16th Annual Entertainment & Media Law Conference
Thursday, January 17, 2019 National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, Los Angeles
Sessions
"Reporting in the Age of #MeToo"
This two-part marquee panel will explore the challenges for news and entertainment companies from the ever-increasing number of reports of sexual misconduct arising from the #metoo movement. In the first part, staff members from the Los Angeles Times will talk about difficulties in reporting on claims of abuse that are often decades old from a journalistic, editorial, and legal perspective. In the second part, we will discuss the #metoo movement from a studio's point of view, examining issues arising from these accusations through a series of hypotheticals and looking at developments such as recent state-level legislation on the use of non-disclosure agreements.
Part I Moderator: George Freeman, MLRC
Part I Panelists:
Amy Kaufman, L.A. Times Daniel Miller, L.A. Times Jeff Glasser, L.A. Times Kimi Yoshino, L.A. Times
Part II Moderator: Orly Ravid, Southwestern Law School
Part II Panelists:
Ivy Kagan Bierman, Loeb & Loeb Joel Grossman, JAMS Kate Gold, Drinker Biddle
"Copyright, Trademark, and the Public Domain: The New Era of Intellectual Property Management"
For the first time in many years, creative works will begin to pass into the public domain on January 1, 2019 – but savvy media companies have prepared for the transition by integrating copyright and trademark protection strategies with respect to their intellectual property portfolios. This session will consider the moving line of copyright protection, examine how characters and settings from fictional worlds can take on new roles in merchandising, and discuss how older IP can find new vitality with reference to recent cases applying trademark law to discrete elements of creative works.
Moderator: Andrew Thomas, Jenner & Block
Panelists: Andrew Hughes, Viacom Media Network Eleanor Lackman, CDAS Monique Cheng Joe, NBCUniversal Media
"Developments in Idea Submission Law"
What are the current best practices for handling idea submissions? Where do idea theft claims end, and copyright claims begin? When and how does “substantial similarity” rear its ugly head in misappropriation cases? Should any studio ever host a writing or video competition? Our panel of attorneys, deep in the trenches on these topics, will survey the battleground of recent cases and discuss strategy.
Moderator: David Aronoff, Fox Rothschild, LLP
Panelists: Bob Rotstein, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP Kelli Sager, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP Peter Afrasiabi, One LLP Tamerlin J. Godley, Munger Tolles & Olson LLP Tania Hoff, NBC Universal Media
"Controversial Celebrities Causing Online Outrage: Dealing with a Social Media Backlash"
Talent fired and series canceled after bad behavior online. News outlets caught in the crossfire of polarized political mobs. Social media sites offer an unparalleled opportunity for news and entertainment companies to connect with their audiences – but online communities can quickly turn on the media when celebrities misbehave, long-forgotten tweets surface, or politicians stir up their followers. This session will examine the dynamics of a social media backlash, and discuss the legal and practical ways in which studios and news outlets can respond to sudden crises and prepare for the future. #YouCantTWEETthat
Moderator: Jeffrey Hermes, MLRC
Panelists: Darrell D. Miller, Fox Rothschild Karen North, USC Annenberg RonNell Anderson Jones, S.J. Quinney College of Law
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