Morrison & Foerster is active in all aspects of the entertainment industry, including motion picture production, distribution,
and licensing; publishing; music; home video; and merchandising transactions. The firm has been engaged by numerous entertainment
and media entities in connection with their traditional businesses and Internet ventures, including the representation of
independent motion picture and producers and studios involved in the production and distribution of films, as well as day-to-day
licensing, copyright and trademark, patent, and other matters.
The firm provides extensive service to traditional entertainment companies—such as film and music companies—in connection
with their online activities, including matters related to the development and operation of websites, content acquisition
and licensing, clearance issues, content syndication, co-branding and co-marketing relationships, strategic alliances and
software development, licensing, and other transactions.
The distribution of digital content is not limited to the Internet. As the entertainment industry moves towards digitizing
content, all distribution mechanisms come into play, such as digital cinema and satellite and other wireless technologies.
The firm’s experience in the convergence of the entertainment and technology industries includes advising on antitrust issues,
distribution deals, technology standards, technology licensing, patents, and other intellectual property matters. The firm’s
lawyers located in Century City, Los Angeles, and New York regularly advise clients on cutting-edge legal issues such as video
on demand, digital rights management, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and privacy.
Morrison & Foerster’s employment and labor law attorneys regularly assist entertainment clients with compliance and policy
issues. In addition, the firm has particular experience negotiating collective bargaining agreements and in resolving an increasingly
complex array of employment disputes and allegations. The firm regularly represents clients in their dealings with the Screen
Actors Guild, the Writers Guild of America, the Directors Guild of America, and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage
Employees.
Morrison & Foerster is experienced in all aspects of claims and disputes arising from industry transactions and intellectual
property issues. The firm has represented clients in disputes involving a variety of issues of particular importance to the
industry, including profit participations, copyright and trademark, domain name misuse and cybersquatting, patent infringement,
unfair competition, antitrust, song and soundtrack rights and royalties, name and likeness rights, contract disputes, rights
to promote and release recordings, defamation, licensing, and privacy issues. In addition, the firm has represented entertainment
clients in securities fraud, antitrust, and consumer class action lawsuits.
Representative entertainment clients include EMI Music Publishing, Boyd Gaming, Paramount Pictures, Sony Music, Lucasfilm,
William Morris Agency, Technicolor and Panavision.
