Entertainment Law

For my 8 followers,

I will be repeating a previous blog with all new information. This blog will focus on Entertainment Law and ways you can get sued. So listen up and do the opposite of everything you read here!

I read an article about one of Brittany Spears’s latest music videos “Hold it against me”. It is well known that this video is filled with product placement. That is because Sony is one of her largest endorsers. One thing that she could have gotten the filmmakers sued was the lack of advertising in the videos. I am sure that Brittany’s record label had a requirement of screen time that the Sony labels had to be in the video. If the Filmmakers did not provide enough advertising in the video then Sony would not be happy and probably try to sue the filmmakers.

http://www.billboard.com/news/britney-spears-hold-it-against-me-video-1005042232.story

While searching for lawsuits I stumbled upon a pretty good site that explains how to avoid sticky situations with the law. Always get the proper right for the music that you play in your films. There is more then one kind. You will need “Synchronization rights, a master use license, soundtrack rights, and performing rights…” This article also discusses rights and Licenses; also control of the project. Everyone behind the scenes must be on the same page for story as well as business and distribution.

http://entertainment-law.lawyers.com/blogs/archives/7811-Filmmakers-How-to-Avoid-Lawsuits,-Part-I-of-II.html

Probably one of the most recent law cases in Film would have to be the use Mike Tyson’s facial tattoo created by Victor Whitman. Mr. Whitman stated that Warner Brother’s did not attempt to contact him to gain rights to use his artwork to promote their film. This was a bad decision on Warner brother’s part. Victor had the ability to stunt the release date. Instead Warner bothers bought out Victors tattoo and now has the rights to the artwork for life. Warner brothers learned their lesson. Get rights or don’t use someone else’s material.

http://jathomaslaw.com/blog/?cat=8