Press

As featured in.

Where Schmidt Law and Madeline Schmidt have shown up in the industry conversation.

As seen in.

Intellectual Property

Madeline served as the original attorney for the defendant, Alyssa Sheil, in a closely-watched copyright infringement case between two content creators over a shared aesthetic style. Because the case was filed in Texas and Madeline is based in New York, she retained local Texas trial counsel to represent Sheil in court, while remaining involved as co-counsel throughout the litigation. The case drew national media attention and was ultimately dismissed.

In the press.

The Verge

Coverage of the copyright dispute between two lifestyle creators over a shared minimalist, neutral-toned content style — the case that put “aesthetic copyright” claims in the national spotlight.

The New York Times

A look at how the lawsuit tested the limits of copyright law against a broader cultural aesthetic, and what it means for creators navigating originality online.

Law360

Industry coverage naming this case among the copyright disputes legal professionals were tracking closely heading into 2025.

JD Supra

Legal analysis breaking down why claiming ownership over a visual “vibe” is such a difficult copyright argument to win.

Law.com (Texas Lawyer)

A recap of how the highly publicized lawsuit ultimately played out in court, and what it signals for future aesthetic-based copyright claims.

Texas Lawbook

Reporting on the resolution of the case from the Texas legal press, where the litigation was filed and heard.

Bloomberg Law

Bloomberg Law’s coverage of how the dispute concluded, and its place among early test cases for aesthetic-based copyright claims in the creator economy.

For Media

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