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 Entertainment Law & Finance 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
Law Firms are Reducing Redundant Real Estate by Bringing Support Services Back to the Office Image

A trend analysis of the benefits and challenges of bringing back administrative, word processing and billing services to law offices.

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.

Bit Parts Image

Summary Judgment Denied Defendant in Declaratory Action by Producer of To Kill a Mockingbird Broadway Play Seeking Amateur Theatrical Rights

Risks of “Baseball Arbitration” in Resolving Real Estate Disputes Image

“Baseball arbitration” refers to the process used in Major League Baseball in which if an eligible player's representative and the club ownership cannot reach a compensation agreement through negotiation, each party enters a final submission and during a formal hearing each side — player and management — presents its case and then the designated panel of arbitrators chooses one of the salary bids with no other result being allowed. This method has become increasingly popular even beyond the sport of baseball.

Disconnect Between In-House and Outside Counsel Image

'Disconnect Between In-House and Outside Counsel is a continuation of the discussion of client expectations and the disconnect that often occurs. And although the outside attorneys should be pursuing how inside-counsel actually think, inside counsel should make an effort to impart this information without waiting to be asked.