Entertainment and Sports Law

  • Why Second Circuit Found No Fair Use in 'TVEyes' Case

    Only a small fraction of television news broadcasts are made available online. For a party to monitor and view all news coverage of an event, it would essentially have to watch and record all news broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That's exactly what media-monitoring service TVEyes did. Fox News filed suit against TVEyes, claiming copyright infringement of 19 of its hour-long programs and alleging that TVEyes would divert Fox News's viewership and its ability to license its news clips to third parties.

    May 01, 2018Crystal Genteman and Chris Bussert

  • De Havilland's Loss in Docudrama Portrayal Suit

    The California Court of Appeal created some First Amendment breathing room for the creators of docudramas — at the expense of legendary actress Olivia de Havilland — when the court ordered her suit against FX Networks over its Emmy Award-winning miniseries Feud be stricken under California's anti-SLAPP law, even if it did play a little fast-and-loose with de Havilland's character.

    May 01, 2018Scott Graham

  • Co-Writer Files Royalties Suit Against Iglesias

    The title of Julio Iglesias's hit song “Me Olvide de Vivir” translates to “I Had Forgotten to Live.” But a Miami songwriter's copyright infringement lawsuit suggests the only thing the famed crooner “forgot” was to pay his collaborator.

    May 01, 2018Samantha Joseph

  • Ex-Wife Entitled to Payment from Script Settlement

    Settlement proceeds from a writers' dispute involving the film Olympus Has Fallen must be further divided pursuant to one of the writer's divorce agreements, the Pennsylvania Superior Court has ruled.

    May 01, 2018Max Mitchell

  • Bit Parts

    Rule 12(b)(6) Motion Denied in Infringement Dispute over Anastasia Musical, Due to “Lengthy Historical Record” Involving Central Character

    May 01, 2018Stan Soocher

  • Upcoming Event

    New York State Bar Association Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law Section Annual Spring Meeting

    May 01, 2018ssalkin

  • 'Graffiti' Artists Prevail Under VARA Over Property Owner

    The culturally conscious property owner may be interested in commissioning an artist to beautify the outdoor wall of the owner's warehouse space. However, it's important to understand the legal effect of commissioning such work and the scope of rights that the property owner acquires and surrenders as a result.

    April 01, 2018Matthew V. Wilson and Tucker Barr

  • Industry Workplace Misconduct Investigations

    The important ongoing industry and national conversation about sexual harassment is serving as a wake-up call to entertainment companies, board members and C-suite executives about the need to be proactive when confronted with allegations of harassment or other workplace misconduct.

    April 01, 2018Carri H. Cohen, Janie F. Schulman and Joshua Hill