C.J. Stussi Law

The world’s most famous entertainment company is battling it out with a major satellite-TV provider, and sports fans are getting caught in the middle. Disney pulled its networks, including ABC and ESPN, from DirecTV's satellite package due to a carriage dispute, just ahead of major events like college football and the U.S. Open. This blackout leaves DirecTV's 11 million subscribers without access to Disney’s channels, including ESPN's NFL coverage, until the disagreement is resolved. Disney wants higher fees to reflect rising programming costs, while DirecTV argues that Disney is moving more content to streaming platforms despite demanding more money for its live TV offerings. https://bit.ly/4eokg8A

In the entertainment industry, Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) are essential for protecting creative works like scripts, music, and storylines from being leaked or stolen. NDAs legally bind parties - such as actors, writers, and producers - to keep confidential information secret, ensuring ideas remain protected until the project is ready for release. To avoid common pitfalls, NDAs must clearly define what’s confidential, set a specific duration, and outline consequences for breaches, making them a crucial tool in safeguarding intellectual property and ensuring successful collaborations. https://bit.ly/3XL591J

Copyright serves as a foundation for protecting original creative works, granting creators exclusive rights to their creations. However, if you're thinking it covers your brilliant ideas or catchy slogans, think again! Not everything can be shielded by copyright. Ideas, facts, methods, and even things like recipes or simple shapes aren’t copyrightable -only how you express them can be protected.  So, while you can’t lock down that genius concept for a film, you can protect the script you write - but if you want to safeguard your slogan or process, you'll need to look into trademarks or patents. https://bit.ly/4gdErqS

A location agreement is essential when filming on private property, as it protects the production company from claims like trespass and helps secure distribution and insurance. Key provisions include granting the filmmaker access to the property for filming, defining the rights of access (times, areas, exclusivity), and transferring intellectual property rights of the footage to the filmmaker. The landowner also agrees to release any future claims, such as defamation or copyright infringement, and waives rights to seek equitable relief like injunctions for breach of the agreement. https://bit.ly/3BzmrHD

California is losing its grip on Hollywood productions as states like Georgia and countries like the UK lure filmmakers with bigger tax incentives. With fewer perks to offer, California's dominance is shrinking while other regions dish out billions to attract blockbusters like “Mission: Impossible” and “Jurassic World”. The global tax-incentive race is heating up, but despite the competition, California still holds the title as the heartland of movie magic - at least for now.    https://lnkd.in/gDY5idDN

When it comes to film and TV production, legal considerations are essential to ensure a smooth and successful production. From contracts to intellectual property issues, there are a number of legal considerations that production companies need to be aware of. To avoid these pitfalls, it's crucial to consult an entertainment lawyer early, ensure compliance with relevant regulations, and properly structure business operations.  Key areas of focus include securing proper licensing, drafting employment agreements, classifying workers correctly, and using non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to protect proprietary ideas. https://bit.ly/3AJwARK

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Last year, Hollywood braved the summer of strikes. This year, a cruel mirror image has appeared: a brutal season of layoffs. Studios like Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery cut jobs to address financial losses from the streaming wars. These layoffs, driven by the declining relevance of traditional TV networks and the economic impact of strikes, mark a reset for the entertainment industry. While green light activity for new shows has slowly increased in 2024, it remains below peak levels, leaving many workers still struggling to find jobs in a shrinking industry. https://bit.ly/3Teimie

It may not be glamorous, but it will be ground-breaking. The first AI copyright trial, Thomson Reuters v. Ross Intelligence, will test whether using copyrighted data to train AI qualifies as fair use. The lawsuit involves claims that Ross Intelligence unlawfully copied Westlaw’s proprietary content to train its AI legal research tool, raising significant implications for the AI industry's legal future. The jury’s verdict on fair use in this case could influence ongoing and future AI copyright disputes, potentially shaping how AI companies handle copyright-protected material. https://lnkd.in/gP6CwCff

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