Features

A Primer for Forming Loan-Out Corporations
In the entertainment industry, it can take years for actors, musicians and others to reach a point where their efforts begin bringing in a notable return. If and when these types of clients begin to make a consistently significant income, one method that deserves consideration for protecting the hard-earned pay is to organize a loan-out corporation.
Features

Can Video Game Companies Be Liable for Users' Money Laundering?
Criminals are hoping to use video game platforms to score more than just points. By using ill-gotten gains to purchase in-game currency that can then be exchanged for real cash, bad actors have found a way to launder money that is difficult for both gaming providers and the authorities to track.
Features

How Will NCAA's New Policy on Endorsements By Athletes Play Out
University general counsel and sports lawyers across the country have been trying to figure out their next steps in the controversial world of marketing student athletes.
Features

Trial to Start in Suit over Walking Dead Stuntman Death
The trial over a death on the set of the Walking Dead zombie drama will hinge on one key question: What happened in the moments before a stuntman plunged off a balcony and missed an airbag 20 feet below.
Features

Filers Beware: No Expedited Discovery in Copyright Suits
Litigation tactics employed by frequent filers of copyright infringement suits may face heavy criticism in light of a recent ruling by a federal judge in New Jersey.
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Alleged Verbal Agreement For Promotion of Concerts Found Unenforceable "Chapel of Love" Singer's Niece Fails to Show Court in Royalties Dispute Had Personal Jurisdiction over Defendant Fair Use Defense Can Be Raised Under California's Sound Recording Misappropriation Statute
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Law Firms Enter the Golden Age of Data Mining
As a matter of practice, law firms generate and store incomprehensible amounts of data. Most, if not all, of that data has been digitized and many firms that recognize the untapped value of their data have begun to leverage sophisticated technologies to mine it for reusable work product and valuable insights.
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Some Guidance on Federal Securities Law and Film Financing Disputes
Disputes over film financing agreements are common, but there are few court decisions that address film financing dustups involving §10(b) of the federal Securities Exchange Act. Now the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida has issued a ruling that addresses the pleading requirements for alleging a §10(b) violation, in litigation between an investor and a film production company.
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'Weinstein' Clauses In Acquisition Agreements
The purpose of a Weinstein clause is to provide assurance that the target company (including its officers and executives) is not a hotbed of sexual harassment or a ticking time bomb of claims waiting to explode. This article on drafting and negotiating Weinstein clauses should help entertainment and media deal teams balance these risks.
Features

'Dirt for Debt' In Bankruptcy Plans of Reorganization
A debtor's goal in a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy is to confirm a "plan of reorganization." Creditors usually have the right to vote for or against a plan, and in some cases, a plan can be confirmed over the objection of one or more classes of creditors. This is called a "cram-down." The Bankruptcy Code's rules governing cram-down are complex and differ for secured and unsecured classes of creditors. This article shows how bankruptcy courts have ruled on a particular method of cram-down known as a "dirt-for-debt" plan.
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