Congratulations to our clients, executive producers Jason Hervey and Eric Bischoff, on Nick At Nite’s pick up order of twenty episodes of the network’s first original scripted comedy pilot, Daddy’s Home, starring Scott Baio.
For the full story, please click the link to visit Deadline Hollywood: http://www.deadline.com/2012/03/nick-at-night-picks-up-scott-baio-family-comedy-to-series/
By: James Kachmar
In late December, the Ninth Circuit rev
isited the “safe harbor” provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) in the case UMG Recordings, Inc. v. Veoh Networks, Inc., 101 U.S.P.Q.2D (BNA) 1001. Veoh is a web service that allows users to view videos uploaded by other users. Veoh was sued for copyright infringement by UMG, one of the world’s largest music and music publishing companies.
Before a user can upload and share a video, on Veoh’s site, he/she must agree to Veoh’s publisher terms and conditions and terms of use, both of which bar the user from uploading any videos that infringe on another’s copyrights. Also immediately prior to uploading a video, a message appears on Veoh’s website warning the user not to upload infringing videos. Continue Reading Revisiting the “Safe Harbor” Provisions of the DMCA
On Oct. 26, 2011, the Stop Online Piracy Act “SOPA” (H.R. 3261) was introduced in the United States House of Representatives. One of SOPA’s primary goals is to address the continuing problem of online digital piracy of counterfeit movie, music, and other copyrightable works engaged in through foreign websites.
The 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and the Copyright Act of 1976 are the primary existing U.S. laws that address copyright infringement, but both have limited ability to address foreign based websites that engage in digital piracy. SOPA attacks this problem by giving both government officials and copyright owners new powers to target foreign websites and infringers through the search engines, web hosts, and payment system providers that allow foreign websites to reach the U.S. market. Continue Reading Hollywood and Silicon Valley Spar Over Proposed “Stop Online Piracy Act”
By Scott Hervey
A California statute signed into law in 2005 by Governor Schwarzenegger was struck down by the United States Supreme Court on June 27 for running afoul of the First Amendment. The law prohibited the sale or rental of “violent video games” to minors; violations were punishable by a civil fine of up to $1,000. The statute defined a “violent video game” as games in “which the range of options available to a player includes killing, maiming, dismembering, or sexually assaulting an image of a human being, if those acts are depicted” in a manner that a “reasonable person, considering the game a whole, would find appeals to a deviant or morbid interest of minors,” that is “patently offensive to prevailing standards in the community as to what is suitable for minors,” and that “causes the game, as a whole, to lack serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for minors.” The Supreme Court found the statute to be overreaching and invalid.Continue Reading The Supreme Court Shoots Down California’s Violent Video Game Statute
by Scott Hervey
The rock band No Doubt had serious doubts about the way they were being portrayed in Activision’s video game Band Hero. No Doubt had licensed the likeness of its members for use in the video game but ultimately objected to Activision’s use and claimed that such use was outside of the scope of the license agreement between the Parties.
The agreement between the parties set for the terms upon which No Doubt gave Activision the right to utilize the band members’ name and likeness in the video game. Each band member had the right to approve their likeness as implemented in the game, as well as all other uses of use their name and/or likeness in the marketing and exploitation of the game. After signing the license agreement, the band members participated in a full day photography and data capture session at Activision’s studios so that the band members’ avatars in the video game would accurately reflect their appearances, movements and sounds. No Doubt reviewed the photography and the details related to the appearance and feature of their avatars and ultimately gave their approval. Continue Reading No Doubt v. Band Hero – A Further Test of Celebrities Right of Publicity
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