Entertainment Litigation Blog

COMMUNICATION IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA AGE

By now, you've seen the image. In June 2011, the Vancouver Canucks lost game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals to the Boston Bruins in Vancouver. Chaos ensued, and Vancouver burned. Sports fans rioting in disappointment over losing a championship (or in celebration of winning one) is hardly unusual. However, as the people of Vancouver rioted in the streets, a picture captured a couple in a private, intimate moment against a backdrop of smoke and police in riot gear. The photographer and the media reporting on the Vancouver riot did not know their names. They were simply the kissing couple.

Not surprisingly, the stark contrast between the violence in the background and the kissing couple lying on the street was a sensation -- the picture went "viral" -- disseminated worldwide on social networks as well as traditional media. With that kind of coverage, there was no chance that the anonymous couple would stay anonymous for long.

After the jump, I'll discuss the implications of the instantaneous spread of information and social media -- particularly on anonymity and expectations of privacy.

Continue reading "ENTERTAINMENT & MEDIA LITIGATION: LOSING ANONYMITY" »

STUDIO WINS ENTERTAINMENT LITIGATION RELATING TO "CARS" FRANCHISE

The studios behind the "Cars" motion picture franchise ended their July with a bang -- winning their litigation in Los Angeles federal court over the creation of the franchise. Last Wednesday, July 27, 2011, Judge Valerie Baker Fairbank of the US District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles dismissed all claims against the Walt Disney Company, Pixar and studio-related companies filed by a plaintiff who claimed that the highly successful "Cars" films were based upon his copyrighted screenplay and treatment.

Plaintiff Jake Mandeville-Anthony alleged that Disney/Pixar and the other defendants infringed upon his copyrights in two prior works and that the studios owed him compensation for using his materials based upon an implied contract. Mandeville-Anthony's pursuit of damages against these studios came to an abrupt end with Judge Fairbank's order dismissing his entire case on the pleadings.

After the jump, I'll discuss the issues raised by the claims in this case and the import of the court's decision dismissing the case at such an early stage.

Continue reading "ENTERTAINMENT LITIGATION: DISNEY/PIXAR DEFEAT COPYRIGHT LAWSUIT" »