Author and Licensee Content Rights in Agreements for TV Productions
December 01, 2018
These times are heady for creators of books and stories that may be suitable for television production. In addition to the traditional broadcast networks, a legion of pay and basic cable exhibitors and, more recently, direct-to-consumer streaming outlets are voraciously licensing product from those creators. Much press is given to the compensation aspects of the creators' agreements with exhibitors, but attention also should be paid to the extent and duration of the exhibitor's exclusivity in the property in which rights are being acquired,
Abandonment Defense Stays in Copyright Suit on Filesharing
December 01, 2018
Malibu Media LLC is by now well-known as a frequent filer of copyright infringement lawsuits nationwide against Web users alleged to have illegally downloaded and shared the company's adult films. But a federal judge in Pennsylvania recently said it should be up to a jury to decide whether the company is entitled to stake a claim to those copyrights in the first place.
IP Provisions in 'New NAFTA' Agreement
December 01, 2018
With Canada's agreement, the stage was set for the 24-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to end and the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) to take its place.Among the provisions of note for the entertainment industry, copyright will receive a boost from the USMCA.
DMCA Filmmakers Exemption Expanded
December 01, 2018
Digital Millennium Copyright Act exemptions aren't just for documentary filmmakers anymore. The U.S. Copyright Office and Library of Congress has broadened a DMCA exemption to now allow more filmmakers to circumvent anti-copying technology and rip short video clips for purposes of commentary and criticism.
Bit Parts
December 01, 2018
Phil Everly's Family Time-Barred From Claiming Co-Ownership of “Cathy's Clown” Song Copyright With Brother Don<br>Newsworthiness and Public Interest Exceptions in Indiana's Right-of-Publicity Statute Apply to Fantasy Sports
Upcoming Events
December 01, 2018
Annual Entertainment, Sports & Media Law Institute<br>Copyright Year in Review
Impact of EU's GDRP on Domain Registration
November 01, 2018
Since the GDPR's implementation, the “WHOIS” service by which the general public could search registration information, including names and contact info, has been largely in a state of flux. It's now even tougher to find information, attorneys who work with domain registration say, which could concern entertainment and intellectual property holders who want to go after infringing websites.
New York State's Latest Ticket Sales Reforms
November 01, 2018
The majority of these recent amendments become effective on Dec. 28, 2018. Many of these reforms appear to be in direct response to concerns expressed in 2016 by the New York Attorney General (NYAG), yet the changes do not appear to be as sweeping as the NYAG had sought.