Does Copyright Protect Film Characters?

A production company in California, Bengal Mangle Productions, has filed a lawsuit against Seth MacFarlane alleging copyright infringement over the 2012 movie about a foul-mouthed stuffed toy “Ted”.

Paul Walker’s Tragic Death Underscores Filmmakers’ Need for Key Man Insurance

News of Paul Walker’s death was tragic and unsettling. As an avid car enthusiast, I am a big fan of the “Fast” franchise of adrenaline pumping car chase movies. I’m sure I join his many fans in mourning our loss. Which got me thinking about whether the installment of the film franchise in which he […]

Upcoming Entertainment Law Seminar

Chicago’s leading Entertainment Law firm, Leavens, Strand, Glover & Adler, is pleased to announce its inaugural Entertainment Law Seminar: What In-House Lawyers Must Know About Exploiting Creative Content

When Soderbergh Speaks, Indie Filmmakers Listen

The Business of Independent Film For the past few years, the business of creating independent film has faced many challenges. Outside financing has suffered from the “Great Recession” as banks stopped lending, Federal Section 181 film tax credits have evaporated,  State film Tax credit programs have imploded from scandal and debate rages about the effectiveness […]

5 #Legal Questions to Ask BEFORE Starting Your #Crowdfunding Project

Five Legal Questions To Ask BEFORE Crowd-funding You Next Film (or Creative) Project Intro I recently had the opportunity to share the stage at a Chicago VentureShot Community panel presentation on crowdfunding an independent film project. My client successfully raised enough funds to produce his film through the Crowdfunding site KickStarter.com. Due to the unpredictable […]

Chicago Tribune Sponsors Panel Discussion About Creative Professionals

What does it mean to be a creative professional in Chicago? That is the topic for discussions during the Chicago Tribune’s Trib Nation event Chicago Forward: The Future of the Arts in Chicago being held tonight, March 13, 2013 at 6:00 PM. In the Chase Auditorium at 10 South Dearborn. The event proposes to discuss […]

YouTube Content ID – A Must for Every Indie Filmmaker or Musician

Are you getting the most out of your online marketing efforts? Last year, Google announced a change to its search rankings algorithm, lowering results for known pirate sites. Critics asked why the company would not do the same for Youtube, since that site is widely viewed as a repository for pirated films and music. Read […]

Casting Decisions Are Entitled to First Amendment Protections

A federal district court in Tennessee has determined that cast decisions are protected by the First Amendment against claims of racial discrimination under Sec. 1981. This was a case of first impression. Reality television is so popular with both audiences and participants that prospective contestants are suing to get on TV. Recently, two such men […]

Does Clicking the “Like” Button Equal Constitutionally-Protected Speech?

One of the definitive features of Social Media, and arguably the most contagious, is the ability to express one’s approval and share that with others by clicking “like,” friending, following, pinning or mentioning, among many others. However, unlike other issues that have dealt with the murky area of postings on social networks such as Facebook, […]

NOVAC Provides Local Filmmakers Financing and Guidance on Making Deals

April 11, 2012 Via Chris Henson, New Orleans Indie Movie Examiner “The film industry in New Orleans, and in Louisiana in general, is booming. But it is not only the major studio productions coming to the Crescent City. Independent filmmaking has also exploded in the area. Non-profit organizations like the New Orleans Video Access Center […]