Introduction to Entertainment Law

Entertainment law is a vast subject that is comprised of many different areas of the law. In order to be an effective entertainment lawyer, one needs to have a thorough knowledge of copyright law, publicity and privacy law, First Amendment law, trademark law and, of course, contract law. Additionally, the entertainment business is actually comprised of many different businesses, each with its own idiosyncrasies. The film business is different from the television business. The music business is different from the live theatrical performance business. While there are many similarities, the differences can be overwhelming. A good entertainment lawyer must thoroughly understand the particular business his or her clients are engaged in to provide effective counsel.  

In this course, entertainment attorney and adjunct professor of entertainment law Ralph De Palma covers the basic core principles of entertainment law focusing on copyright fair use and rights of publicity. Copyright law and publicity rights are at the core of every entertainment practice. The goal of this course is to introduce the fundamental application of these core principles.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Grasp the fundamentals of copyright law
2. Understand the theory and practical application of the fair use doctrine
3. Introduce the basic principles of publicity rights and privacy rights
4. Discuss celebrities and the rights of publicity