Motion Picture Industry

Establishing Paternity in California

by Law Office of Steven M. Bishop on 4/17/2013

Many Hollywood performers have found themselves accused of fathering children out of wedlock over the years. Many cases have been disproved (Bill Cosby) – and a few proved (Arnold Schwarzenegger) – by use of paternity tests...more

April 2013: Trademark Litigation Update

by Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP on 4/8/2013

On October 11, 2012, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences won cancellation of an “Oscar Della Lirica” design mark from the Cancellation Division of the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (“OHIM”). ...more

IP/Entertainment Law Weekly Case Update for Motion Picture Studios and Television Networks -- April 5, 2013

by Jonathan Zavin | Loeb & Loeb LLP on 4/8/2013

In This Issue: - Effie Film, LL v. Murphy, USDC S.D. New York, March 22, 2013 (amended opinion): District court grants plaintiff’s motion for judgment on the pleadings in action for declaratory judgment that...more

IP/Entertainment Law Weekly Case Update for Motion Picture Studios and Television Networks -- February 14, 2013

by Jonathan Zavin | Loeb & Loeb LLP on 2/15/2013

In This Issue: - Morawski v. Lightstorm Entertainment, USDC C.D. California, January 31, 2013 (unpublished opinion): District Court grants defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s claims of...more

Controversial Film “Escape From Tomorrow” Shows Need to Protect Intellectual Property

by Joan Archer, Matthew Kreutzer | Armstrong Teasdale LLP on 1/31/2013

“Escape From Tomorrow,” one of the most controversial films at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, has put copyright and trademark law, as well as the question of what constitutes parody, in the spotlight. The film reminds...more

International Treaty Co-Productions with Canada: An Overview for Producers

by Ken Dhaliwal | Heenan Blaikie LLP on 1/30/2013

Table of Contents: - Introduction 4 - Co-Producing With Canada – The F.A.Q.’S 4 - Telefilm’s Requirements – The Abc’s 7 - Co-Production Certification In Canada 10 - About the Author: 11 - Schedule “A” 12 -...more

Comparison of Canadian Content, Co-Ventures and Treaty Co-Productions

by Heenan Blaikie LLP on 1/24/2013

Canada has long been a pioneer in the international co-production area with numerous co-production treaties. Enclosed is a chart that provides a comparison of Canadian Content, Co-Ventures and Treaty...more

Crowdfunding For Canadian Entertainment Projects

by Bob Tarantino | Heenan Blaikie LLP on 1/21/2013

One of the inevitable challenges faced by independent entertainment entrepreneurs, such as film producers or videogame developers, is obtaining financing for the development, production and eventual delivery of their project....more

IP/Entertainment Law Weekly Case Update for Motion Picture Studios and Television Networks - January 16, 2013

by Jonathan Zavin | Loeb & Loeb LLP on 1/17/2013

In This Issue: Larson v. Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., USCA Ninth Circuit, January 10, 2013 - Ninth Circuit reverses grant of summary judgment in favor of heirs of Superman co-creator in litigation concerning...more

Fiscal Cliff Deferred As Congress Finally Acts

by Loeb & Loeb LLP on 1/5/2013

The fiscal cliff has been avoided temporarily as the Congress has passed H.R. 8, the "American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012" (the "Act"). The Senate passed the Act in the early morning hours of January 1, 2013, by a vote of...more

Competition Bureau Statement On Acquisition Of Alliance Films

by Bob Tarantino | Heenan Blaikie LLP on 1/4/2013

Further to Michael's post pointing out that the Competition Bureau has issued a "No Action" letter in respect of the proposed acquisition of Alliance Films Holdings Inc. by Entertainment One Ltd., a merger of the two largest...more

"Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" Profit-Sharing Verdict Upheld by Ninth Circuit

by David Charapp | Duane Morris LLP on 1/4/2013

On December 3, 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Celador International, Inc. v. American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., et al. upheld an interesting jury verdict, resulting in a $319 million judgment...more

What's The Deal?

by Michael Shedletsky | Heenan Blaikie LLP on 1/3/2013

What better way to kick off 2013 than with kind of a big deal! eOne just announced this morning that the Competition Bureau will not stand in the way of its planned acquisition of Alliance Films....more

Gross: Criminal Obscenity In Film And TV Productions

by Bob Tarantino | Heenan Blaikie LLP on 1/3/2013

On December 22, 2012, one of the stranger criminal law stories in recent Canadian history came to an end: Quebec-based special effects artist Remy Couture was acquitted by a jury on the charges of "corrupting morals" in...more

Treasury Issues Final Regulations for Film and TV Production Expensing

by Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell &... on 12/28/2012

Section 181 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) allows taxpayers to deduct certain film and television production costs in the year the costs are incurred, instead of having to capitalize such costs and depreciate them using...more

Exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act

by Pillsbury Social Media, Entertainment &... on 12/1/2012

The U.S. Copyright Office recently issued its exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 ("DMCA"). The exemptions, effective as of Oct. 28, 2012 define the limited circumstances that users are allowed to...more

SORT OF THE RINGS: Will Trademark Fair Use Protect Age of the Hobbits?

by Foley Hoag LLP - Trademark, Copyright &... on 11/12/2012

In August of this year, Warner Brothers finally announced the release of Age of the Hobbits, Peter Jackson’s long-awaited follow-up to his Lord of the Rings trilogy, based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s famous fantasy novels. Age of the...more

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