Q: I am currently developing a documentary about life in a Section 8 apartment complex in our neighborhood. Beyond obvious things like releases from those who appear on camera, what other legal issues (short of defamatory issues) should I consider? For example, do I need permission from the apartment complex owner to film a tenant [...]

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Q: Does every single person who appears on camera need to sign a release?
A: You should obtain a release, at the very least, if someone has a speaking part or substantial screen time in your film. You don’t have to obtain releases from every single extra in the film, but releases are a very good [...]

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NBC Universal recently took the early lead in its hotly contested litigation with the Weinstein Company over the right to broadcast future seasons of Project Runway. The Weinstein Company owns the show, which has been broadcast on NBC’s Bravo network since its debut. NBC claims that the Weinstein Company’s recent deal to take the show [...]

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The final remaining lawsuit against the makers of the film Borat by persons who appeared in the film was dismissed last week by Judge Loretta Preska of the United States District Court, Southern District of New York.
 
In ruling upon the Defendants’ 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, Judge Preska held that the plaintiffs had waived any of [...]

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Tommy Lee Jones sued Paramount Pictures late last week, seeking an accounting and damages of more than $10 million arising out of Jones’ work on the Paramount film No Country For Old Men.  The lawsuit alleges that Jones was promised “significant box-office bonuses” and other compensation depending on the success of the film, which earned more than [...]

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The rock group, Poison, is suing its distributor, Capitol Records, for underreporting record royalties.  The Complaint appears to seek damages going all the way back to 1986, when Poison first contracted with Capitol’s predecessor in interest, Enigma Records.    
But wait, you may be asking, how can Poison seek damages going back twenty-two years?  Doesn’t California have a [...]

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