Alerts: Entertainment Law
New California Law Restricts Use of Words “Purchase” & “Buy” for Licensed Digital Goods
On September 24, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law AB 2426 (effective Jan. 1, 2025), a consumer protection bill that expands the scope of false advertising in California. In short, AB 2426 prohibits interactive entertainment and digital media companies from using words like “buy,” “purchase,” or any other words that indicate unrestricted ownership over digital goods. Violators may face injunctions and civil penalties imposed by California regulators or civil claims from individuals with proper standing. Read more.
October 3, 2024
Alerts: Entertainment Law
Major Studios and Guilds Forge New COVID-19 Production Safety Agreement
As production begins to restart in an ever changing COVID-19 landscape, The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and other major studios announced an important deal with the DGA, IATSE, Teamsters, Basic Crafts, and SAG-AFTRA -- meant to ensure the safety and security of their members during the upcoming months. Read more.
September 22, 2020
Alerts: Entertainment Law
New York City Reopens for Film and Television Production
On July 17, 2020 NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that, with the City entering Phase Four of Reopening on Monday July 20th, 2020, film and television production in the City can restart again in earnest. Read more.
July 21, 2020
Alerts: Entertainment Law
Los Angeles County Authorizes Television, Film, and Music Production Resume on June 12, 2020 With Strict Regulations
On June 11, Los Angeles County approved a staged resumption of film and TV production beginning June 12, 2020. However, it comes with extensive regulations. Read more.
June 16, 2020
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Alerts: Entertainment Law
California Will Permit Television, Film, and Music Production to Resume on June 12, 2020 Subject to County Public Health Approvals
As several production-heavy states announce the easing of stay-at-home orders and restrictions, the question of how to restart entertainment production in a safe manner has become paramount. Read more.
June 9, 2020
Alerts: Entertainment Law
Federal Bill Would Increase Availability of Key Insurance Coverages
As states begin to gradually reopen and networks held virtual upfronts, the entertainment industry is contemplating both when and how production will be able to resume. Studio executives, union representatives and epidemiologists are meeting to develop new protocols that will permit production to restart safely. Read more.
June 1, 2020
Alerts: Entertainment Law
“Packaging Fees” Dispute: Court Permits Certain Writer Claims to Proceed
Film and television creatives and executives have been closely watching William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, LLC vs. Writers Guild of America, West, Inc., a battle between talent agencies and writers over agency “packaging fees.” Resolution of the dispute will have a large impact on how writers, creators, and agents get paid. Recently, a federal judge issued an important ruling on the WGA and individual writers’ claims -- allowing certain claims to proceed. Read more.
May 11, 2020
Alerts: Entertainment Law
The Show Must Go On: Production During the Pandemic
From pitch meetings to development and production, COVID-19 has changed the way creatives and their representatives do business. Read more.
May 4, 2020
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Alerts: Entertainment Law
New York Adds New Tax Credit for Minority and Women TV Writers’ and Directors’ Fees/Salaries
Effective December 18, 2019, New York State has amended its Tax Law to provide a new franchise tax and personal income tax credit for minority and women television writers' and directors' fees and salaries. Read more.
December 27, 2019
Alerts: Entertainment Law
Video Game Association Challenges Chicago’s Online Streaming Services Tax
One of the nation's most prominent video game associations has decided to challenge Chicago's controversial "Cloud Tax." Read more.
June 16, 2017
Alerts: Entertainment Law: Intellectual Property Law
Ruling Maintains That Fair Use Must Be Considered Before Issuing Copyright Takedown Notices
The Ninth Circuit declined to review its earlier opinion in Lenz v. Universal Music Corp. that copyright holders must consider fair use before seeking to remove allegedly infringing content from websites such as YouTube and Facebook. Read more.
March 18, 2016
Alerts: Entertainment Law
Be Careful When Creating Composite Characters
A New York federal court has provided the creative community with an important reminder about the risks of portraying composite characters. Read more.
October 13, 2015
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Alerts: Entertainment Law: Intellectual Property Law
9th Circuit Rules That Copyright Holders Must Consider Fair Use Before Issuing DMCA Takedown Notice
Media companies and other copyright holders may need to change the way they deal with infringing content on the Internet. Read more.
September 15, 2015
Alerts: Entertainment Law
No Cut Here: Second Circuit Holds Director Does Not Own Separate Copyright for His Contribution
Following in the footsteps of the Ninth Circuit, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit recently held that a director does not have an independent copyright in his contributions to a film. Read more.
July 9, 2015
Alerts: Entertainment Law
Video Games and New York Sales Tax
On June 3, 2015, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (NYSDTF) issued an advisory opinion that will have a big impact on New York-based interactive entertainment companies. Read more.
July 1, 2015
Alerts: Entertainment Law
No Copyright in Five-Second Performance: Ninth Circuit Dissolves Prior Takedown Injunction
In a much anticipated opinion, the Ninth Circuit has dissolved a takedown injunction previously issued against Google and YouTube, prohibiting the companies from posting or displaying any version of the controversial film Innocence of Muslims that included Ms. Cindy Lee Garcia. Read more.
May 18, 2015
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Alerts: Entertainment Law
“MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING”: A Securities Law Trap
We frequently see private placement memoranda, seeking to raise capital for films, which refer to independent film success stories such as "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," "Little Miss Sunshine," or other independent films which became box office hits. Read more.
March 26, 2015
Alerts: Entertainment Law
On Further Review: Former NFL Players’ Right of Publicity Suit Advances
There was a big development in the closely followed Davis v. Electronic Arts, Inc. case - a case focusing on the alleged unauthorized use of player images and likenesses in the popular Madden NFL video game series. Read more.
February 3, 2015
Alerts: Entertainment Law
Production Tax Incentives for Documentary Films
State production tax incentives have become an increasingly important part of any financing plan for feature length fiction films. But what about documentary films? Read more.
August 11, 2014
Alerts: Entertainment Law
Court Clears Use of YouTube-famous “Flying Rabbi” in Humor Sketch
The use of someone without permission in entertainment can trigger a lawsuit for "commercial appropriation of likeness." And so it was recently when "Jimmy Kimmel Live" created a video mocking a 2010 "business meeting" between basketball star LeBron James and a rabbi. Read more.
February 1, 2012
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Alerts: Entertainment Law
Protect Your Brand from the New XXX Domain Registry
Recently dot xxx (.xxx) was approved as a top-level domain by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The .xxx domain is intended for use by members of the adult entertainment industry. Read more.
October 24, 2011
Alerts: Entertainment Law
Can You Recapture Valuable Grants of Rights?
If you are an author, musician, artist, or other creator of intellectual property (or the heir to such a person), it’s a good time to learn whether you are taking full advantage of your ability to "recapture" certain grants of rights made years ago. While everyone’s business deals are different, we urge you to consider the quick summary below: you may have untapped sources of valuable intellectual property. Read more.
October 21, 2011
Alerts: Entertainment Law
eBook Scams
The rise of eReader devices and eReader marketplaces provides more and more opportunities for online self-publishers. While these technologies have given a myriad of authors the joy and remuneration of publishing their work, they have also led to modern abuses – abuses that affect intellectual property owners and consumers alike. Read more.
August 31, 2011
