Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%
Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.
Arbitration Clause Doesn't Cover Dispute Over Movie Payments
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York decided that a suit, alleging a distributor of made-for-TV-movies failed to pay amounts owed the films' producer, wasn't subject to an arbitration clause in the parties' distribution agreement. MAT Movies & Television Productions GmbH & Co. v. RHI Entertainment Distribution LLC, 10 CIV. 1405. The distribution contract stated that MAT and RHI would arbitrate “any dispute between the parties hereto with respect to this Agreement.” But after a dispute arose over the monies RHI owed MAT, the distributor and the producer entered into a settlement agreement that provided for an audit by PricewaterhouseCoopers ' and arbitration in the event that either MAT or RHI “disputes the Audit Amount.” MAT later sued claiming that RHI breached the settlement agreement by not paying MAT installments of the audit amount.
Allowing the suit to proceed, District Judge Sidney H. Stein noted that “in this action neither party disputes the Audit Amount or even suggests that plaintiff's claim falls within the Settlement Agreement's narrow arbitration clause. Instead, this motion [by RHI to dismiss MAT's suit or stay it pending arbitration] turns on whether the broader arbitration clause in the earlier Distribution Agreement applies to a claim alleging breach of the later Settlement Agreement.”
This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only
ENJOY UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE SINGLE SOURCE OF OBJECTIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS, PRACTICAL INSIGHTS, AND NEWS IN ENTERTAINMENT LAW.
- Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
- Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
- Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts
Already a have an account? Sign In Now Log In Now
For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473
New York's Latest Cybersecurity Commitment
On Aug. 9, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced New York's inaugural comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. In sum, the plan aims to update government networks, bolster county-level digital defenses, and regulate critical infrastructure.
Law Firms are Reducing Redundant Real Estate by Bringing Support Services Back to the Office
A trend analysis of the benefits and challenges of bringing back administrative, word processing and billing services to law offices.
Bit Parts
Summary Judgment Denied Defendant in Declaratory Action by Producer of To Kill a Mockingbird Broadway Play Seeking Amateur Theatrical Rights
How AI Has Affected PR
When we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.