In almost any creative profession, timing is everything. When you have created a new work of art, are ready to release a new album or have a screenplay that you wish to sell to interested parties, you have to act fast. If someone else beats you to the marketplace, you may have spent a lot of time, money and energy on something that is yesterday’s next big thing.
Many artists, singers,...Read More
A recent article in The Atlantic addresses a scenario that is becoming more and more common for artists: Someone makes a remix of another’s art. As described in the article, an urban planner created — and signed — a mural using an artist’s online digital drawing of Michelle Obama as an Egyptian Queen. The original artist learned about it via word-of-mouth after the mural’s installation....Read More
In 2011, on the small Indonesian island of Sulawesi, a monkey named Naruto stole a photographer’s camera and took hundreds of selfies. Some of those selfies were worthy of publication. The British photographer, David Slater, published and sold copies of the image in a book. Now, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit must decide whether Slater’s actions infringed Naruto’s copyrights....Read More
Millions of people share their life stories through blogs, social media updates and/or YouTube videos. Little do they know that creative minds are watching and reading their material, looking for ideas for the next story or screenplay. After all, characters are rarely created out of thin air.
But to what extent is someone’s life story protected? What should you be concerned about when you...Read More
As a screenwriter, you have probably heard stories of content and idea theft. Perhaps you have even experienced it firsthand. Protecting your script is important, but how many hoops do you really need to jump through to ensure your work is legally yours? Is registering with the Writers Guild of America-West (WGAW) necessary? How does it compare to copyright protection?
What is the WGAW...Read More
Halloween is nearly upon us. Do you have your costume picked out? Bloomberg reports that more than $3 billion will be spent just on costumes for the spooky event this year. With so much money at stake, designers and manufacturers of unique home décor items, treats and costumes hold on tight to their creations, protecting them from copycats.
Banana suit wars
Banana costumes are a popular...Read More
We write about what we know. Even if we don’t intend to write about Uncle Ted and his obsession with role-playing games when we create a character who is obsessed with World of Warcraft, the connection is there. Just as most authors put something of themselves in every character, most authors pull their characters from their environments. A bit of quirky Aunt Betsy there, a bit of that...Read More
What to Consider Before Jumping Headfirst Into the Gig Economy
So you’ve been living that full-time, nine-to-five life for awhile now. You’ve got some solidly marketable skills, an entrepreneurial spirit, and you’re craving a new challenge, so you’re seriously thinking about getting out of the grind and going for it on your own.
Gulp.
It’s a big step! Many people crave the...Read More
Formidable, Rigorously Prepared Advocacy For Your Business Dispute
When money, as well as other valuable assets and egos, are on the line in any business endeavor, conflict can be difficult to avoid. For the creative professionals we advise and represent at Adam J Schwartz, Attorney at Law, in Los Angeles, every legal dispute can be an opportunity or a disaster, depending on how it is framed...Read More
Practical, Focused Protection Of Your Investment And Assets
If you are a creative professional with big aspirations and key assets to protect, we identify with you at Adam J Schwartz, Attorney at Law, in Los Angeles. Adam is an entrepreneur himself, as well as an accomplished trial lawyer, and you will know from your initial consultation forward that your unique business and...Read More
