LJN Newsletters

Alleged Oral Copyright License No Bar to Infringement Suit
Musical Compositions' Valuation Upheld
Song Suit Against Destiny's Child Sent to Trial

COPYRIGHT JURISDICTION/ REGISTRATION REQUIRED
COPYRIGHT OWNERSHIP/JOINT AUTHORS
KARAOKE RECORDINGS/COPYRIGHT DAMAGES
WEB SITE OPERATORS/PERSONAL JURISDICTION

In a limited victory for publishers, the California Supreme Court ruled on Aug. 17 that the state's single-publication rule applies to the tort of appropriation of likeness. Christoff v. Nestl' USA, Inc., S155242. The ruling came in the case of a model who said Nestle USA used his face ' without his knowledge ' to sell Taster's Choice instant coffee for years.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher has been sued in federal court in Los Angeles by Lamont Dozier, the cofounder of songwriting and production team Holland-Dozier-Holland, which was behind hit Motown acts like The Supremes and The Isley Brothers. At issue: Willkie's role advising on an issuance of Bowie Bonds, the asset-backed security for song royalties sometimes called Pullman Bonds because they were popularized by the banker David Pullman, now chairman and CEO of The Pullman Group in New York.

In the movies, it seems that monsters are always up to no good ' making mayhem or setting fires. But in a federal court in Philadelphia recently, a couple dozen movie monsters made some important new law and set a few significant precedents in the area of copyrights and trademarks that may help to define the doctrine of fair use for years to come.

The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee granted a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss on the pleadings a copyright infringement suit against country artist Tim McGraw.

The recession has hit an entertainment law sector that has undergone considerable change during the past decade. Boutique law firms that represent most of the talent end of the entertainment business have multiplied amid the dissolution of some long-standing firms and the departure of top attorneys who struck out on their own.

Firms that model matter planning scenarios provide their partners and business development staff with the crucial ability to gauge up front how different approaches to pricing and staffing will affect profitability. Modeling allows firms to make adjustments before making their bid ' and therefore price alternative billing arrangements with confidence.