The Entertainment and Media Law content community collects and organizes the best information from around the web that will help you learn and stay current.
If you would like to be included and or participate, please contact:Tony Karrer
The Latest from Gordon P. Firemark MORE
Backlog at the Copyright office grows to two (2) years
According to Anthony Verna, who blogs at Trademark, Copyright, and Entertainment Law Forum, the Copyright office now reports that its backlog for registration of copyrights is now as long as two years. Given that copyright registration is a prerequisite to pursuing a copyright infringement lawsuit, it is very important that copyrights be registered as early as possible. There are also
Gordon P. Firemark - Monday, March 8, 2010
READ MORE
Asked & Answered: How to avoid being sued when basing characters on real people
Q: My current screenwriting project is taken from the old adage to “write what you know”.  As such, it is a story from my perspective, working in a medical office.  Many of the characters are either an amalgamation of patients, or possesses the characteristics of a single patient, that I have encountered over the years. 
Gordon P. Firemark - Tuesday, March 2, 2010
READ MORE
Asked & Answered: Should writer’s groups allow development execs as members?
Q:  I belong to a script development group in Hollywood.  The group recently let a development executive in as a member and are talking about letting in other producers and development executives.  I think this is a bad idea because even though they sign a non-disclosure agreement,  there is no paper trail for individual projects and the script ideas can not be protected. 
Gordon P. Firemark - Tuesday, February 23, 2010
READ MORE
  • The Best from Gordon P. Firemark MORE
  • How not to use the internet to find investors for your film or theatre project.
    In recent weeks, I’ve begun to see more and more independent filmmakers and theatre producers using forums, chat rooms, and other internet-services to seek out investors for their projects. In most cases, these inquiries are couched in plain language: “Seeking investors for independent film” or similar. Unfortunately for these producers, their use of the internet as a tool in identifying and securing
    Gordon P. Firemark - Wednesday, May 13, 2009
    READ MORE
  • Who owns a play that’s partly improvised?
    Last week, a colleague asked me the following question: If If an actor improvises lines in a play, and the “author”/director of the play later wishes to write a screenplay which incorporates the actor’s improvised dialogue, does he have to obtain rights to that dialogue?  What is the written (or unwritten) rule regarding the incorporation of improvised [...] ...Tags:
    Gordon P. Firemark - Tuesday, December 29, 2009
    READ MORE
  • Asked & Answered: Does a submission release affect my copyright? Should I sign?
    “Asked and Answered” is an occasional feature of this blog.  From time to time, I’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions I receive in my practice. This This is intended as general information only and  does not establish an attorney-client relationship.  It is not a substitute for a private, independent consultation
    Gordon P. Firemark - Tuesday, September 29, 2009
    READ MORE
  • Recommended Readign: What Dealmakers can learn from Sandra Bullock
    Entertainment Lawyer Dina Appleton’s guest post today in THR, Esq. Blog is an excellent discussion of how win-win deals can still be made for high-level talent, in today’s risk-averse climate. Ms. Appleton’s premise is that folks who’ve previously gotten rich front- and back-end deals 
    Gordon P. Firemark - Wednesday, February 10, 2010
    READ MORE
  • Asked and Answered: What good is having a copyright if I don't have money to sue an infringer?
    “Asked and Answered” will be a new occasional feature of this blog.  From time to time, I’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions I receive in my practice. This This is intended as general information only and  does not establish an attorney-client relationship.  It is not a substitute for a
    Gordon P. Firemark - Monday, September 28, 2009
    READ MORE
The Latest from Entertainment and Media Law MORE
Will & Jada Pinkett Smith battle with film financier heads to arbitration
By Matthew Belloni Will and Jada Pinkett Smith's aggressive lawsuit against the financier of her directorial debut will be decided behind closed doors. Lawyers for the Smiths and Overbrook Entertainment have agreed with attorneys for Tycoon Entertainment and principal David... ...Tags: Tags: Litigatio
THR, Esq. Entertainment & Media Law Blog - Wednesday, March 10, 2010
READ MORE
Freedom of Expression and Copyright
Xinglong Cao, A University School of Law, has published "Expression in Copyright, and its Reflections in Patent and 'Freedom of Expression'." Here is the abstract. This article carefully peruses the pivotal theories in copyright, patent and "freedom of expression," includin
Media Law Prof Blog - Wednesday, March 10, 2010
READ MORE
Jury Picked and Trial Commences in SCO v. Novell UNIX Code Copyright Ownership Dispute
The back story to the dispute between The SCO Group and Novell, Inc., over the ownership of copyrights to UNIX source code is lengthy indeed. But we'll spare you the details and just say that the ownership of the copyrights is a critical issue because it is that very source code that underlies SCO's claims that the open source Linux Operating System infringes on its intellectual property rights, thereby obligating just about everybody who uses the Linux OS to pay royalties to SCO.
New Media and Technology Law - Wednesday, March 10, 2010
READ MORE