Copyright and Idea Submission Law for Writers

When
Saturday, May 12, 2012
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Location
Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art, 16926 Saticoy St., Van Nuys, CA 91406

Registration

C.L.A. Member (Online Price) – $10.00
$15 at the door
C.L.A. Student Member or Senior Member (Online price) – $5.00
$10 at the door
Student ID and Drivers License Required at Sign-In.
General Public (Online price) – $20.00
$25 at the door

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Copyright and Idea Submission Law for Writers

with Marc Williams, Esq.

You may have heard that mere ideas can't be copyrighted—but what does this really mean? If you pitch an idea for a TV show or film to a studio, do you have any protection for what you share in those discussions? Should you require non-disclosure agreements from the studio, or sign pre-submission contracts? This workshop will address the basics of copyright and idea submission law for an audience of writers. While most examples we will cover come from motion picture cases—such as litigation regarding who contributed to the story and writing of the TV show Six Feet Under—the workshop is relevant to all writers, and to anyone who works with writers. How do you obtain and enforce rights under copyright laws? To what extent can ideas be protected? What are the best practices for protecting your ideas, even if they are not protected under copyright laws? And, what rights can you typically maintain if you are just one among many writers, involved anywhere in the process from story to final polish? This workshop will help clarify questions many writers have about their contributions in cases where they are not the final or only writers on a project.

Marc S. Williams is an attorney and partner at One LLP in Santa Monica, California. Marc specializes in intellectual property law with a focus on copyright, trademark, idea misappropriation, breach of contract, entertainment and business litigation. Before joining One LLP, Marc worked as an attorney for more than 10 years at O’Melveny & Myers LLP, and spent a year clerking for the Honorable Kim McLane Wardlaw of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Marc is a graduate of the University of Southern California School of Law and did his undergraduate work at Tufts University in Boston.

These workshops are made possible, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the California Community Foundation. Additional support provided by the California Arts Council.

California Lawyers for the Arts is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit and your donation is tax deductible as a charitable contribution to the fullest extent of the law. State Bar LRS Certificate #0021.

MCLE Provider # 1248.

The information provided on this website is not legal advice. You should consult with an attorney for individual advice regarding your legal matters.

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Copyright and Idea Submission Law for Writers

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