Upcoming Event
August 02, 2013
TexasBarCLE 23rd Annual Entertainment Law Institute
How Royalties Are Determined for New Material Written for Public Domain Music Compositions
August 02, 2013
Not as much public domain material is recorded in comparison with original material, but if such a song becomes a hit or is on a successful album, the public performance royalties can be substantial provided the writer/arranger (who is many times the recording artist or record producer) holds the copyright in his or her version and registered it with the performance right society (PRO) with which the writer is affiliated.
Counsel Concerns
August 02, 2013
Advice-of-Counsel Affirmative Counterclaim Defense to Remain in Case Brought over Use of "Twilight" Marks<br>Former Litigation Attorney's Handling of Case Doesn't Relieve Film Company of Liability for Judgment<br>Motion to Disqualify Counsel Is Denied in Suit Involving Process for Selling Concert Recordings
Bit Parts
August 02, 2013
California Federal Court Decides It Lacks Diversity Jurisdiction over Company that Garth Brooks Started in Tennessee<br>Depositions of NBC Defendants in <i>Dream Machines</i> Case in Louisiana Occur in New York and Los Angeles<br>Platters Case in Nevada Ended by Sanction Against Defendant
Earn-Out Payments In <i>Rock Band</i> Video Game at Issue in Delaware Case
August 02, 2013
Attorneys for Viacom International Inc. told the Delaware Supreme Court in oral arguments in July that their client did not breach the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing when it failed to renegotiate an agreement with Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) to distribute the video game <i>Rock Band</i>, thereby reducing the earn-out payments to shareholders of the game's developer, Harmonix Music Systems Inc., which merged with the Viacom entertainment conglomerate in 2006.
Cameo Clips
August 02, 2013
Elton John Song "Nikita" Not Substantially Similar to Plaintiff's Composition "Natasha" <br>Use of Faulkner Quote in Woody Allen Film Isn't Copyright Infringement
Second Circuit Won't Rehear <i>Aereo</i> Case
August 02, 2013
Aereo, the online service that captures over-the-air broadcasts of copyrighted TV programming and sells them to subscribers for a monthly fee, notched another victory at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
<i><b>Online Extra</b></i> Congress Hears Pleas for Stronger Copyright Protections
July 31, 2013
Donning special glasses, members of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet viewed a 3-D video clip as part of a hearing that featured music, photo, and movie industry representatives, all touting the economic benefits of strong copyrights. Leaders from the Copyright Alliance, Getty Images Inc., the American Society of Media Photographers, Yep Roc Records and Redeye Distribution Inc., and 3-D moviemaker Stereo D LLC said robust copyright protections are vital'
<i><b>Online Extra</i></b>Jury Sides Against EA in Suit over Madden Football
July 24, 2013
A San Francisco federal jury found that early versions of Electronic Arts' Madden NFL Football were derivative works of a game created by Robin Antonick. The verdict ' the second favoring Antonick in a three-phase trial ' will be worth between $3.5 million and $11.6 million in unpaid royalties, pending a decision on prejudgment interest, according to one of Antonick's attorneys.
Cameo Clips
July 02, 2013
Copyright Infringement/Contempt Motion Denied<br>Venue Competition/Expert Witnesses
