Blog | Lemoine Law Firm

Filmmaker & Creatives Business Practices – 4 Must Do’s

Author: Gano LemoineOn: Jun 04Categories: Business Development, Copyright, Corporate Formalities, Entrepreneurs, Fair Use, Film Producing, Filmmakers, Life Rights, LLC - Incorporation, Music, Music Business, Music Licensing, Music Publishing, Novel Writing, Parody, Producing, Public Domain, Publicity Rights, Screenwriting, Television Production, Trademark, Uncategorized

Aspiring filmmakers and creatives often let the contract and business details be an afterthought, thinking â€œthatâ€™s not fun. Or creative. And I donâ€™t have the budget for that un-fun, un-creative stuff.Â Iâ€™m working with my...

Ed Sullivan clip and the Fair Use Analysis

Author: Gano LemoineOn: May 04Categories: Copyright, Fair Use, Film Producing, Filmmakers, Life Rights, Music, Music Business, Music Licensing, Music Publishing, Novel Writing, Parody, Producing, Public Domain, Publicity Rights, Screenwriting, Television Production, Trademark, Uncategorized

A recent (March 2013) opinion by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (covering the West Coast and many of Western states) provides an excellent analysis of U.S. copyright law and the fair use defense. In SOFA Entertainment, Inc., v. Dodger Productions,...

Gano Lemoine Quoted in International Business Times!

Author: Gano LemoineOn: Feb 28Categories: Copyright, Fair Use, Film Producing, Filmmakers, Life Rights, Privacy Rights, Public Domain, Publicity Rights

Gano Lemoine Quoted in International Business Times!

I’m proud to have been quoted in the International Business Times regarding Academy Award winning film, “Zero Dark Thirty,” which used a telephone message from a victim of 9/11, seemingly without the consent of the victim’s grieving...

You can’t afford NOT to hire an entertainment lawyer.

Author: Gano LemoineOn: Feb 26Categories: Business Development, Copyright, Corporate Formalities, Entrepreneurs, Fair Use, Film Producing, Filmmakers, Life Rights, LLC - Incorporation, Music, Music Business, Music Licensing, Music Publishing, Novel Writing, Parody, Privacy Rights, Producing, Public Domain, Publicity Rights, Screenwriting, Television Production, Trademark, Uncategorized

I often receive calls from creatives with business and legal questions about their project. Many thinly funded project leaders balk when they find out that an attorney (including yours truly) charges from $375 per hour and upÂ – to negotiate...

Quoted in Fifty Shades of Grey vs. Porn Version Article

Author: Gano LemoineOn: Feb 04Categories: Uncategorized

I’m proud to have been quoted in the International Business Journal’s article on the “Fifty Shades of Grey” lawsuit against the porn film allegedly infringing on the copyright of Fifty Shades Limited and Universal films. Check...

Contract Pitfalls for Software & App Developers, Entertainment Co’s

Author: Gano LemoineOn: Jan 28Categories: Uncategorized

“Don’s step over a dollar to save a dime.” I frequently hear from clients and soon-to-be clients with some problem involving work by an independent contractor. The independent contractor was hired to do some creative work – develop...

Screenplay Adaptation, w/ Pilar Alessandra, and ME!

Author: Gano LemoineOn: Dec 04Categories: Copyright, Fair Use, Film Producing, Filmmakers, Life Rights, Novel Writing, Parody, Privacy Rights, Producing, Public Domain, Publicity Rights, Screenwriting, Television Production, Trademark

Sign up for Pilar Alessandr’aScreenplay Adaptation Workshop on December 12th, and get a special bonus… ME! December 12th, 7PM to 10:30PM, in Sherman Oaks, CA. Screenwriting teacher Pilar Alessandra will instruct on the screen adaptation of...

End of Year & New Year Housekeeping… for Companies.

Author: Gano LemoineOn: Nov 26Categories: Uncategorized

As the end of the year approaches, and the New Year looms, this is a good time to take stock of this year’s company actions, and anticipate next year’s company needs. First, a quick review of the most basic “corporate formalities”...

Are you treating it like a business?

Author: Gano LemoineOn: Nov 16Categories: Business Development, Copyright, Corporate Formalities, Corporate Governance, Entrepreneurs, Fair Use, Film Producing, Filmmakers, Life Rights, LLC - Incorporation, Music, Music Business, Music Licensing, Music Publishing, Novel Writing, Parody, Privacy Rights, Producing, Public Domain, Publicity Rights, Screenwriting, Television Production, Trademark, Uncategorized

My legal practice is a mix of business clients and entertainment clients, so I come across many people that are growing their endeavor from an early stage. That early stage is frequently a natural progression from a unique combination of passion, interest...

“Percy Jackson” film not substantially similar…

Author: Gano LemoineOn: Sep 16Categories: Copyright, Fair Use, Film Producing, Filmmakers, Parody, Public Domain, Screenwriting, Television Production

Yet another example of how a similar idea – perhaps a VERY similar idea, is insufficient basis for a successful copyright infringement or idea theft lawsuit. It is the very specific execution of the idea that is protectable, NOT the idea itself...