Entertainment Litigation Blog

"Analyzing legal issues affecting the entertainment industry."

Author: Melvin N.A. Avanzado is a solo practitioner in Los Angeles.

Blawg Related Categories: Entertainment & Sports Law • Intellectual Property Law • Copyright Law • Solo / Small Firm

Recent Posts from Entertainment Litigation Blog

ENTERTAINMENT LITIGATION: KEANU REEVES WINS TRIAL AGAINST PAPARAZZI
JURY REJECTS PHOTOGRAPHER'S CLAIM THAT REEVES RAN HIM OVER WITH HIS PORSCHEA Los Angeles Superior Court jury cleared actor Keanu Reeves of any wrongdoing in an entertainment litigation filed by a photographer who claimed that…
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENAGGER APPOINTS FILIPINO COLLEAGUE TO THE BENCH
Governor Schwarzenagger announced the appointment of 17 new judges to the Los Angeles Superior Court. His office's press release can be found here.Among the Governor's appointees is my friend and colleague, Bernie C. LaFortenza. Judge…
ENTERTAINMENT LITIGATION: MEDIA WARS -- YOUTUBE VS. VIACOM
HOW THE DIGITAL MILLENNIUM COPYRIGHT ACT (DMCA) PITS WEBSITES AGAINST TRADITIONAL MEDIA COMPANIESThe growing power and influence of the internet presents a different kind of challenge to traditional media companies. Social networking websites like YouTube…
ENTERTAINMENT LITIGATION: THE FIRST AMENDMENT ISN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE
AGGRESSIVE GOVERNMENT TACTICS PUT ALL MEDIA INCREASINGLY AT RISKRecently, news media organizations have faced government pressure to reveal sources or other information or face criminal prosecution. The most infamous of these cases involved Judith Miller…
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS: ANOTHER STRIKE BREWING?
ACTORS' DEAL EXPIRES WITH NO PACT ON THE HORIZONJuly 1 has come and gone with no deal in place which would prevent another crippling strike in Hollywood. The Screen Actors Guild and the Alliance of…
ENTERTAINMENT LITIGATION BLOG: SCENE CHANGE
NEW FIRM, NEW BEGINNINGTomorrow, on July 1, 2008, I start a new practice in my own law firm -- The Avanzado Law Firm. I left my partnership at Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro this afternoon.…
WGA STRIKE OFFICIALLY OVER
Writers on both coasts officially ratified the WGA's new pact with the major studios. The agreement, accepted by the WGA's ruling board over two weeks ago on February 10, provides writers with concessions on issues…
ENTERTAINMENT LITIGATION: "JUDGE ALEX" LOSES SUPREME COURT APPEAL
TELEVISION JUDGE LOSES BID TO HAVE CASE AGAINST MANAGER DECIDED BY THE CALIFORNIA LABOR COMMISSIONER Alex Ferrer, a former Florida judge now known as Fox's "Judge Alex" on television, entered into a contract with Arnold…
NBC SUES "LAW & ORDER" CREATOR
NBC filed a lawsuit on Friday, January 25, 2008 against the creator and executive producer of its three "Law & Order" series, Dick Wolf. The lawsuit reveals a dispute between Wolf and NBC over the…
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS: FORCE MAJEURE CLAUSES WREAK HAVOC ON TALENT DEALS
STUDIOS INVOKE FORCE MAJEURE TO JETTISON TALENT DEALS AS WRITERS STRIKE CONTINUESAs the strike by Hollywood's writers enters its third month, studios have started to terminate overall talent deals with producers and writers. Dubbed "Black…