Bit Parts
October 01, 2003
Recent developments in entertainment law.
Cameo Clips
October 01, 2003
Recent cases in entertainment law.
Protecting Record Producer's Interest In Music-Royalty Audit Scenarios
October 01, 2003
An unfortunate fact in the recording industry is that successful records result in audits by royalty participants. This is partly due to the entrenched distrust that artists have for record companies and partly to simple prudent business practices. If an artist sells hundreds of thousands or millions of units around the world, it would be the rare company that could move that many pieces of product without making a mistake. Sometimes the mistakes are just mistakes, and sometimes an audit holds up a mirror that reveals what happens under the record company hood - warts and all. And the "all" category can be very interesting.
Second Circuit Affirms Ruling On Tarzan Rights
October 01, 2003
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit decided that illustrations and introductions for two Tarzan books made by artist Burne Hogarth at the "instance and expense" of the estate of Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs (ERB) were works for hire. <i>The Estate of Hogarth v. Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. (ERB)</i>, 02-7312. Thus, Burroughs' estate retained the original and renewal copyrights in the books.
Plaintiffs' Employment Lawyers Are No Longer Secure
October 01, 2003
Plaintiffs' employment lawyers contemplating bringing Title VII or other discrimination suits have long felt secure in the knowledge that, even if they lose at trial or at the summary judgment stage, their client will not be assessed attorney's fees. Any ambiguity regarding the meaning of a "prevailing party" entitled to fees under the Federal Rules was resolved by the Supreme Court's decision in <i>Christiansburg Garment Co. v. EEOC</i>, 434 U.S. 412 (1977). The Supreme Court denied fees to the prevailing defendant employer in that Title VII case, pointing out that the EEOC's actions in bringing the case could not be characterized as without merit or unreasonable. Is that still the case?
The Lawyer's Guide to Public Relations
October 01, 2003
There is definitely an art to becoming the object of the press's affection. If you are lucky enough to have an in-house public relations department, your "luck runneth over." However, for most lawyers whose wish list includes "personal appearances" either via print media or electronic media, it can be a challenging and sometimes frustrating experience. There is hope, and it comes in the form of having a personal public relations/professional development plan. While most business development efforts focus on marketing, public relations can be a key component to one's overall success. Public relations is different than marketing in the sense that it requires a more personal approach to one's professional development plan. It requires an individual to hone a separate set of skills that enables one to speak, be quoted and appear as a spokesperson in a specific area of expertise.
Taxing The Sale Of Digital Goods In Europe
September 19, 2003
On July 1, new legislation concerning the application of value-added tax (VAT) to sales of digital goods within the European Union became effective. While the legislation is European, it will have important implications for companies based outside of the EU to the extent that such companies sell digital goods to consumers based in one of the EU countries.
'Now for Something Completely Different'
September 16, 2003
No franchise agreement, despite its length and the genius of its drafting, anticipates all commercial realities and advances over its intended life span. For example, until the mid-to-late 1990s, the Internet was a novelty of the military, academia, and entertainment industry, and it formed no part of the commercial landscape for business format franchises. As franchise systems and methods of operation evolve in our technological society, how much of the future should the draftsperson attempt to enmesh in the agreement? Perhaps this issue is less of a concern than first thought. The answer may lie in a doctrine that is, ironically, viewed by franchisors with less favor.
<b>Decision of Note</b>California Further Defines Transformative Use
September 13, 2003
The California Supreme Court has held that the First Amendment protected D.C. Comics against a right of publicity claim brought by Johnny and Edgar Winter, well-known musicians from Texas, based on a series of comic books that incorporated the Winter brothers as characters, albeit transformed into the 'Autumn Brothers' as villainous half-worms.
