This article first appeared as a guest post on http://howtorecordpodcasts.com, as part of a series called “31 days to a better podcast.” 9 Tips to keep your podcast legal. As an entertainment and media lawyer, I’m regularly approached by bloggers, podcasters, and new media producers with questions about “how to do it legally”. Fortunately, the… Continue Reading
Author Archives: Gordon Firemark
Entertainment Law Update Podcast, Episode 40
Call us with your feedback:(310) 243-6231 In this Episode: YouTube wins again Photographer can sell reprints IMDB Prevails over actress in age disclosure case Veoh service is legal and more… … Continue Reading
Why you should have a lawyer for every deal
Why hire a lawyer? I'm often contacted by do-it-yourselfers who just need a small tidbit of information or advice about whatever legal transaction it is they're working on. Unfortunately, even with that tidbit, they're likely to encounter trouble with the matter, and wind up spending more money to fix their own mistakes, than they would… Continue Reading
Entertainment Industry Insights Podcast, Episode 002: How to Plan, Produce and Distribute Your Independent Film with Eric Sherman
Entertainment Industry Insights Podcast In this episode of Entertainment Industry Insights, I spoke with Eric Sherman. Eric Sherman’s life is dedicated to movies. He has worn every hat: produced, directed, acted, photographed, edited, done make-up, hair and wardrobe, made popcorn, sold movies and collected money from theaters. His purpose in life is to make good… Continue Reading
Entertainment Law Update Podcast Ep. 39 – Holmes, Zorro and the Tin Man walk into a bar…
Call us with your feedback:(310) 243-6231 In this Episode: Ed Sullivan intro of Jersey Boys is fair use Kirtsaeng – First Sale has extraterritorial effect Sherlock Holmes copyright questions and more… Hosts: Website: http://firemark.com http://theatrelawyer.com, Twitter: @gfiremark Website: http://createprotect.com Twitter: @tamerabennett Entertainment Law Update is brought to you by Clio, the best way to manage… Continue Reading
U.S. Supreme Court: Foreign Produced copies are subject to First Sale Doctrine
Supreme Court Ruling protects student's right to sell foreign purchased copies for profit. On March 19, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court, in an opinion by Justice Breyer, ruled that foreign-made copies of works protected under the U.S. Copyright Act are subject to the “First Sale Doctrine”. The decision comes as a blow to U.S. publishers… Continue Reading
Jersey Boys’ use of Ed Sullivan Clip is fair use
Jersey Boys’ use of Ed Sullivan Clip is fair use Last week, in an interesting (and rare) theatre law case, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court’s judgment in favor of the company producing the Broadway hit musical Jersey Boys. SOFA Entertainment, Inc., owner of the Ed Sullivan Show footage had sued… Continue Reading
The Royalty Pool
What is the Royalty Pool? Correction: ( a typographic error in the mathematics has been corrected below since the original publication of this article) One of the most confusing terms in theatrical production agreements is the discussion of the “Royalty Pool”. This provision in most Broadway and Off-Broadway production contracts, and increasingly in other commercial… Continue Reading
What is an “Accredited Investor”? Why you should care.
Background If you’re setting up financing for your next film, theatre, or new media production, and you’re planning to talk to potential investors, you need to know the rules. Whenever a company sells investment opportunities, in which the investors will be ‘passive’, not taking any meaningful role in the management of the business, the transaction… Continue Reading
Entertainment Law Update Podcast Episode 38
Call us with your feedback:(310) 243-6231 In this Episode: Subway’s footlong subs aren’t Bikram yoga isn’t too hot on court ruling Soundalikes strike dissonant chord for the Black Keys Podcast Patent lawsuit Batmobile is a character, not just a prop, and more… Entertainment Law Update is brought to you by Clio, the best… Continue Reading