About
TechnoLegal is a blog about the intersection of all of the above.
Lewis is an associate attorney with Wilftek LLC, where he practices intellectual property and technology law. There, he works with clients ranging from one-person startups to Fortune 500 enterprises on the legal issues arising from the use and implementation of technology in businesses. Wilftek LLC is a technology and intellectual property law firm based in the Philadelphia area which represents clients of all sizes, from startups and small businesses to Fortune 500 and Global 10,000 enterprises, and at various stages of their business development. From the initial spark of an idea, to building relationships with business partners and customers, to planning for strategic growth, Wilftek helps clients protect their business, brand, and creative assets.
Lewis earned his law degree from Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law with a concentration in intellectual property, with honors. At Drexel, Lewis was an editor for the Drexel Law Review. Lewis is the treasurer and copyright committee head of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Intellectual Property Law Section. He is a member of the American Bar Association Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries, the Copyright Society, Water & Music, and several other professional organizations at the nexus of technology, music, and intellectual property.
Lewis’ writing on topics surrounding music, technology, and the law have been published in the Drexel Law Review, The Legal Intelligencer, Hypebot, and Full Rate No Cap. Lewis has spoken on issues in the blockchain industry with NFT Philly, presented a CLE on the ethical implications of artificial intelligence for lawyers for the Delaware County Bar Association, and guest lectured at Drexel University Westphal College of Media Arts and Design on artificial intelligence in the music industry.
TechnoLegal was founded by Lewis Sorokin, an attorney at Wilftek.
Additional Writing by Lewis
I am always honored when my writing is published in other outlets and when I have the opportunity to speak on the issues that excite me. Take a look at my works outside of TechnoLegal below.
The Last Beatles Record Is Coming Soon Thanks to AI
Paul McCartney worked with archive recordings of John Lennon to finish a "last Beatles record" through artificial intelligence (AI), eventually leading to the release of "Now and Then" in 2023. This article for The Legal Intelligencer dives into that.
Originally published by The Legal Intelligencer. Reprinted to Wilftek.com with permission.
June 28, 2023
Generative AI concerns focus on Copyright, but critical legal questions linger
Prior to Ghostwriter977's "Heart on My Sleeve" bringing "Fake Drake" to the public eye, I explored the legal implications of AI voice soundalikes and expressed a call for a federal right of publicity.
Originally published by Full Rate No Cap April 2, 2023. Republished by Hypebot April 5, 2023. Special thanks to Bill Werde.
April 2, 2023
Out of Tune: Recomposing the Link Between Music and Copyright
Music, like all art, is a form of creative expression. It is often referred to as “a universal language” for its seemingly inherent ability to appeal to people across cultures and divisions in society. Within the musical practice, however, the finite constructs of the Western musical tradition set the standards of music theory and traditions of composition, which are the building blocks of this so-called universal language. Because music is so universally appreciated, the copyright system in the United States has been established under the notion that music is universally understood and, therefore, can be analyzed universally. Under the current copyright system, for example, originality is one factor required for a work to be copyrightable. According to the law, originality is binary; either a work is original or it is not. This approach is entirely incompatible with the realities of music.
This Note asserts that the originality requirement for copyright protection sets an unattainable standard for musicians, demonstrated by music theory and both historical and contemporary examples. This Note further demonstrates that over-reliance on expert testimony has proven detrimental to a recent string of music copyright infringement cases involving Katy Perry, Marvin Gaye, Pharrell Williams, and other world-famous musicians. Therefore, this Note proposes that in order for copyright law to align more closely with the art it seeks to protect, the United States Copyright Office should establish a Copyright Trial and Appeal Board, wherein administrative law judges with expertise in specific art forms are tasked with determining copyrightable elements in works of authorship within their areas of expertise.
Published as 14 Drexel L. Rev. 745 (2022).