Fri Oct 16, 2009 @ 09:57AM PST
Entertainment law news this morning:
- The Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers has named Carol Lombardini as its new president. She's a 27-year AMPTP veteran, now responsible for negotiating new union agreements with the guilds.
- Public Knowledge has sent a letter
opposing the MPAA's petition to the FCC to use Selectable Output
Control, which would allow broadcasters to block output of HD content
over analog devices. The measure is intended to make it tougher for
pirates to distribute content, but critics believe the industry wants
to control how consumer electronics are built and used.
- A New York magistrate has refused to sanction attorney Ray Beckerman for "vexatious conduct," including making frivolous motions, concealing evidence, and running a blog
that makes a bad faith effort to publicly embarrass the RIAA. The judge
also tossed Beckerman's counterclaim against the RIAA for abuse of
process.
- The Interactive Advertising Bureau has sent an open letter
to the FTC in an attempt to get the agency to withdraw new guidelines
governing the way that bloggers must disclose gifts associations with
marketeers.
- Spotted: Frank McCourt and Jamie McCourt sat in separate rows at last night's Dodgers-Phillies game, and brought their lawyers in tow. That's one way for attorneys Marshall Grossman and Dennis Wasser to score the hottest ticket in town.
- USC's annual Entertainment Symposium is tomorrow. We'll be there covering the action, including a keynote speech by Bob Iger and a panel with the heads of four major talent agencies.