There was a time when ownership of a professional sports franchise was not regarded as a serious business venture. Owning a team, even in one of the major leagues in North America, was regarded as more of a frolic and detour,...more
The rise of the use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) to produce original written material has left authors and writers across industries feeling threatened. This was one major factor that led to the Writers Guild...more
10/3/2023
/ Actors ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Compensation ,
Entertainment Industry ,
Labor Disputes ,
Machine Learning ,
Motion Picture Industry ,
Negotiations ,
Screen Actors Guild ,
Screenwriters ,
Strike ,
Unions
COVID-19 has had an unprecedented effect on the entertainment industry, particularly compared to prior recessions. Studios have halted or delayed production on televisions shows and movies indefinitely, resulting in mass...more
- The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), contained within the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act” or the “Act”) signed by President Trump on March 27, 2020, creates a $349 billion loan facility...more
As COVID-19 and its related concerns have rapidly taken over every facet of everyday life, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all of its negative effects. Hollywood, in particular, is being hit hard as productions come to a...more
3/23/2020
/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Entertainment Industry ,
EU ,
Internet Streaming ,
Live Streaming ,
Movie Theaters ,
Movies ,
Music Streaming ,
Regulatory Agencies ,
Social Distancing
Hollywood made its annual descent upon Park City, Utah, from January 24, 2019 through February 3, 2019, for another year of deal-making at the preeminent indie playground, the Sundance Film Festival. From Amazon Studio’s...more
After a record-breaking 2016 for Chinese companies’ investments in the film industry, changes to Chinese foreign investment policy have created uncertainty for the future of Hollywood’s relationship with the Middle...more
As of October 1, 2016, British Columbia (B.C.) will reduce tax credits available to film and television productions. Basic production service tax credits will be reduced from 33 percent to 28 percent, and tax credits offered...more
Death and Russian Taxes -
The Russian government has found another way to make 2016 “The Year of Cinema.” Rather than increasing direct support for films, Russian legislators may impose a tax on foreign films. The...more
Last October, the 2nd Circuit held that the Google Books project qualified as fair use. The decision came after a decade long legal battle between the Authors Guild and Google. The Authors Guild appealed the case to the...more
Since China opened its borders to foreign cinema, Hollywood films have done extremely well in the Chinese market. For instance, in 2015, Furious 7 broke the record for the highest box-office returns in China. This film, and...more
Update on the Happy Birthday Case -
Back in October, we discussed some of the implications of the Happy Birthday lawsuit, and now it appears that we have finally reached a coda for the two-year legal battle. On December...more
From Russia with Loss -
The Russian government had declared 2016 “The Year of Cinema,” but its recent actions cast doubt on that assertion. Russia has cut the amount of film subsidies available to production companies by...more
Tax Rebate Changes -
In 2016, France increased its efforts to attract foreign films by loosening language restrictions and increasing the amount of tax rebates available for films that are shot in France. In the past,...more
On January 29, 2016, the new Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) crowdfunding regulation (“Regulation Crowdfunding”), further discussed here, will go into effect. The new regulation has been a long time coming. In 2012,...more
The stakes are high, but sometimes it is difficult to predict which films will secure one of the vaunted 34 slots. China does not have any film laws on the books to guide this process; however, its film regulatory agency...more
Usually, horror movies scare the audience, but the latest installment of Paranormal Activity gave theater houses something to fear: a new distribution model. Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension is the sixth installment...more
On October 26, 2015, the Netherlands Film Fund and China Film Co-production Corporation brokered a co-production agreement between China and the Netherlands. Both countries are looking forward to the benefits from their new...more
On Oct. 16, 2015, the 2nd Circuit issued an opinion that has finally closed the chapter on the Google Books saga. In Authors Guild, Inc. v. Google, Inc., the court held that the Google Books project is fair use rather than a...more
On September 22, 2015, a California district court issued an opinion that may change birthday celebrations forever. In Rupa Marya v. Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., the court held that Warner/Chappell Music, Inc. does not own a...more