Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

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

Entertainment Law & FinanceColumns & DepartmentsEntertainment and Sports LawLitigation

Bit Parts

By Stan Soocher
December 01, 2020

Louisiana Court Lacks Personal Jurisdiction Over Jeopardy! Production Company in State's Effort to Collect Taxes

The Louisiana Court of Appeal affirmed a trial court ruling of lack of personal jurisdiction over the company behind the Jeopardy! game-show's production and merchandising rights, in the state's Department of Revenue (LDR) petition to get corporate and franchise taxes from the California-based entertainment company. Robinson v. Jeopardy Productions, 2019 CA 1095. The court of appeal explained: "Jeopardy's licensing and distribution agreements gave CBS [Television Distribution Group] and IGT [International Gaming Tech] the sole authority to decide in which states to license and/or distribute the 'Jeopardy!' game show, trademark/logo, and merchandise with unrelated third parties. The evidence was uncontroverted that Jeopardy [Productions] merely owns the intellectual property of the 'Jeopardy!' game show and trademark. Jeopardy has no control over where and with whom the licensees, CBS and IGT, choose to market and negotiate distribution of the game show and merchandise. Jeopardy made no intentional or direct contact with Louisiana. Furthermore, each licensing agreement specifically states that Jeopardy is not in a partnership, joint venture, or agency with CBS or IGT."

*****

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
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.

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.

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.