Kenneth N. Swezey to Moderate Book Expo Panel: “Digital Publishing & Transmedia Storytelling: Deals, Rights and Revenue”

May 22, 2013

CDAS Partner Kenneth N. Swezey will moderate a panel on digital rights and new publishing business models at Book Expo America next Wednesday, May 29th. The panelists will be Corinne Helman of Harper Collins, Miriam Goderich of Dystel & Goderich Literary Management and Jeff Gomez, CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment.

The event description is below. Please follow this link for more details: http://bea13.mapyourshow.com/5_0/sessions/sessiondetails.cfm?ScheduledSessionID=1AA0

As digital hits the big time, Authors and Publishers are beginning to release cross-platform projects that develop major brands, delight audiences and generate real revenues. At the same time, stakeholders are being challenged to create new business models, negotiate complex rights issues, realize the business potential of emerging tech platforms and ensure that they retain participation in [...]

Eleanor M. Lackman Authors Amicus Brief on Behalf of Copyright Alliance in Aerokiller Case

May 7, 2013

CDAS Partner Eleanor M. Lackman authored an amicus brief on behalf of the Copyright Alliance in the Ninth Circuit case Fox Television Stations v. Aerokiller. In the brief, Ms. Lackman argues on behalf of The Copyright Alliance that The Copyright Alliance argues in the brief that district judge George Wu was correct in granting an injunction against Aereokiller, a service that provides unlicensed broadcast television over the internet for a fee. Ms. Lackman writes:

If those who invest in the production and distribution of creative works cannot be assured that their interests will be protected – regardless of whether those works are distributed through old, traditional models or new, “disruptive” ones – the array of works that will be [...]

CDAS Client Park Pictures Funds “Infinitely Polar Bear”

Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana Picture to Film in Rhode Island

April 15, 2013

CDAS Partner Marc H. Simon’s client Park Pictures Film Partners is financing and producing Infinitely Polar Bear, starring Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana, which just began shooting in Rhode Island. Park’s Sam Bisbee and Galt Niederhoffer will produce the Maya Forbes written and directed film with Benji Kohn, Austin Stark and Bingo Gubelmann from Paper Street Films. Bad Robot’s JJ Abrams and Bryan Burk are among the exec producers.

CDAS Client 10X Management Featured in Bloomberg Businessweek

April 15, 2013

CDAS Partner Joshua B. Sessler’s client 10X Management is featured in a great story in Bloomberg Businessweek. 10X represents top freelance software programmers, pairing them with Silicon Valley companies, negotiating their salaries, and helping to manage their finances.

According to Bloomberg:

10X Management wants to build a reputation for having the best coders around on speed dial, so that startups in a pinch know they can depend on the company for really talented people. “We want to be the Rolls Royce or Apple,” says Guvench. As traditional agents do—and temp agencies typically don’t—10X also tries to guide the careers of its developers. “There is a lifestyle design aspect to this,” Guvench says. “A lot of these guys eventually want to start [...]

Ora TV Buys CDAS Client Stick Figure

April 10, 2013

Ora TV, the digital network backed by Carlos Slim, today announced that it has purchased CDAS client Stick Figure Productions, a specialist in documentaries and unscripted television production. Stick Figure, represented by CDAS partner Frederick P. Bimbler, has produced over 250 hours of television for more than 40 networks including: “American Gypsies,” “Repossessed” and “Amish: Out of Order” (Nat Geo), “Family Bonds” (HBO), “Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane” (Style), “Amish in the City” (UPN), “#1 Single” (E!) and the digital series “The Biz,” produced with Lyor Cohen for Warner Music and AOL. Its films include “Devil’s Playground,” “Reporter,” “No One Dies in Lily Dale” and “Unraveled” (directed and produced by CDAS Partner Marc H. Simon).

The acquisition [...]

Copyright Law in the Data Age - Nancy E. Wolff to Lead Discussion

April 10, 2013

CDAS Partner Nancy E. Wolff is one of the attorneys leading the session New Cases in Copyright Law – Internet and Beyond at the Fundamentals of Copyright Law in the Data Era event in Chicago and New York. The discussion will cover all the major recent copyright decisions. See below for a full event description:

New Cases in Copyright Law - Internet and Beyond  

  • Newsworthy copyright cases   
  • Impact of case law on copyright law practice  
  • Possible future copyright conflicts   
  • Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons, Monge v. Maya Magazines, Harney v. Sony Pictures Television, Peters v. West, Petrella v. MGM, Paramount Pictures v. Puzo, Mattell v. MGA, Capitol Records v. Thomas-Rasset (cert. petition pending) and many more

...]

COWAN, DEBAETS, ABRAHAMS & SHEPPARD LLP ADDS LEADING DIGITAL TECH AND VENTURE LAW GROUP

New Additions Accelerate Growth of Firm’s Venture Law, Media and Technology Practice

April 3, 2013

New York, NY—April 3, 2013 — Cowan DeBaets Abrahams & Sheppard LLP (CDAS) announces today that key members of the Venture Law Group of MasurLaw, a leading New York venture finance, technology and digital media firm have moved to CDAS. The new talent will enhance CDAS’s venture financing and digital media capabilities and complement CDAS’s rapidly expanding Digital Media Practice Group, which provides counsel to disruptive broadband video, mobile, gaming, content licensing, digital publishing and branded content companies.

The incoming Venture Law Group has built a strong reputation in the tech, digital and venture capital communities. For over twenty years, it has provided counsel to innovative companies on strategic deals, corporate finance, M&A and entertainment, and [...]

Aereo Update - Eleanor M. Lackman Quoted by Law360

April 2, 2013

CDAS Partner Eleanor M. Lackman was quoted by Law 360 in the wake of the most recent Second Circuit decision in WNET, Thirteen v. Aereo, Inc.; Am. Broad. Cos., Inc. v. Aereo, Inc.

The Second Circuit’s decision may hold significant repercussions for the cable television industry. Within the article, Eleanor observes that the decision places Aereo in an advantageous position in comparison with traditional cable systems and notes the importance of Judge Denny Chin’s dissent, which labels the Aereo business model a “sham” designed to exploit loopholes in the definition of a “public performance” under copyright law.

You can find the full article on Law 360 here (subscription required).

Oscilloscope Picks Up 12 O'Clock Boys

March 27, 2013

Oscilloscope Laboratories announced today that it has acquired all North American rights 12 O’CLOCK BOYS, directed and produced by CDAS Partner Marc H. Simon’s client Lotfy Nathan. The film tells the story of the 12 O’Clock Boys, a notorious urban dirt bike pack in Baltimore.  Converging in groups and invading the streets, they dangerously–yet magnificently–make their presence known as they pop wheelies and weave in and out of traffic at excessive speeds, all the while taunting the police who must obey a self-imposed “no chase” rule for fear of endangering the public.  Nathan frames the three-years-in-the-making narrative through the eyes of the adolescent Pug – a kid from the Westside eager to join the 12 O’Clock Boys’ ranks. Pug reveres [...]

Inocente Wins Best Short Documentary at the 85th Academy Awards

February 26, 2013

Partner Susan H. Bodine and everyone at CDAS warmly congratulates clients Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine of Fine Films on winning the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for their film Inocente.

The intensely personal story of an undocumented teenage girl in San Diego, and her dream of becoming an artist, Inocente is also the first crowd-funded film to win an Oscar. For more information about the film, and to learn more about the issues it discusses, please take a look at the film’s official website. You can also watch the film on iTunes.

Susan has represented Fine Films since their Award Winning film WAR/DANCE. For more information about these extraordinary filmmakers, please see their website: ...]

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