First Amendment and Trade Secrets Issues In Government/Private Promoters' Live Events

Celebrity Attractions Inc. v. Oklahoma City Public Property Authority, CIV-15-1267 (W.D.Okla.), is a case in point. Though it had no written exclusivity provision, Celebrity Attractions presented the Broadway theatrical season at the government-controlled Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall (CCMH) for 24 years. There is a formal process for obtaining a use permit (that states the CCMH use dates, venue rental fees), as well as a written box office agreement between the Public Property Authority and a permittee covering ticket sales and related concerns. The box office agreement provides the CCMH with the sole right to sell event tickets, but stipulated Celebrity as “Primary Box Office” ticket seller for season renewals. The Public Property Authority/Celebrity agreement also stated: “All account information collected for storage and use on [the box office] ticketing system, is considered the intellectual property of T.H.E. Box Office and the Oklahoma City Public Property Authority.”

But the property authority and the Civic Center Foundation, which was created to raise money for the CCMH, decided the foundation should co-promote CCMH events as a way to raise $38 million needed for venue improvements. But the Public Property Authority denied Celebrity Attractions a use permit for the 2016-2017 season, instead choosing Nederlander Producing Co. of America as its co-promoter.