Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%
Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.
<i><b>Commentary</i> Lessons in Decision on Nash Bridges Actor Services Agreement</b>
The recent decision in Don Johnson Productions Inc. (DJP) v. Rysher Entertainment LLC, 209 Cal.App. 4th 919 (2012), packed a punch on a number of important issues. The background facts date all the way back to 1994, when DJP and Rysher Entertainment LLC entered into a contract whereby DJP agreed to provide the services of actor Don Johnson for the television series Nash Bridges and Rysher agreed to fund production of the series. The contract included detailed accounting provisions setting out the DJP's participation in revenues, but critically, a separate provision in the contract granted DJP a 50% interest in the series copyright, although Rysher retained distribution rights (other than on interactive devices, which weren't worth much in 1994). The contract was extended several times and the final episode of the TV series aired on May 4, 2001.
In 2001, 2929 Entertainment LP purchased Rysher, then in 2006 sold Rysher to Qualia Capital LLC. Some time prior to 2008, Qualia dissolved Rysher.
On May 16, 2002, DJP and Rysher had entered into a tolling agreement, which provided that tolling of the statute of limitations on litigation by DJP over the agreement would continue “until and unless you [i.e., Rysher] give us reasonable notice (30 days) rescinding this tolling agreement.” The rescission notice was never given and in 2009 DJP sued Rysher (and 2929 Entertainment and Qualia as alter-egos of Rysher), claiming that Rysher breached the contract by failing to pay DJP 50% of all profits from the series based on DJP's 50% copyright ownership.
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
Yachts, Jets, Horses & Hooch: Specialized Commercial Leasing Models
Defining commercial real estate asset class is essentially a property explaining how it identifies — not necessarily what its original intention was or what others think it ought to be. This article discusses, from a general issue-spot and contextual analysis perspective, how lawyers ought to think about specialized leasing formats and the regulatory backdrops that may inform what the documentation needs to contain for compliance purposes.
Hyperlinked Documents: The Latest e-Discovery Challenge
As courts and discovery experts debate whether hyperlinked content should be treated the same as traditional attachments, legal practitioners are grappling with the technical and legal complexities of collecting, analyzing and reviewing these documents in real-world cases.
Identifying Your Practice's Differentiator
How to Convey Your Merits In a Way That Earns Trust, Clients and Distinctions Just as no two individuals have the exact same face, no two lawyers practice in their respective fields or serve clients in the exact same way. Think of this as a "Unique Value Proposition." Internal consideration about what you uniquely bring to your clients, colleagues, firm and industry can provide untold benefits for your law practice.
Risks and Ad Fraud Protection In Digital Advertising
The ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, coupled with the industry-wide adoption of programmatic advertising, poses a significant threat to the effectiveness and integrity of digital advertising campaigns. This article explores various risks to digital advertising from pixel stuffing and ad stacking to domain spoofing and bots. It will also explore what should be done to ensure ad fraud protection and improve effectiveness.
Turning Business Development Plans Into Reality
This article offers practical insights and best practices to navigate the path from roadmap to rainmaking, ensuring your business development efforts are not just sporadic bursts of activity, but an integrated part of your daily success.