Franklin Mint Prevails Over Princess Diana Fund. Princess [of Wales] Diana [Spencer] did not effectively protect the exploitation of her likeness in the U.S. during her lifetime, and her successor in interest, the Princess Diana Fund, failed in the lower court level against the Franklin Mint, which had been making Diana merchandise pretty much from the day of her wedding to Charles [Windsor, Prince of Wales]. This Ninth Circuit decision affirms the lower court, and includes an interesting discussion of the post-mortem right of publicity in California, trademark fair use, and the awarding of attorneys fees. [The Trademark Blog]

A Tale of Two Middle East Villages. Rachel Leah Jones's documentary film "500 Dunam on the Moon," which is showing as part of the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, explores the complex reality of an Israeli village. By Celestine Bohlen. [New York Times: Movies]

A Film Peers Into Tehran, Through a Hall of Mirrors. Reza Khatibi's "Seven Days in Tehran," which is part of the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, throws light on contemporary Iranian society. By Alan Riding. [New York Times: Movies]

Animators Learn a Faster Language. Nvidia's new graphical programming language speeds up the process of drawing, shading and coloring images. By Andy Patrizio. [Wired News] [The All Electric Media Weblog]

Celebrating a Sprite of Astonishment. Doris Kornish's keen, fine documentary, "Not Nude Though: A Portrait of Rudy Burckhardt," manages to dance with the soul of an artist. By Elvis Mitchell. [New York Times: Arts]

Looking Over a Shoulder at War's Deprivation. Even if you have never heard of James Nachtwey, the photojournalist who is the subject of this quiet, engrossing documentary, it is likely that you are familiar with his work. By A. O. Scott. [New York Times: Arts]

Hot Spots of Upheaval in a Topsy-Turvy World. After Sept. 11, this year's Human Rights Watch International Film Festival has acquired a new and inescapable resonance. By Stephen Holden. [New York Times: Movies]