Michael Lovitz Presents Comic Book Law School at San Diego Comic-Con

Beginning tomorrow, Michael Lovitz, author of The Trademark and Copyright Book (and former colleague of Sam's and mine) will be presenting his annual Comic Book Law School series of seminars at Comic-Con in San Diego. The seminars (together with descriptions quoted from Comic-Con's website are:

Ideas, characters, plots, designs, stories, paintings, photos, titles, names, logos, brands-it's enough to drive one crazy if you don't know your copyright from your trademark from your trade secret. But never fear-help is only a 90-minute program away. Noted IP attorney Michael Lovitz, author of The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book, offers the first of three fun and informative programs, which taken together are designed to provide you with a basic foundation in intellectual property law and related areas, including securing and enforcing your rights, contracts and licensing, fair use, parody, social media and much more. This first installment focuses on "The Basics" in an effort to provide a foundation for understanding the different intellectual property rights available to creators and business owners and teach ways to protect those rights, focusing on how best to safeguard ideas, inventions, works of authorship, characters, brands and names, from conception through publication and beyond. Attendees are invited to participate in an interactive discussion about basic rights provided under U.S. copyright and trademark laws, including their intersection with new media, as well as new decisions and changes in the law and how they could affect those rights (and if time permits, he'll touch on issues of joint authorship, fair use, parody and/or piracy). Along the way, there will be plenty to learn about the protections available, as well as the numerous potential pitfalls, under the U.S. trademark and copyright systems. Please note: The Comic Book Law School seminars are designed to provide relevant information and practice tips to practicing attorneys, as well as practical tips to creators and other professionals who may wish to attend. [This program is approved for 1.5 credits of California MCLE.]

After the successes of Harry Potter, Twilight, The Walking Dead, and Game of Thrones, not to mention the billions made by the Star Wars universe, the latest Batman trilogy and the Marvel Universe, its no surprise that Hollywood's appetite for comic book properties continues to rise. Now that geek is chic, the entertainment industry has increased its mining efforts through all forms of popular culture, but nowhere more than in the comic book industry. But with tens of thousands of characters and properties competing for attention, actually making money from your creations requires understanding the legalities and pitfalls of contracts and license agreements in general, along with an understanding of the business models used by the companies looking to make you an offer. Noted attorney Michael Lovitz, author of the acclaimed The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book, and entertainment attorney Mona Metwalli present an interactive seminar tackling a number of the more advanced issues facing authors, artists, and designers (and the businesses that hire them) as they begin marketing their properties and creative ideas, including: the key things you should know when Hollywood comes knocking; production, merchandising, and distribution agreements; potential pitfalls when dealing in contracts, assignments and licenses; and (time permitting) participating in a contract negotiation role-playing exercise.Note: The Comic Book Law School® seminars are designed to provide relevant information and practice tips to practicing attorneys, as well as practical tips to creators and other professionals who may wish to attend. [This program is approved for 1.5 credits of California MCLE.]

In In this session noted attorney Michael Lovitz, author of the classic The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book, brings you a panel discussion highlighting some of the most pressing legal issues and trends facing the creative and business communities. Professor Marc Greenberg and attorneys David Lizerbram, Larry Zerner, and Mark Reichenthal share their collective knowledge and insights while covering the following fascinating topics: contributory copyright infringement and Tarantino v Gawker; collaboration agreements between artists and writers; work-for-hire agreements for independent contractors; the case of Sherlock Holmes and the public domain; a review of the 9th Circuits decision involving Google/YouTube and the Supreme Court decision on the interplay of laches and statute of limitations in copyright suits. In addition, the entire panel will reflect on the Kirby v. Marvel appeal to the Supreme Court, and what impact the case could ultimately have on the comic book industry. Please note: The Comic Book Law School seminars are designed to provide relevant information and practice tips to practicing attorneys, as well as practical tips to creators and other professionals who may wish to attend. [This program is approved for 1.5 credits of California MCLE.]

For those with the time, inclination and geographic proximity, it promises to be a fun and informative introduction to a wide array of intellectual property and business law issues.

 

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