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WWBA May 2023 Newsletter - M

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Understanding NFTs – The New Asset<br />

from page 1<br />

sold, with the law not settled, but, despite<br />

these questions, there have been notable<br />

NFT sales. For copyright owners, one<br />

concern is that NFTs may be an easier<br />

means for others to copy the copyright<br />

owners’ works, and the anonymity of NFTs<br />

and lack of regulations could make enforcement<br />

difficult. Her discussion of two<br />

different lawsuits, Miramax, LLC v. Tarantino<br />

and Roc-A-Fella Records, Inc. v. Damon<br />

Dash, which were ultimately settled, illustrated<br />

the real-world copyright issues involving<br />

NFTs.<br />

Sam Kilb discussed trademarks and<br />

NFTs, starting off with the question, do<br />

trademark rights for physical goods apply<br />

to NFTs? He noted that owning an NFT<br />

does not confer trademark rights, and if<br />

the NFT does have a trademark, how do<br />

The <strong>WWBA</strong> celebrates the life and<br />

grieves the passing of our devoted friend<br />

and long-time Board member, the Honorable<br />

Sandra Anita (Rubin) Forster.<br />

Judge Forster passed away peacefully<br />

at home on <strong>May</strong> 1, <strong>2023</strong>, after a yearlong<br />

battle with brain cancer. Known<br />

endearingly as Sandy, she was a vivacious,<br />

curious, and intellectual woman<br />

who loved travel, the arts, culture, nature,<br />

science, PBS, and her beloved New<br />

York Times. She was a tomboy who<br />

loved playing sports when girls were not<br />

welcome to do so, and was not above<br />

Figure from Hermès International, et al., v.<br />

Mason Rothschild Complaint<br />

Figure from Nike, Inc. v. StockX LLC<br />

Complaint<br />

IN MEMORIAM<br />

THE HONORABLE SANDRA A. FORSTER<br />

scolding her bridge partner. Noted for her<br />

joie de vivre and generous spirit, there was<br />

always an extra seat at her table. A lawyer,<br />

judge, wife, mother and extraordinary<br />

grandmother, she will be dearly missed.<br />

Judge Forster was born on February<br />

23, 1940, in Manhattan. She grew up in<br />

Yonkers, and met and married Lloyd Forster<br />

in 1961, ho predeceased her in 1982. She<br />

earned her undergraduate degree from the<br />

University of Rochester and, while raising<br />

two children, Craig and Dana, she graduated<br />

from Pace University Law School and<br />

was admitted to the bar in 1980. After a<br />

you enforce a trademark on the<br />

blockchain? Two cases were discussed:<br />

the pending Nike, Inc. v. StockX LLC lawsuit<br />

(1:22-cv-00983 [SDNY]), and the recently<br />

decided Hermès International, et<br />

al., v. Mason Rothschild lawsuit (1:22-<br />

cv-00384 [SDNY]), which illustrate the<br />

complexity of the legal issues involving<br />

NFTs.<br />

NFTs are an asset that is not going<br />

away. It will take time to work out solutions<br />

to resolve the legal issues arising<br />

from the creation, uses and sales of NFTs.<br />

Earlier this year the U.S. Copyright Office<br />

and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office<br />

commenced a joint study to answer a<br />

series of questions about rights in NFTs.<br />

Future court cases, legislation and regulations<br />

will provide more answers. Stay<br />

tuned for future developments. ◗<br />

thriving legal career she was elected as<br />

Judge of the Greenburgh Town Court,<br />

where she served from 2000 to 2012.<br />

In 2001 she married Norman Nadel,<br />

who survives her. She is survived by<br />

her children Craig (Carolyn) and Dana<br />

(Gregg Navins), her sister Irene Guros,<br />

and grandchildren Amelia, Samantha,<br />

Alexandra, Caley, and Erik.<br />

The Westchester Women’s Bar Association,<br />

like so many, will miss Judge<br />

Forster’s generosity, intellect, verve, and<br />

presence. Our deepest condolences to<br />

Judge Forster’s family.<br />

Pictured is Judge Forster’s participation in a past Law Day, with students from the Richard J. Bailey Elementary School and<br />

the Honorable Doris T. Friedman, her colleague at the Greenburgh Town Court.<br />

Page 4<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News

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