-person sessions by Haati Eats, and take part in daily industry workshops covering ownership, splits, and artist literacy. Virtual workshops are also available for remote creatives. Hosted in partnership with the Dallas Music Office and Luminous Sound, Rhymes & Rodeos is rooted in Dallas music culture and built to support artists at every stage—encouraging collaboration, creative growth, and sustainable careers beyond traditional release paths.

More info and registration at:

Dallas Sounds

Blaze Unlimited

01/02/2026

Happy New Year and Happy Public Domain Day.

On January 1, 2026, thousands of copyrighted works from 1930 entered the US public domain, along with sound recordings from 1925.

Notable works now in the public domain include classic Gershwin songs "I Got Rhythm," "I’ve Got a Crush on You," "But Not for Me," and "Embraceable You"; the Academy Award–winning film "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1930); and works by authors including Agatha Christie, T.S. Eliot, Sigmund Freud, and William Faulkner.

Important legal reminder: derivative works created on or after January 1, 1930 (or January 1, 1925 for sound recordings) may still be protected by copyright, and trademark law may continue to protect certain characters or brand elements even when the underlying work is in the public domain and no longer protected by copyright.

Public Domain Day is a reminder that expanded access to creative works comes with legal nuances that still matter for creators and businesses.

Learn more at: https://web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicdomainday/

And feel free to contact the Harper & Bates LLP team. www.harperbates.com

10/05/2025

One Month Left To Submit Your Songs!

Whether you've submitted songs in the past, supported the program behind the scenes, or helped champion the next generation of Texas songwriters—this journey continues because of you.

We’re excited to announce that submissions for the 2026 program open July 1 and will remain open through November 1, 2025. Songwriters can register and upload songs at: https://texassongwriteru.com/submit-song/

Texas singer/songwriter Jack Ingram will host the three-day songwriter discovery and development program in partnership with Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association, and Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI).

The three-day event features showcases, feedback sessions, co-writing opportunities, and direct access to top industry leaders.

Mentors for the 2026 season include Jack Ingram—award-winning Texas singer-songwriter, fierce advocate for emerging artists, and longtime champion of TXSU—alongside GRAMMY-winning and multi-songwriter Hall of Fame inductee Liz Rose (Taylor Swift, Little Big Town), and GRAMMY-winning songwriter Lori McKenna, whose emotionally rich storytelling has shaped hits like “Humble and Kind” and “Girl Crush.”

Eight finalists will be selected to attend the 2026 program, hosted February 1–4 at a private ranch just outside Austin, Texas.

Enter today!
Texas Songwriter U

09/25/2025

Today, September 25th is The Recording Academy's Music Advocacy Day!

🎤✨ Recording Academy members from across the country are meeting with lawmakers to champion creators and ensure music continues to thrive.

Add your voice and take action: https://www.congressweb.com/GRAMMY/99/


Recording Academy / GRAMMYs

07/11/2025

Welcome to the new Recording Academy / GRAMMYs Class of 2025! This year 3,600 people received invites to join! Such a diverse and amazing group! Recording Academy / GRAMMYs

Invitees to the 2025 New Member Class — including artist Addison Rae, comedian Nikki Glaser, rapper Joey Bada$$, música Mexicana outfit Grupo Firme and K-pop group KATSEYE — represent the Academy's dedication to fostering a diverse music industry landscape.

07/09/2025

The devastating floods and loss of life in Central Texas this weekend have Texas attorneys eager to assist their fellow Texans. The State Bar of Texas is coordinating with legal aid and pro bono groups to assess the legal needs on the ground and determine areas where attorneys may be able to volunteer.

As with any natural disaster, right now the survivors are focused on finding their loved ones and other immediate needs like food, shelter, and clothing. Their legal needs will become more apparent in the days and weeks ahead, and the State Bar will communicate those needs as more information is available.

In the meantime, through at least July 31, State Bar President Santos Vargas is dedicating all donations to the “Stand With Santos” access to justice campaign specifically for legal aid disaster relief.

Through this campaign, Santos is challenging the Texas legal community to donate money or pledge time to help bridge the justice gap for low-income Texans, including for disaster relief. You can give now at standwithsantos.org to help ensure money is not a barrier to disaster survivors receiving the legal help they desperately need.

Below are additional links to help with disaster legal relief ⬇️

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA), which serves areas affected by the flooding, accepts volunteer attorneys on its website at trla.org/volunteer.

The Texas Bar Foundation has established the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund at txbf.org/emergency-disaster-relief.

The State Bar of Texas offers Pro Bono Texas as a one-stop hub for pro bono opportunities at probonotexas.org/.

The State Bar also provides links to disaster relief resources for the public at texasbar.com/disasters.

04/23/2025

The Entertainment Law Update Podcast with music lawyer Tamera Bennett and film attorney Gordon Firemark join Podcastathon and interview Theresa Wolters, Vice President of Health and Human Services at MusiCares. This episode hits the biggest headlines in copyright, trademark, and entertainment law— federal courtroom wins and regulatory investigations to AI's role in expert testimony and bar exam controversy. https://rpb.li/myt6

03/03/2025

Listen in or watch attorneys Tamera H. Bennett-Attorney and Gordon P. Firemark on the Entertainment Law Update Podcast. On this episode: Is Vetter v. Resnik making new copyright grant termination law - again? Will courts enforce a world-wide copyright grant termination? AI Corner Update with Case Law and ruling in Thomson Reuter v. Ross Intelligence. Copyright Office Report finding Generative AI may be protected. Texas Legal Ethics opinion on lawyers using generative AI. Podcasters win fair use case at CCB. This and much more! https://www.tbennettlaw.com/podcast/2025-02-26-copyright-grant-terminations-music-estates-ai-update-legal-ethics

02/25/2025

Tomorrow, Wed. February 26, 2025. This tax seminar is designed with artists in mind and caters specifically to their tax concerns. Get ready to dive in on Wednesday, February 26! Link to register in comments.

Cohosted with Art House Dallas, Austin Federation of Musicians, Fresh Arts, and Houston Center for Contemporary Craft!

2️⃣ Two weeks until the Art of Taxes! This tax seminar is designed with artists in mind and caters specifically to their tax concerns. Get ready to dive in on Wednesday, February 26!

Register today (link in comments)!

Cohosted with Art House Dallas, Austin Federation of Musicians, Fresh Arts, and Houston Center for Contemporary Craft!