Barely Legal Entertainment Law

Final episode. Fun and offensive Christmas songs, Kwanza;  Primer for new song writers; Can I write a script based on an old diary?; Basics you need to know about licensing songs to film and a TV; Should I trademark each video game I create, or just the name of the entire company?

fair use tutorial, what if a placement company exceeds your approved license?; cover song advice, fair use in a film trailer, the problem with unpublished compositions, bankruptcy in Hollywood.

Legal issues when a tour is cancelled for terror; Mystery of the stolen Martina MacBride Song; campaign misjudges the Fair Use Doctrine,  dog barking law; can a dog own a twitter account?

True Nightmares’ Todd Robbins interview; Tribute band law; Petition to stop Phill collins from returning to the music business; Magic as intellectual property

Marc Jacobs’ Grindr problems; Statute of limitations on copyright claims?; do you need a license to include text to voice audio or GPS interfaces in your film?; model releases for book publishing; Licensing music for surf films on the web; statutory damages for music infringement; Trump Vs. Univision

Trump vs. Stephen Tyler over “Dream On” usage in campaign; Tribute band law; Can I reference protected intellectual property in my rock song?; Preparing for Bar Exam; Joe defends lady suing her nephew for breaking her arm.

Fair use and political parody songs; The Slants denied racist trademark; Drake wins against unauthorized documentary; music publishing 101

Happy Birthday song is finally in the public domain; Can you copyright an idea for a TV series?; Is a handshake deal to produce a series of commercials valid?; Fair Use Doctrine and photography in a book; Can your TV employer claim a copyright in your written side projects? Senn Penn Vs. Lee Daniels defamation suit

R.E.M. officially endorses both Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz; Does a provisional patent application give away your secrets?; South Bay Surfers’ false advertising; mechanics of sampling another song in your song; wrongful termination/ age discrimination in the work place; Prince Dancing Baby case.

How to sample a film quote in your song; how to register your co-written song for copyright protection; Orphaned Works Project; teen selfie laws; changing a trustee; Beatles recordings fall into public domain; Jessica Alba’s Honesty Company legal troubles

Pawn Stars company vs. Fox Business Channel over phony and scandalous reality casting; Can I copyright 1/2  a treatment?; Dancing with the Stars Cast; Writer getting caught in a re-writing pickle with demanding producer; Charles Manson follower’s upcoming parole; Fender, Gibson, and other guitar makers beat an anti-trust lawsuit.

Can I put R2D2 in my paintings and sell them?; some do’s and don’ts of copyright filing; Suge Knight murder case turns into civil case against Ice Cube and Dr. Dre; Banksy’s Dismaland

Getting a license for a derivative song; Orphaned Works Rumors put to rest; James Woods Defamation case; Neighbor with barking dog. 

Happy Birthday song "smoking gun” delivered in court! Superb Owl vs. @NFL;  Using copyrighted news articles in your documentary; Do I need a license to show a film at my non-profit  service organization?; Should I specialize in entertainment or copyright in law school?; Film On gets a court victory; Bill Cosby’s Deposition troubles.

Can I use small amounts of other people’s copyrighted lyrics in my new song?; How do I break into the lucrative voice over business?; Litany of Hip Hop trouble makers: Suge Knight, Jay Z, Lil’ Wayne, and “I owe more than” 50 Cent.