Features

California Court of Appeal Rules on Formerly Licensed Attorney Who Continued as Talent Manager
Conflict of interest is a red-flag concern when an attorney becomes a talent manager. But what happens when a formerly licensed attorney continues to provide management services for talent?
Features

No Delay for Weinstein Victims Trust Plan
A U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Delaware judge ruled not to grant a motion that would have stayed a liquidation plan setting aside $17 million to settle with those who have claimed sexual misconduct by former film industry executive Harvey Weinstein.
Features

Developments In Student Athletes' Publicity Rights
The rights of college student-athletes to receive compensation for the use of their "name, image and likeness" (NIL) are finally being addressed. As…
Columns & Departments
Bit Parts
Eleventh Circuit Flirts With Nominative Fair Use Test in Alan Parsons Project Trademark Case
Features

Litigation Over Tom Clancy Works Involves Fundamental, But Complex Copyright Elements
Current copyright litigation in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland involving Clancy's widow Alexandra and his former wife Wanda King is complex, but involves fundamental issues of copyright ownership.
Features

'Stranger Things' Copyright Claim Survives Motion to Dismiss
In response to a copyright claim in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California that the Netflix series Stranger Things infringed on Irish Rover Entertainment's unpublished screenplays, Netflix and the other defendants filed a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, arguing that the works were not substantially similar as a matter of law.
Features

Licensing Audits from Licensees' Perspective
The audit clause is a necessary means for the licensor to protect its interests and to guard against unscrupulous licensees. But it is a mistake to think that the clause is there solely to prevent malfeasance.
Features

New Small Claims Procedure for Copyright Disputes
The CASE Act fulfills the longstanding goal of the U.S. Copyright Office to establish a small claims court. The measure tasked the office with establishing the Copyright Claims Board and adopting governing regulations.
Features

Shareholders' Suit Over Video Game Developer's IPO
Two former shareholders allege in federal court that an auto-racing video game creator swindled them out of more than $200 million in stock.
Features

In Memoriam: Michael Rudell
We sadly note the passing of Entertainment Law & Finance editorial board member and entertainment attorney Michael I. Rudell.
Need Help?
- Prefer an IP authenticated environment? Request a transition or call 800-756-8993.
- Need other assistance? email Customer Service or call 1-877-256-2472.
MOST POPULAR STORIES
- The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year LaterThe 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.Read More ›
- Lack of Logo Placement At Center of Ruling Over Meat Loaf Album PackagingTo build visibility for its brand, a record label or production company will want its logo included on products containing its master recordings manufactured and distributed by third parties. This will be addressed in the agreement between the label or production company and manufacturer/distributor. The failure to include the logo may raise a host of issues, from the breadth of the logo-placement obligation ' such as whether it includes Internet downloads ' to the proper theory on which to base any damages and just which album-sales figures are subject to evidentiary discovery. A recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ' in a long-running dispute between Cleveland International Records and Sony Music Entertainment ' illustrated how these issues may be argued and decided.Read More ›
- Law Firms and the Rise of HospitalityThe law firm office cannot remain unchanged, as if frozen in time set to some date prior to the onset of pandemic, when the terms and meaning have all changed. In fact, the office must now provide benefits or an experience the lawyers and staff cannot get at home.Read More ›
- The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance ProgramsThe 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.Read More ›