Bit Parts
March 29, 2005
Recent developments in entertainment law.
Artist Liability for Audience Injuries
March 29, 2005
In today's concert scene, high-energy music is often accompanied by audience members who engage in such physical, and sometimes dangerous, activities as crowd surfing, moshing and stage diving. What happens when a member of the audience is injured as a result of such conduct by another concertgoer?
Business Entity for Touring
March 29, 2005
Regardless of which business form an artist selects to handle general music business matters, the touring artist should consider forming a separate business entity under which to conduct touring activities.
Cameo Clips
March 29, 2005
Recent cases in entertainment law.
No Consensus on Custody Disputes
March 28, 2005
Legal issues abound in cases in which a couple, joined in a legal relationship through one state's law, then asks another state to intercede in a custody dispute. Not only are the first state's laws pitted against those of other states, but the interpretation and potential constitutionality of federal and state Defense of Marriage Acts (DOMAs) are called into question under the full faith and credit clause.
Recent Cases: Trends in Marriage Litigation
March 28, 2005
Two recent cases highlight trends in the same-sex marriage litigation: court splits within jurisdictions and the right of third party intervention in ongoing marriage litigation: <i>Seymour v. Holcomb</i>, and <i>Kerrigan v. Connecticut</i>, This article dissects the cases in detail.
The New Realities of California's Domestic Partnership Law
March 28, 2005
In late 2003, the California legislature enacted Assembly Bill 205 (A.B.205), a bill that has transformed the legal lives of more same-sex couples than perhaps any other legislation, either in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. The language of the legislation was utterly simple: As of Jan. 1, 2005, every California-registered domestic partner is subject to nearly all of the state-based rights and obligations that apply to married spouses in California. More than 28,000 couples had already registered by the end of 2004, and even though the law allowed either partner to unilaterally terminate the partnership prior to Jan. 1, 2005 to avoid the effects of the new law, fewer than 1500 couples actually terminated their partnership.
California Superior Court Changes Debate on Marriage
March 28, 2005
[Author's note: The opinion in this case is a tentative one. At press time, the parties had until March 25 to provide comments to the court, and a final hearing was scheduled for March 30. However, the parties could offer comments only on "drafting and other similar matters," and could not "reargue the substance of the matters decided." Follow-up will be provided here on our Web site and in print if the decision is significantly altered.]
Practice Tip: Using PowerPoint to Make Winning Presentations
March 17, 2005
Successful and interesting presentations are a challenge, but they are not impossible to achieve. They require a lot of planning and forethought, but the rewards (an educated, entertained, persuaded and engaged audience) make it well worth the effort. One of the most effective and powerful tools available for effective presentations is Microsoft's PowerPoint.
