Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Entertainment Law & FinanceKickerFeaturesTopicsCommercial LawLitigationSectionsNewsLJN Newsletters

Cameo Clips

By ALM Staff | Law Journal Newsletters |
March 28, 2007

CHARACTER-NAME SUITS/ANTI-SLAPP STATUTE

The Court of Appeal of California, Second District, Division 3, denied a defense motion to strike under the state's anti-SLAPP statute a lawsuit alleging defamation and invasion of privacy over the release of a DVD edition of the movie 'Reality Bites.' Dyer v. Childress, B187804. California Civil Code Sec. 425.16 is intended to protect against 'a strategic lawsuit against public participation,' that is, one that interferes with discussion of issues of public concern. Screenplay writer Helen Childress had gone to film school with an individual named Troy Dyer and included a character with that name portrayed as 'rebellious slacker.' The real Troy Dyer, now a financial consultant, sued after release of the Tenth Anniversary DVD edition of the movie. The defendants argued that use of Dyer's name amounted to 'conduct in furtherance of the exercise of the constitutional right of ' free speech in connection with ' an issue of public interest,' here issues that had confronted Generation X in the 1990s.

This premium content is locked for LJN Newsletters subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.

The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs Image

The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.

Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations Image

This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.

Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough Image

There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.

Compliance Officers: Recent Regulatory Guidance and Enforcement Actions and Mitigating the Risk of Personal Liability Image

This article explores legal developments over the past year that may impact compliance officer personal liability.