Screenwriters should annotate their scripts to document the source of their work. A careful annotation will help a screenwriter defend against defamation and invasion of privacy lawsuits by showing that the writer acted carefully. Recall that when a public figure
Law Offices of Mark Litwak & Associates Blogs
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Film Financing Overview Article for LexisNexis
I was recently asked to write an article on film financing for LexisNexis, a leading publisher of legal information for lawyers. Practical Guidance is a next generation tool for lawyers with enhanced technology that provides legal know-how, practical information, and forms
Update on Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding with Donations: Crowdfunding refers to the process of raising money to fund a project or business through numerous small contributors, often using an online platform or funding portal to solicit their investment. Because investing is film is such a
Art Created Entirely by Artificial Intelligence Is Not Copyrightable
The United States Copyright Office concluded recently that art created exclusively by Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not copyrightable. Artists can attempt to register works made with the assistance of AI, but they must prove significant “human authorship.”
In February 2023,
SUPREME COURT RESTRICTS FAIR USE DOCTRINE ANDY WARHOL FOUNDATION FOR THE VISUAL ARTS, INC. v. GOLDSMITH
In the past few decades, various decisions of the Supreme Court expanded the fair use doctrine which is a defense to copyright infringement claims. Under the fair use doctrine, creators can borrow from existing copyrighted works in creating their own
Self Defense for Writers and Filmmakers Seminar with Mark Litwak, April 20-21, 2023
Molli and Max to Premiere at SXSW
TRUMP SUES WOODWARD FOR PUBLICATION OF AUDIOTAPES
Donald Trump has filed suit against journalist Bob Woodward claiming that Woodward improperly publishing audio tapes of their interviews. The interviews were conducted with the understanding that that Woodward was authoring a book which was published in September 2021 with
COPYRIGHT OFFICE BEGINS NEW SYSTEM OF ELECTRONIC RECORDING
The Copyright Office has announced its new system of electronic recording. Under the Copyright Act, the U.S. Copyright Office accepts certain types of documents for filing and indexing into the Office’s public records. There are three primary types of documents
INVESTORS SUE CELEBRITY ENDORSERS OF CRYPTO PLATFORM
Investors have filed a class action lawsuit seeking $11 billion in damages against Crypto platform FTX’s founder Sam Bankman-Fried and various celebrity endorsers who promoted the platform, including Shaquille O’Neal, Larry David, Tom Brady, and Stephen Curry. FTX filed for