Content in Quarantine: Copyright Best Practices During a Pandemic
At a time when we are stuck at home, working or “working” (or, sadly for many, not working) the tenet that content is king has never been more relevant. From Disney+ releasing “Frozen II” and “Onward” early to help placate restless youngsters, to DreamWorks releasing “Trolls World Tour” for “theatrical” in-house rental, to Instagram sensation
Three Tips for Broadway Producers Recording their Shows for Streaming Platforms
Broadway producers interested in recording musicals for streaming platforms should pay attention to a new lawsuit. The complaint was filed by Chapman Roberts, a Broadway music arranger, and alleges that a team of Broadway producers entered into an agreement with the plaintiff in 1994 to make original vocal arrangements of some famous songs from Jerry
YouTube Launches Stick Figure’s “Stay Home With: Yungblud”
“Stay Home With: Yungblud,” a weekly series featuring the U.K. recording artist and his band as they create music while in quarantine, premiered this week as part of YouTube’s “Stay Home #With Me” campaign. Amy Stein represented producer Stick Figure Entertainment in the license agreement with YouTube and agreements with Yungblud and his label, Interscope.
“A Secret Love,” from CDAS client Blumhouse, Rated 100% on Rotten Tomatoes
Blumhouse’s bittersweet documentary “A Secret Love” premiered today on Netflix to rave reviews. Simon Pulman represented Blumhouse in its deal with the filmmakers, Briana Hill was involved in the film’s financing, and Calvin Mohammadi and Simon represented Blumhouse in its deal with Netflix. Watch the trailer here.
CDAS IP Group and Partner Nancy Wolff Recognized in Chambers USA 2020
The highly regarded “Guide to the Top Lawyers and Law Firms” described CDAS as a “highly skilled boutique offering excellent capabilities handling trademark and copyright infringement cases, as well as substantial portfolio management matters. [CDAS] exhibits expertise acting for market-leading entertainment, media and digital platform clients.” In addition to recognizing the firm for Intellectual Property:
“Wendy” Now Available on Most Digital and MPVD Providers
This beautiful reimagining of J. M. Barrie’s beloved characters, produced by Andrea Cannistraci’s client Paul Mezey and for which Andrea provided production legal services, is widely available as of today. Watch the trailer here.
S.D.N.Y. Holds that Publishers May Embed Content Publicly Posted on Instagram Platform — (Sinclair v. Ziff Davis, LLC et al.)
Since the emergence of social media, courts, content creators, and publishers alike have been grappling with legal issues concerning the practice of “embedding” copyrighted content. Following the controversial February 2019 decision in Goldman v. Breitbart News, LLC – rejecting the Ninth Circuit’s “server test” and holding that an embed constitutes a “public display” exposing a
How Broadway Podcasts Are Bucking the Trend
As the spread of COVID-19 has forced almost all Americans to stay at home, many podcast programs have seen the size of their audiences shrink. One podcast publisher shared that the number of people downloading its shows has dropped 19 percent over the past two weeks, and Lindsay Graham of the audio production company Airship confirmed
Andrea Cannistraci Negotiated with HabeshaviewTV for “Enchained” to be the First Feature Film on the New Streaming Platform
Enchained, which airs beginning April 18,2020, premiered in Ethiopia in 2019 to critical and popular acclaim. Advisor to the International Emerging Film Talent Association (IEFTA), Andrea represented the film and filmmaker Moges Tafesse in this deal. See the trailer here.
Allen v. Cooper: Supreme Court Upholds State Sovereign Immunity in Copyright Row Over State’s Unauthorized Use of Videos and Images of Blackbeard’s Famed Shipwreck
In a technical win for states facing federal claims under the Copyright Act, on Monday, March 23, 2020, the United States Supreme Court struck down the Copyright Clarification Act of 1990 (the “CRCA”), which had allowed states to be sued in federal court for copyright infringement. Allen v. Cooper, No. 18-877, 2020 WL 1325815 (U.S.