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