LJN Newsletters

  • How to Fight Digital Disparagement

    As any manager knows, letting employees go is never easy. The process becomes much more difficult when an angry former employee seeks to damage the company's reputation by launching a public campaign of disparaging remarks online and in the media. Left unchallenged, such a campaign can tarnish the company's image among potential investors, customers, and its own employees. By taking proactive measures, however, a company significantly can reduce the chances of falling prey to a smear campaign.

    May 27, 2010Leila Narvid and Lori Teranishi

  • Bit Parts

    Copyright Infringement Suit over Dreamgirls Is Dismissed
    Louisiana Federal Court Lacks Jurisdiction over French Studio
    Second Circuit Sees Different "Concept and Feel" in Cookbooks Dispute
    Unauthorized Use of Photo on Fiction Book Violates NY Publicity Right

    May 27, 2010Stan Soocher

  • Counsel Concerns

    Amendment Denied For Malpractice Suit Over 'Bowie Bonds'
    Malicious Prosecution Suit Is Reinstated Against Manatt Phelps

    May 27, 2010Stan Soocher and Cheryl Miller

  • Cameo Clips

    COPYRIGHT DAMAGES/STATUTORY 'WORK'
    COPYRIGHT JURISDICTION/RELATED CONTRACT CLAIMS

    May 27, 2010Stan Soocher

  • 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.

    May 27, 2010Drew Combs

  • Copyright Ruling on Photo Registrations

    Talk about winning on a technicality. In a copyright infringement case brought by photographers who sued Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Co. over the allegedly unapproved use of their photos, Chief Judge Loretta Preska of Manhattan federal district court ruled in May that the works at issue had not been properly registered. Judge Preska threw out most of the photographers' claims in her 24-page ruling.

    May 27, 2010Andrew Longstreth

  • NFL Antitrust Immunity Bid Tackled By Supreme Court

    The U.S. Supreme Court late last month dashed the hopes of the National Football League for baseball-style immunity from antitrust laws, with justices ruling unanimously against the league in a dispute over NFL-licensed apparel.

    May 27, 2010Tony Mauro

  • Cautious Optimism for the Economy

    There is no question that the economy has been rebounding in fits and starts over the past 12 months or so. The real issue, however, is whether some of the encouraging numbers and statistics supporting the general optimism that better times are just around the corner are also gaining real traction in the business community.

    May 27, 2010Adam Schlagman

  • IP News

    Highlights of the latest intellectual property cases from around the country.

    May 27, 2010Jeffrey S. Ginsberg and Matthew Berkowitz

  • 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.

    May 27, 2010Michael I. Rudell and Neil J. Rosini