A recent case raised the question of whether a sequel movie is always a derivative work of the original work. The sequel was Top Gun: Maverick which featured Tom Cruise reprising his role as U.S. Navy test pilot Pete “Maverick”
Law Offices of Mark Litwak & Associates Blogs
Latest from Law Offices of Mark Litwak & Associates
Molli and Max in the Future in Theaters February 9, 2024
I am excited to announce Molli and Max in the Future is having our nationwide theatrical release beginning Friday, February 9th! There will be Q&As with some of the cast and crew members for the two screenings in LA, as well
Seminar: Risky Business: Financing and Distribution Independent Film
I am once again presenting my Risky Business seminar for the New York Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. However, this year the seminar will be in the form of an online webinar on Zoom. The seminar will be presented over
Cracking the Code of Film Law, interview with Mark Litwak
Molli and Max in the Future Theatrical Release
Deadline has released the news that Molli and Max in the Future will be theatrically released early 2024. Molli and Max in the Future, the sci-fi rom-com starring Girls‘ Zosia Mamet and SNL‘s Aristotle Athari that has drawn praise in
Script Annotation
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
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