​Congratulations to our client Walden Media which produced the The Baby-Sitters Club which premieres on Netflix on July 3, 2020. We were pleased to provide production legal services on this series.
 
The series has been garnering rave reviews. See, NY Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/02/arts/television/review-the-baby-sitters-club-netflix.html
 

Christian Charles, a writer and director, and well-known comedian Jerry Seinfeld, had collaborated on various projects. During one of their conversations, Charles suggested to Seinfeld that they create a television show based on the concept of two friends talking and driving. In 2011, Seinfeld allegedly mentioned to Charles that he was considering a talk show about "comedians driving in a car to a coffee place and just 'chatting,'" as his next project. They then purportedly agreed to work together on the endeavor.
 
Charles then generated a treatment which he claims captures the "look and feel" of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee as well as a "synopsis, camera shot list with visual camera angles, and a script." He claimed he had an understanding with Seinfeld that his company would produce the series and was concerned when Seinfeld brought in a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Television to produce it. According to Charles when he requested compensation and a share of backend profits, Seinfeld objected to giving him anything other than paying him to direct some episodes.
 
Charles alleges that "Seinfeld did not claim authorship or ownership of the Pilot" even though "Charles had often reminded Seinfeld" that the idea for the show came from him.
 
In 2017, Netflix inked a lucrative new deal for the show, leading Charles to contact Seinfeld. Seinfeld's lawyer responded, stating that Seinfeld was the creator and owner of the show.
 
Seinfeld and other Defendants went on to produce and distribute the show without giving any credit to Charles. The Netflix deal has been reported to have a $100 million-dollar production budget with Seinfeld earning about half a million dollars per episode. More than 80 episodes have been produced. Charles filed suit in 2018 claiming among other things, copyright infringement.
 
Seinfeld argued that this lawsuit was a frivolous attempt to capitalize on the success of the show and that Charles requested compensation “five-and-a-half years after the Show premiered” “claiming for the first time to be its creator. As far back as February 2012, Seinfeld claimed he had rejected Charles's requests and made it clear that his involvement would be as a paid hand on a work-for-hire basis. Moreover, the show premiered in July 2012 without crediting Charles, at which point it should have been clear to Charles that Seinfeld was disputing any copyright claim he might have.
 
This delay, Seinfeld argued, barred Charles claims. Claims under the Copyright Act must be brought within three years after the claim has accrued" under 17 U.S.C. § 507(b). The District Court agreed, and on appeal, the Court of Appeals affirmed that dismissal. 
 
This case is a good example of why it is important that if you have a claim, do not delay pursuing it.
 
Read the District Court opinion.
 
Read the Court of Appeals decision.

California has given the green light to resume production under new health protocols meant to minimize transmission of the Coronavirus. The protocols were agreed to by a task force of studios and union officials who drafted a 22-page White Paper setting forth guidelines.
 
However, shooting is subject to approval by county public health officials at the locations for each shoot.  The changes in production include elimination of buffet-style meals, greater sanitation and disinfection of equipment, and social distancing. 
 
Other changes include:
 
Disposable masks will need to be replaced each day and reusable masks will be cleaned each day.  There will also be increased access to hand washing stations and sanitizer.
 
Regular, periodic testing of the cast and crew will be used to mitigate the risk of the spread of COVID-19.
 
The use of face coverings when feasible on set or at production/studio facilities workspaces.
 
Crew lists, call sheets, production reports and other similar documents should be electronic, not paper, whenever possible.
 
Mealtimes should be staggered to avoid the gathering of large groups in the same location at the same time.
 
One or more COVID-19 Compliance Officer(s) with specialized training, responsibility and authority for COVID-19 safety compliance and enforcement will be in the workplace at all times during work hours. These officers shall be in charge of monitoring physical distancing, testing, symptom monitoring, disinfecting protocols, and PPE education.  All personnel will  have access to the COVID-19 Compliance Officer(s)  and know how to contact them.
 
Download the full white paper report here.
 
Download the Covid-10 Health Department guidelines here

I am again presenting  my Risky Business seminar for the New York Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. However, this year because of the Covid-19 crisis the seminar will be in the form of an online webinar on Zoom. The seminar will be presented over two days, 3 hours each day. For those of you who have wanted to attend this seminar but could not come to New York, now is your chance to participate remotely.
 
This comprehensive seminar is for new attorneys, attorneys transitioning to entertainment law, and filmmakers. It explores how independent films are financed and produced.
 
Particular attention will be paid to how producers and filmmakers can protect themselves, including:
 
·       Criteria for selecting a distributor;
·       Investigating distributors;
·       Adding contract provisions and understanding terms;   
·       Dealing with investors, and more

Other topics will include compliance with state and federal laws regarding investors, retaining an attorney, producer's rep, and publicist, and confirming awards and enforcing judgments.

Participants will receive a 149-page detailed handout with a distribution contract, articles, forms and a self-defense checklist, as well as a 150 slide powerpoint of the presentation. 

This program is a two-day online seminar offering up to 7 Continuing Legal Education credits to attorneys.

Dates and Time:
Thursday, June 18, 2020:  1 - 4:30 PM EST
Friday, June 19, 2020: 1 - 4:30 PM EST
 
​For additional information and to register.

Mark was recently interviewed on the National Public Radio's program Marketplace about the exhibition of films on Amazon Prime that were selected to be screened at the SXSW festival, before it was cancelled due to COVID-19.
 
While Amazon is to be commended for offering this showcase, participating in such a virtual film festival is a mixed blessing for filmmakers.  For some filmmakers, especially those with short films, it might give them exposure they otherwise would never receive, plus a fee for participating.  However, for many filmmakers this offer poses a dilemma, because participating could preclude them from appearing at other top festivals in the future and may make it more difficult to secure a deal with a distributor or sales agent. Moreover, it would likely eliminate any chance for a theatrical release and the revenue that might result. Perhaps that is why so few filmmakers elected to participate. The Amazon screenings are comprised of only 39 films including only four narrative features and three documentary features.  
 
One's leverage in negotiating a distribution deal depends on whether distributors perceive the film as desirable. There is no substitute for having your film screen at a top festival in the presence of acquisition executives who can witness firsthand an audience enjoying your film. Moreover, if your film is shown at a top tier festival, you may also benefit by having your film reviewed by the New York Times or other major media. Most publications only review films screened at such festivals, or films that have already secured distribution and are about to be released in theaters.  A positive review from a major publication can in turn attract distributors and assist in marketing your film.
 
Not only do top festivals compete to premiere the best films, many distributors also demand to show films first. It usually is next to impossible to convince theaters to exhibit a film that has already been shown on television or Video on Demand. Indeed, most theaters demand that films they exhibit are not shown in other media for 90 days after the theatrical run ends. Some platforms like Netflix may require an exclusive first run to consider acquiring a film.
 
The SXSW virtual film festival will stream from April 27 to May 6, 2020, with 39 shorts and features being shown free to the public. A list of the films being streamed can be found here.
 
Marketplace  can be listened to here.

IndieWire covers the changes to production insurance and what productions will be like after the Corona virus. Read article here.

The movie and television industries have been devastated by the COVID-19 virus. Almost all production has been halted, theaters have shuttered and cast and crew have been furloughed or terminated. Delivery of films to networks and streaming outlets have been delayed and, in some instances, productions may never resume.   If a producer was in the middle of a shoot when forced to shut down, it may be impossible to restart, because the cast and crew may have conflicting commitments that preclude them from resuming their work at a later time.

Many movie industry contracts contain a Force Majeure clause to deal with situations like the COVID-19 pandemic. This is one of those boilerplate clauses that parties rarely pay much attention to or bother to negotiate.  However, the clause is important because it may excuse the performance of one or more parties who cannot fulfill their obligations because of something outside their control, like an earthquake, war or a pandemic. Sometimes these events are referred to as Acts of God. These events may excuse a breach of an agreement by either party because they are deemed unforeseeable. So, for example, if a producer in the midst of production of a television series has to stop production because of a pandemic, the producer may be able to terminate or suspend the performers employed, without any obligation to pay them the balance of their salary for the rest of the season.  

Here is a typical force majeure clause found in many artist employment agreements:  

FORCE MAJEURE:  During the Term, in the event that the development or production of the Series for which Artist is rendering services hereunder are materially hampered, interrupted or interfered with by reason of an event of force majeure or by virtue of any other disruptive event which is beyond Producer's control or a labor dispute, strike or lockout (collectively, "Force Majeure"), Producer shall have the right to suspend this Agreement pursuant to the provisions regarding suspension. Producer may terminate this Agreement at any time upon written notice during the continuation of such event of Force Majeure, and regardless of whether Producer shall have exercised the right of suspension. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to any of the provisions of this paragraph, Producer shall be released from and relieved of all further obligations and liabilities to Artist, other than Producer's obligation to pay Artist  such compensation, if any, as may be due and payable to Artist hereunder at the time of such termination.

Under such a provision, the obligations of the parties to each other can be terminated or suspended. The provision works both ways. It might excuse an actor failing to show up at a location because flights have been cancelled, or it might excuse a producer who suspends or terminates the actor because the shoot had to shut down.
The clause above does not explicitly mention that a disease or a pandemic qualifies as a force majeure and sometimes it may not be clear if a party has been prevented from fulfilling their obligations or just that the event has made it more difficult or expensive to do so.  In the case of shooting in Los Angeles, since local authorities have prohibited shooting in the entire County, there is no question that COVID-19 has shut down all productions here.

A producer’s liability from a shutdown might be reimbursable if the producer has a completion bond or business interruption insurance. A completion bond is a type of insurance that guarantees completion of film even if the production goes over budget. Typically, the insurance covers extra costs incurred due to the death, illness, incapacity, default of the producer, director, any principal cast member or other person essential to the production. It also covers the occurrence of an event of force majeure. Before issuing a policy, the completion guarantor will require a realistic budget, with a ten percent contingency amount for unforeseen cost overruns, and an automatic extension of the delivery deadline for up to three months.  The insurer will also require that experienced crew be hired.   However, not all productions have completion bonds. Many studios self-insure and independent filmmakers with budgets less than one million dollars cannot obtain this kind of insurance.

Business interruption insurance can also cover lost profits and costs that result from disruptions in a company’s supply chain, including failures by suppliers or the inability to sell to customers. However, after the 2002 SARS outbreak, some insurers excluded communicable diseases from their coverage.  

Even without insurance or a force majeure clause to rely on in one’s contract, a party could assert the impossibility defense if they fail to live up to their obligations because of unforeseen circumstances. Thus, a producer who misses a delivery deadline could argue that the pandemic made it impossible for him to deliver the production on time, and therefore his failure should be excused. A party relying on the defense of impossibility of performance must establish (1) the unexpected occurrence of an intervening act, (2) that occurrence was of such a character that its non-occurrence was a basic assumption of the agreement of the parties, and (3) that occurrence made performance impracticable[1] Under California law, impossibility of performance will excuse a party's performance under a contract.[2]

The impact of COVID-19 is going to financially hurt many people in the movie industry, including the workers, executives and companies large and small that produce and distribute content. Some companies may not survive.  However, the demand for entertainment will surely endure after this crisis is over.
 
 [1] Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 261. In re Janssens, 449 B.R. 42 (Bankr. D. Md. 2010), judgment aff'd on other grounds, 2011 WL 1642575 (D. Md. 2011). 

[2] In re Toyota Motor Corp., 790 F. Supp. 2d 1152, 85 Fed. R. Evid. Serv. 451 (C.D. Cal. 2011) (applying California law). 

​The Hollywood Reporter has published a story that major studios risk losing their franchise rights to major 80’s films like Terminator, Friday the 13th and Who Framed Roger Rabbit because authors have the right to terminate grants to their work and regain ownership under copyright law.
 
Under U.S. copyright law, authors (or, if the authors are not alive, their surviving spouses, children, or executors), can “terminate” copyright assignments they have previously made in certain circumstances and regain rights to their work.  Consequently, even if an author, musician, or filmmaker signed an agreement transferring all rights in their work in perpetuity, the Copyright Act provides that the author can terminate that grant and demand that the rights revert. Essentially, the author is getting a second chance to make money from his work.
 
Congress deemed these provisions desirable “because of the unequal bargaining position of authors, resulting in part from the impossibility of determining a work's value until it has been exploited.”  However, the mechanism that Congress put in place in order to allow authors and their heirs to regain their rights is complicated.
 
Copyright termination rights are found in § 203 and § 304  of the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976. The relevant provisions in § 203 of the statute set forth that “[i]n the case of any work other than a work made for hire, the exclusive or nonexclusive grant of a transfer or license of copyright or of any right under a copyright, executed by the author on or after January 1, 1978, otherwise than by will, is subject to termination.  Termination of works assigned after January 1, 1978 may be exercised during a five-year window that starts 35 years after the date of assignment under certain conditions.  These conditions include the requirement that the author provide notice of an intent to exercise the termination right between two and ten years before the effective date of the termination. On the effective date of termination, all rights previously transferred from the author to the grantee revert to the author.
 
Works previously created before termination can continue to be distributed. The owner of a film produced based on a novel, for example, can continue to exploit the movie because that grant was prepared under authority of rights before termination.  However, no new sequels or remakes could be made after termination.
 
It bears noting that termination rights cannot be waived in advance by contract including an agreement to make a will or to make any future grant.” §§ 203(a)(5), 304(c)(5).
 
These rules do not apply when the content created was made as a work for hire. This is one reason it is preferable for producers to enter into work for hire agreements with their collaborators, rather than obtain rights from them by way of assignment.
 
Notices of termination may be served no earlier than 25 years after the execution of the grant or, if the grant covers the right of publication, no earlier than 30 years after the execution of the grant or 25 years after publication under the grant (whichever comes first).  However, termination of a grant cannot be effective until 35 years after the execution of the grant or, if the grant covers the right of publication, no earlier than 40 years after the execution of the grant or 35 years after publication under the grant (whichever comes first).
 
The provisions generally provide that transfers before 1978 can be terminated during a five-year period beginning at the end of 56 years from the date copyright was originally secured, while transfers after 1978 can be terminated during a five year period beginning either 35 or 40 years after execution of the grant, depending on the nature of the grant.

​Mark Litwak recently represented Claimant Aletheia Films (Robert Rippberger) in an arbitration against Respondent Raging Nations Films whose principal is Dale Resteghini. The parties had agreed to collaborate in the production of a pilot called “Cracka.” Claimant asserted that Raging Nations had deviated from the production plan, refused to reimburse Claimant its expenses, failed to provide a screen credit, denied Claimant its equity interest and tried to remove it from the project.
 
After four days of hearings, Claimant was determined to be the prevailing party. Respondent's counter claim was dismissed.
 
The arbitrator found: “Raging Nation tried to cut Aletheia Films out of the Cracka Project after production and tried to keep Aletheia from receiving any benefits under the signed MOU contract.” The arbitrator restored all of Claimant’s rights under the agreement including its copyright interest and its profit participation.
 
Claimant was also awarded compensatory damages of $16,742, costs of $11,257.91, and reimbursement of attorney fees of $75,579.35 for a total award of $103,579.26.

A Manhattan Beach man, Adam Joiner, was arrested and faces federal charges in connection with an alleged fake movie project that cost investors $14 million dollars, according to a criminal complaint filed in United States District Court. The complaint alleges wire fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft.

According to the affidavit in support of the complaint, Joiner used fake documents and forged signatures to raise millions of dollars from foreign investment firms based in South Korea and China for a project called “Legends,” described in court papers as an anachronistic mash-up of legendary and historical figures such as Davy Crockett, Calamity Jane, Paul Bunyan, and John Henry.  The fake documents included a bogus Netflix distribution agreement.

The FBI’s Complex Financial Crime squad of the Los Angeles Office investigated the matter. Joiner is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 23, according to the U.S attorney’s office.

As the owner of a company called Dark Planet Pictures, LLC, Joiner allegedly showed investors forged documents. The FBI reviewed the company’s bank records and found that more than $5 million of the investors’ money was used to purchase a Manhattan Beach home. 

If convicted, Joiner could face up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud, up to 10 years for money laundering, and a mandatory two years for aggravated identity theft.
Read the press release regarding the Criminal Complaint.

For more information on how investors can protect themselves, read my article: The Hollywood Shuffle: Protecting Film Investors, published in the Vanderbilt Law Journal. 

In determining whether an individual providing service to another is an independent contractor or an employee, the "control" test, is often used initially to make this evaluation. To put it simply, an employee is an individual who the employer has the right to exercise control over the manner and means by which the individual performs his or her services.  

However on  April 30, 2018, the California Supreme Court adopted an expansive definition of "employee" and rejected the Borello test for determining whether workers should be classified as either employees or independent contractors for the purposes of the wage orders adopted by California’s Industrial Welfare Commission (“IWC”) in favor of a worker-friendly standard that may upend the existing independent contractor labor market.

Under the new so called ABC test, a worker will be deemed to have been “suffered or permitted to work,” and thus, an employee for wage order purposes, unless the employer proves:

(A) that the worker is free from the control and direction of the hiring entity in connection with the performance of the work, both under the contract for the performance of the work and in fact;
(B) that the worker performs work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entity’s business; and
(C) that the worker is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business of the same nature as the work performed.

Each of these requirements need to be met in order for the presumption that a worker is an employee to be rebutted, and for a court to recognize that a worker has been properly classified as an independent contractor.

This new test will likely result in many “independent contractors” in the entertainment industry being reclassified as employees. 

In addition, under existing California Labor Code section 3351.5(c), if a service contract has “work made for hire” language, the worker is  deemed to be an employee, and almost all contracts in the industry have this kind of language vesting ownership in the employer.

More details.

Eight persons who are behind two of the largest illegal streaming services in the U.S. have been indicted on charges of conspiring to violate federal criminal copyright law, the Department of Justice has announced. 

According to the indictment, the defendants allegedly ran an entity called Jetflicks, an online subscription-based service based in Las Vegas, Nevada, that permitted users to stream and, sometimes download copyrighted television programs without the consent of the copyright holders.

The defendants copied thousands of copyrighted television episodes without authorization, and distributed the infringing programs to tens of thousands of paid subscribers located throughout the U.S.  At one point, Jetflicks claimed to have more than 183,200 different television episodes. Read the Department of Justice news release.