Representing studios, networks, production companies, talent agencies and others in idea submission, contract, profit participation and related disputes.
Some of the cases our attorneys have handled:
- Briggs v. Cameron, et al., 2020 WL 6118493 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 16, 2020). Representing Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp., Lightstorm Entertainment Inc., News Corp. and James Cameron, prevailed on a motion to dismiss copyright infringement and related claims concerning the movies Avatar and Taken. The Court dismissed the claims with prejudice and entered judgment in the Firm's clients' favor. A copy of the order is here.
- Burnett v. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp., 491 F.Supp.2d 962 (C.D. Cal. 2007). Successfully defended copyright, trademark and right of publicity claims on fair use/parody grounds brought by famous comedienne Carol Burnett against the Family Guy television program.
- Cussler v. Crusader Entertainment, LLC (Los Angeles Superior Court 2008). In a 15-week trial, secured victory for a production company against claims for breach of contract and fraud in connection with the motion picture Sahara.
- Stephen Slesinger, Inc. v. The Walt Disney Co., 155 Cal. App. 4th 736 (2007). Successfully defended Disney at the trial and appellate levels against a lawsuit relating to the intellectual property and merchandising rights to "Winnie the Pooh."
- Wagner v. Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., 146 Cal. App. 4th 586 (2007). Successfully defended studio in a profit participation case re the Charlie’s Angels movie franchise.
- Walker v. Viacom International, Inc., 2008 WL 2050964 (N.D. Cal. May 13, 2008), aff’d, 362 Fed. App’x 858 (9th Cir. 2008). Successfully defended SpongeBob SquarePants franchise, character and story line from alleged copyright infringement.
- People v. Conrad Murray (Los Angeles Superior Court 2011). Represented non-party Sony Pictures Entertainment and successfully quashed subpoena from criminal defendant seeking unaired footage of rehearsals of singer Michael Jackson.
- Christakis v. Mark Burnett Prods., 2009 WL 1248947 (C.D. Cal. Apr. 27, 2009). Successfully defended producers of television program The Apprentice from claims of defamation and tortious interference.
- Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Ass’n, 131 S.Ct. 2729 (2011). Counsel for amicus curiae First Amendment Coalition arguing against the creation of a new category of unprotected violent speech in the context of a law limiting the sale of video games.
- Tyne v. Time Warner Entertainment Corp., 901 So.2d 802 (Fla. 2005). As counsel for amici curiae Motion Picture Association of America and others in the Florida Supreme Court, argued that Florida’s right of publicity statute should be read in a manner consistent with the First Amendment in a case concerning the movie The Perfect Storm. The Court so held.
- Vazquez v. Telemundo Network Group, LLC (Los Angeles Superior Court 2007-08). Defended Spanish-language network against idea submission lawsuit concerning a television program.
- Kent v. Universal Studios Inc. (C.D. Cal. 2008). Successfully defended studio, producers and others against claims for misappropriation of publicity rights and false endorsement under the Lanham Act in connection with the movie Charlie Wilson’s War.