Get free answers to your Entertainment / Sports legal questions from lawyers in your area.
While family was occupied with final arrangements/grieving, a third party filed for licensing to the name and image my relative went to extreme lengths to protect in life. So now essentially this person owns my relative. The family does not have the financial resources for a court battle. We simply... View More
answered on May 18, 2020
My understanding is that California has strong laws that protect the Right of Publicity (right to exploit one's fame for famous people) and Right to Privacy. It would be good to get advise from a California attorney familiar with these 2 torts. The laws may allow you to collect... View More
I'm currently working on a soundtrack and considering using a verbally spoken speech.
answered on May 12, 2020
If the speech or poetry does not belong to you, then you will need to obtain permission/license from the copyright owner in order to incorporate this intellectual property into your soundtrack.
answered on Feb 14, 2020
A power of attorney is a document that allows you to appoint a person or entity to oversee and manage your affairs. In order for a power of attorney to be legally binding, in most states you must sign and have notarized an original power of attorney document that specifies exactly what powers your... View More
answered on Jan 6, 2020
No one can really answer this question without learning far more about the situation. Only some general information can be provided here.
If you signed the settlement agreement it will take a very large burden for you to overcome to now try to undo that agreement. There are legal theories... View More
Hello! I have played a game(Brutal Age) from 2019-01-31 And have spent $45647 on this game!
This game is simply not as advertised. The first 6 to 10 months were great imo. Been down hill for a while now. I’ve found that Chinese players cheated on this game and buy packs 0.1% what normal... View More
Using machine learning technologies, a developer can create a synthesized copy of the celebrity's voice (for instance, like here https://youtu.be/DWK_iYBl8cA).
Can this developer use this fake digital voice in movies, mobile games, for songs, or any other video and sound content... View More
answered on Dec 3, 2019
Fake or real there needs to be authorization of the person whose voice or image is being used?
Permission is the key.
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Hello!
i am a gamer who plays Video games day by day.
recently i got banned by an anti cheat Company called punkbuster without any using of cheats.
while i have payed 180 $ for my game.(*** Note : i accept the price is small but it's not only me who is involved... two... View More
Do I need to obtain clearance if the work is mentioned verbally and not actually seen on screen?. For example, if I have a line from a popular musical. Another example would be if I just mention a Television channel, like National Geographic?
answered on Jul 23, 2019
The copyright statute covers the form of expression in the work and not the ideas in it. Factual reference to an item is usually not infringement. However, it is difficult to tell what you mean by "verbally reference." Are you referring to the mention of a painting or are you repeating... View More
on a 3% gross royalty of SLRP for $50 w/ $10 poster merch, is the producer entitled to 3% of $50 or 3% minus merch costs
answered on May 1, 2019
It depends on how "Gross Royalty" is defined in the contract. It's not uncommon to allows for deductions for actual expenses which could include your hard costs for merch, but if it's not specifically stated in the contract, then the inference would be 3% of the total royalty... View More
I’m planning on having a couple spears made (Heritage purposes). One as a family heirloom to pass down, and one for hunting/recreational purposes. Is it even legal to hunt with spears?
answered on Apr 12, 2019
Hunting opportunities in this state with a spear and/or atlatl are limited. No big or small game species could legally be taken with one. However, animals that are classified as "non-game" species could be (coyotes, rodents, opossum, etc). You would first need to obtain a hunting license.... View More
WE were shooting a scene with an actor in a bar who was playing an extra, he agreed to be in the video and as we ran out of release forms we agreed to send him a copy via email. Days later he had a change of heart about signing and contacted his lawyer that he wants me to talk to directly in... View More
answered on Apr 8, 2019
I practiced intellectual property law for several years. The general rule is that if a person in the background of a movie scene is unrecognizable, they probably cannot sue for anything. However, the company's promise to send him a contract complicates matters somewhat, and could come up in... View More
I suffer from blood-injury-and-injection phobia and anxiety.
Sunday afternoon I was at a Regal theater to watch a drama film. To my surprise, graphic content full of blood and lifelike surgeries started playing. With nausea overwhelming me I proceeded towards the exit. I sensed the coming... View More
answered on Apr 4, 2019
much more info needed.
I have never heard of a condition like yours and suspect it is incumbent on YOU to check on films you go to see to be sure there are no scenes that could hurt you.
anyone can sue at any time for anything but I certainly would not accept the case on a... View More
The person is down $3500 and doesnt have the money to pay, this person is scared that if he cant pay, that the bookie would come after him. Is this legal? What should This Person do if he cant pay at all? And how can he stay safe after letting the bookie know?
answered on Feb 4, 2019
Was this a legal bet or part of illegal gambling activities? If you're facing assault or worse, you can report this to the police. If you're guilty of illegal gambling as well, you might face related criminal charges yourself. More details are necessary to provide a professional analysis... View More
answered on Dec 6, 2018
I would register your screenplay with the US Copyright office BEFORE submitting it anywhere. The age old "poor man's copyright" (i.e. mailing the creative work to yourself and keeping in a sealed envelope) doesn't really protect you like a valid copyright registration does, nor... View More
answered on Sep 25, 2018
"Litigation" refers to the filing of lawsuits (i.e. courtroom lawyers), whereas "Transactional" refers to general business and legal affairs of a person or entity (i.e. negotiation,drafting and review of contracts; and other deal making).
Often times an entertainment... View More
answered on Aug 9, 2018
How does the agreement between the filmmakers and nonprofit treat the issue of ownership of the film? How do you know the nonprofit owns it? Are there any documentation evidencing copyright ownership of the film?
answered on May 12, 2018
Yes, a professional liability insurance policy also known as errors and omissions. Can you do business without it? Sure, but then you take the risk.
My question would be am I allowed to take my own in-game screenshots and use these images on my websites to avoid copyright infringements or violations? I have scoured the internet to find a reasonable and safe way to use images from big game titles. If this is not allowed are there any way... View More
answered on Mar 27, 2018
You will need permission from the gaming companies to use images of their game that you are using in a promotional context. Taking screenshots from your own game and then using them for commercial purposes is not advisable.
It was my daughters quinceanera my family was through some bad times my husband had got hurt at worked and he had to be hospitality and was in need to be in a wheelchair for a few months for recovery! So our budget had gotten really small for my daughters quince! Came across a DJ for the party at a... View More
answered on Mar 12, 2018
Incomplete information, i.e. you ended before you asked the question or indicated what went wrong.
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