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Columns & Departments

Bit Parts Image

Bit Parts

Stan Soocher

Breach-of-Contract Claim Can Continue Over Refusal to Exercise Option to Retain Anti-Vaccination Actress California Court Rules on Intersection Between Anti-SLAPP Law and Movie Trailer

Features

Copyright Claims Board: Now Entering the "Active Phase" Image

Copyright Claims Board: Now Entering the "Active Phase"

Michelle Davis

2023 is shaping up to be a big year for small claims. Since making its debut in June of 2022, the Copyright Claims Board (CCB) has received over 250 claims, and at least 11 have made it to the "active phase," with more on the way. Active phase means a respondent was served, failed to "opt out," and now the esteemed three-member tribunal of copyright experts may finally get a chance to make some rulings.

Features

The NFT Market and Fallout from the FTX Scandal Image

The NFT Market and Fallout from the FTX Scandal

Mark Cianci, Charles Humphreville, Kelley Chandler & Ty Owen

The FTX bankruptcy scandal that has shaken the largely unregulated cryptocurrency world has slowed but isn't likely to end the roll-out of celebrity-related, non-fungible digital token (NFT) offerings. But how might the FTX story impact a push for federal regulation of the NFT market?

Columns & Departments

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Fresh Filings

ELF Staff

A look at moves among attorneys, law firms, companies and other players in entertainment law.

Columns & Departments

Players On the Move Image

Players On the Move

ELF Staff

A look at moves among attorneys, law firms, companies and other players in entertainment law.

Columns & Departments

Bit Parts Image

Bit Parts

Stan Soocher

COVID-19 Insurance Coverage Affirmed for Cancellation of Tina Turner Musical MTV Floribama Shore Overcomes Trademark Infringement Claim New York Appellate Division Reinstates Lawsuit Alleging Misappropriation of Reality TV Concept Ninth Circuit Affirms Film Clip In Talent Acting Reel Was Fair Use

Features

New Decisions In Disputes Over Titles Reinforce 'High Bar' In Proving Public Was 'Explicitly Misled' Image

New Decisions In Disputes Over Titles Reinforce 'High Bar' In Proving Public Was 'Explicitly Misled'

Stan Soocher

When it comes to expressive content, disputes over trademark rights in titles of creative works are commonly fought under the federal Lanham Act. Many of these battles play out in courts in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which has well-developed legal guidelines on the subject — many of them from lawsuits that have arisen in the entertainment industry.

Features

Conn. Fed. Court Distinguishes Funny Girl Lyrics Royalty Rights from Copyright Image

Conn. Fed. Court Distinguishes Funny Girl Lyrics Royalty Rights from Copyright

Allison Dunn

A federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut sided with the family of a production company executive in finding that the wife of late Broadway lyricist Bob Merrill had no right, under §304(c) of the U.S. Copyright Act, to cancel a more than 50-year-old royalty agreement between the executive and Merrill.

Features

Texas App. Court's Ruling in Suit By Band Member's Lawyer Image

Texas App. Court's Ruling in Suit By Band Member's Lawyer

Adolfo Pesquera

A.B. Quintanilla III, founding member and leader of the Latin music group Kumbia Kings, prevailed on appeal in a dispute with a Texas attorney who claimed Quintanilla conspired to cut the lawyer out of his alleged share of a settlement.

Features

Legal Malpractice Suit Involving Celebrity Memorabilia Can Proceed Image

Legal Malpractice Suit Involving Celebrity Memorabilia Can Proceed

Jason Grant

A New York appeals court rejected a Manhattan boutique law firm's attempt to dismiss a malpractice action against it, finding that questions remained as to whether the statute of limitations for the claim was tolled and if the firm received sufficient notice about a bankruptcy that prevented its client from collecting a judgment.

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