Tax Returns Can Make or Break Your Case
February 01, 2004
The primary purpose of a tax return is for government entities to assess income taxes on the earnings of a business or individual, but in divorce, the role of the tax return is much broader and serves various purposes. Business and personal tax returns should be thoroughly analyzed before marital assets are divided and before income is set for the purpose of determining spousal maintenance and child support. If analyzed properly and creatively, they can help show whether: 1) there was financial irresponsibility; 2) income is much greater than appears on the surface; or 3) assets no longer exist that one spouse assumes still do exist.
Around the Firms
January 01, 2004
Movement among major law firms and corporations.
Bit Parts
January 01, 2004
Recent developments in entertainment law.
Clause & Effect: <b>Enforcing Deal Memos Between Parties</b>
January 01, 2004
Negotiations in the entertainment industry are often set down in deal memos that are many times followed by more formal agreements. A complication arises when parties dispute whether a deal memo or a subsequent draft agreement is the enforceable document. This issue recently was considered in a case in California that arose over negotiations for music publishing rights.
Peer-to-Peer Downloading Legalized in Canada
January 01, 2004
Before the Canadian Copyright Act was amended in 1998, copying any copyrighted sound recording for almost any purpose infringed copyright in Canada. The 1998 amendment legalized copying of sound recordings for the private use of the person who makes the copy. But it was unclear whether the amendment legalized Internet music downloading. In Dec. 2003, the Canadian Copyright Board determined that downloading music from peer-to-peer file-sharing services is legal as long as the downloaded file is used as a "personal copy." In its recent determination, however, the Board didn't declare uploading to be legal and stopped shy of completely legalizing peer-to-peer music trading.
Cameo Clips
January 01, 2004
Recent cases in entertainment law.
Courthouse Steps
January 01, 2004
Recently filed cases in entertainment law, straight from the steps of the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Decision of Note: <B>Court Upholds Sound-Recording Synch Licenses For Recordings</B>
January 01, 2004
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York decided that Universal Music Group had the right to issue synchronization licenses for the use of sound recordings of singer Connie Francis in motion pictures. <i>Franconero v. Universal Music Corp.</i>, 02-1963. The ruling is the latest to follow the New York Court of Appeals decision in <i>Greenfield v. Philles Records Inc.</i>, 98 N.Y.2d 562, 780 N.E.2d 166, 750 N.Y.S.2d 565 (2002), that a record company obtains rights that artists fail to reserve in recording agreements.
Industry Bright Spot: Deals for Licensing Ring Tones For Use in Cell Phones
January 01, 2004
In an industry plagued by shrinking CD sales, the rapid growth in the consumer market for ring tones has been a music business bright spot. In fact, a number of companies have entered the market to provide musical compositions for use by consumers as ring tones for cell phones. The contracts for these companies to license songs from copyright owners vary, and this article touches on many of the issues involved.
Keys to Good Presentations: 15 Rules for Getting Asked Back
January 01, 2004
One of the great keys to business development is the old adage, "Write, speak, sell." If you have figured out how to get into the media often enough to be perceived by your target audiences as an expert, then you will invariably be asked to speak at their conferences and meetings. This is your chance to develop personal relationships that lead to trust and, subsequently, new business. If audiences enjoy a speech, they are far more likely to want to create a relationship with you afterward. From such relationships flow the best business development opportunities. Unfortunately, most speakers, no matter how professionally qualified, focus on the substance and forget about the entertainment value of presentations.
