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Cameo Clips
COPYRIGHT DAMAGES/STATUTORY 'WORK'<br>COPYRIGHT JURISDICTION/RELATED CONTRACT CLAIMS
Features
Mysterious Lawyer Is at Center of Suit Against Counsel To 'Superman' Heirs
Given that the story lines played out in Superman comic books are full of shadowy figures with dark motivations, it seems fitting that the real world legal fight over who owns the rights to the Man of Steel would feature such a character in a pivotal role. On May 14, Warner Bros. sued Marc Toberoff, the lawyer for the comic icon's co-creators' families, in federal court in Los Angeles, accusing him of engaging in a "scheme" to "enrich himself" by trying to wrongfully seize control of a substantial chunk of the Superman property.
Features
Suit By Author Michael Connelly Is Good Reason to Take Close Look at Film Turnaround Provisions
It takes a good while for a producer to develop a motion picture based on a book. A screenwriter must be engaged, decisions must be made about how to adapt the book into a film, the screenplay must be written and revised, and then an entire creative team must be assembled. For this reason, the producer attempts to structure the acquisition agreement with the book author in the form of an option coupled with a self-executing purchase agreement. The option period gives the producer time to complete development activities, and if the option is exercised, the purchase agreement transfers audiovisual rights without further discussion.
Features
Point and Click
Those of us involved in e-commerce pay particular attention when online sellers are involved, such as the report that the same e-seller sold a gun or accessories to two well-publicized killers. This year, however, there is an additional legal twist.
Features
Q&A: Shannon Liss-Riordan Discusses Awuah and Other Issues
In this Q&A, Liss-Riordan discusses <i>Awuah, et al. v. Coverall North America, Inc.,</i> as well as the general significance of litigation about the classification of franchisees and wage-and-classification issues for employees of franchisees.
Features
IFA Legal Symposium: Financing Remains Immense Problem for Franchisors
Conversation at the 41st annual International Franchise Association Legal Symposium focused on the challenges that franchisors and franchisees are facing in obtaining financing for continuing operations and expansion, as well as other impacts of the two-year U.S. recession.
Features
Equal Distribution
In last month's issue, we discussed a decision in in which a Supreme Court judge in Manhattan dismissed a divorced man's suit to recover from his ex-wife half of what he lost by taking investments in Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme in their divorce settlement. The discussion concludes herein.
Features
Seller Beware: Delivery of Goods Post-Petition May Cost You
The Eleventh Circuit case <i>In re Delco Oil, Inc. (Marathon Petroleum Co., LLC v. Cohen)</i>, serves as an important reminder for suppliers to monitor a customer's bankruptcy filing and to confirm the rules for doing business before delivering goods to a debtor.
Features
'Probable Experience' in Business Interruption Claims
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently weighed in on the proper measurement of business interruption claims, particularly those following a catastrophic event that affects an entire region or industry.
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