2023 Entertainment and Media Law Conference — March 23, 2023

20th Annual Entertainment & Media Law Conference Banner featuring a purple skyline of Los Angeles with palm trees

For 20 years, the Media Law Resource Center and Southwestern Law School have hosted an annual forum at which renowned experts discuss the most timely, important, and controversial topics in entertainment and media law. 

Thursday, March 23, 2023
1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. PT

Southwestern Law School
4 MCLE Credits offered
Register here

**The deadline for online registration is Tuesday, March 21. Registration will also be available at the door and payable by cash, check, or credit card. 

Panel Topics

  1. Warhol Foundation v. Goldsmith and the Future of Fair Use

    Supreme Court watchers are anticipating a blockbuster decision this term in Warhol on the scope of the fair use doctrine in copyright cases. We’ll discuss what the decision could mean for content creators, including its implications beyond the realm of photography, its effect on emerging technology, and more.

    Moderator:

    • Jeff Hermes, Deputy Director, Media Law Resource Center

    Speakers:

    • Dale Cohen, Director of the Documentary Film Legal Clinic at UCLA School of Law/Special Counsel to FRONTLINE
    • Andrew Gass, Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts
    • Eleanor Lackman, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP, amicus counsel for Authors Guild and News Media Alliance in Warhol
    • Aaron Moss, Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger LLP, and Founder & Editor, Copyright Lately

     

  2. Protecting Creativity with a Bottle of Jack on the Floribama Shore

    Join us for the hottest takes on the Supreme Court’s Jack Daniel’s case following the oral argument on March 22. How far should the First Amendment protect the use of another’s names and trademarks? Do trademark/right of publicity fair use doctrines adequately allow for such use in titles, promotions, and merchandise? With Jack Daniel’s, the Eleventh Circuit’s decision on MTV’s Floribama Shore, and other recent cases as a backdrop, we’ll explore whether the law has kept pace with the creative output of entertainment companies.

    Moderator:

    • Kevin Vick, Jassy Vick Carolan LLP

    Speakers:

    • Evynne Grover, Vice President, Media Liability Claims Practice Leader, QBE North America
    • Lynn Jordan, Kelly IP, amicus counsel for the Motion Picture Association in MFGB Properties v. Viacom
    • Susan Kohlmann, Jenner & Block, counsel for Viacom/MTV in MFGB Properties v. Viacom
    • Rebecca Tushnet, Professor of Law, Harvard Law School
    • Giulio Yaquinto, Pirkey Barber PLLC, amicus counsel for the American Intellectual Property Law Association in Jack Daniel’s

     

  3. Danger and Intimacy on Set: Safeguards and Lawsuits

    Ensuring physical and psychological safety in the high-pressure environment of a film or television production can be a daunting task. This session will discuss measures that productions can take to mitigate risk as well as recent lawsuits where things went awry, with a particular focus on changing norms around COVID-19, on-set intimacy and sexual harassment, and the role of in-house counsel in dealing with worst-case scenarios.

    Moderator:

    • Orly Ravid, Associate Dean, Biederman Entertainment and Media Law Institute

    Speakers:

    • Rebecka Biejo, Chief Legal Officer, Pilgrim Media Group
    • Rachel Fiset, Zweiback, Fiset & Zalduendo LLP
    • Danielle Van Lier, Senior Assistant General Counsel, Contracts and Compliance at SAG-AFTRA
    • Claire Warden, Director of Advanced Training, Intimacy Directors & Coordinators

     

  4. Documentarian Roundtable

    This session will bring together documentary filmmakers to discuss challenges they have faced in bringing important stories to light. Our panel will discuss the risks of filmmaking in dangerous and sensitive situations, the perils of negotiating access to key sources in a highly competitive market, dealing with threatened lawsuits, and more.

    Moderator:

    • Diana Palacios, Davis Wright Tremaine

    Speakers:

    • Julian Rubinstein, award-winning filmmaker (The Holly) and journalist
    • Victoria Baranetsky, General Counsel at Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting (Victim/Suspect)
    • Ted Braun, award-winning filmmaker (Darfur Now, ¡Viva Maestro!) and screenwriter
    • Dean Schramm, The Schramm Group (Producer (p.g.a.), ¡Viva Maestro!, and Executive Producer, Darfur Now).
    • Adam Scorgie, President and Founder, Score G Productions

     

Who Should Attend?

Since 2003, The Entertainment and Media Law Conference has served as a cutting edge career resource and networking event for entertainment, media and intellectual property attorneys, executives, agents, paralegals, contract administrators, and law school students in the service of motion picture and television studios, media outlets, talent agencies, advertising agencies, and PR firms.

  1. Planning Committee

     Image - MLRC Logo

    The Media Law Resource Center (MLRC) is a non-profit membership association for content providers in all media and for their defense lawyers, providing a wide range of resources on media and content law and policy issues. These include news and analysis of legal, legislative, and regulatory developments; litigation resources and practice guides; and national and international media law conferences and meetings. MLRC also works with its membership to respond to legislative and policy proposals and speaks to the press and public on media law and First Amendment issues. MLRC was founded in 1980 by leading American publishers and broadcasters to assist in defending and protecting free press rights under the First Amendment. Today MLRC is supported by over one hundred and forty members, including leading publishers, broadcasters, cable programmers, internet operations, media and professional trade associations, and media insurance professionals in America and around the world. The MLRC’s Defense Counsel Section includes more than 215 law firms worldwide that specialize in media defense representation.

     

    Image - Southwestern Brand Identity

    Through the Donald E. Biederman Entertainment & Media Law Institute (BEMLI), Southwestern Law School offers the most comprehensive entertainment and media law curriculum in the United States.  Ranked 6th on Hollywood Reporter’s “America’s Top Ten Entertainment Law Schools,” Southwestern’s extensive course offerings, international programs, externships, practicums, and other co-curricular activities prepare graduates for the practice of entertainment law across both traditional and digital media, such as film, television, music, theater, advertising, sports, and journalism. Southwestern has an outstanding entertainment and media law faculty, and its graduates occupy important positions across a broad range of entertainment and media industry organizations.

    Planning Committee

    • David Aronoff, Fox Rothschild
    • Kathleen Cullinan, Apple
    • George Freeman, MLRC
    • Robert Gutierrez, Ballard Spahr
    • Jeff Hermes, MLRC
    • Lisa Kohn, Davis Wright Tremaine
    • Tamara Moore, Southwestern Law School
    • Orly Ravid, Southwestern Law School
    • Kevin Vick, Jassy Vick Carolan
    • Joel Weiner, Katten Muchin Rosenman

     

MLRC Banner Schedule

 

*Subject to change 

1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.  Check-In
1:45 p.m. - 1:55 p.m.  Welcome & Introductions
1:55 p.m. - 2:55 p.m.                                                                                       

Panel 1

Warhol Foundation v. Goldsmith and the Future of Fair Use

2:55 p.m. - 3:10 p.m.                       

Break

3:10 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.                                                           

Panel 2

Protecting Creativity with a Bottle of Jack on the Floribama Shore

4:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.                                                                                                        Break
4:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.                                                                                 

Panel 3

Danger and Intimacy on Set: Safeguards and Lawsuits

5:45 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.                                                   

Break

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.                

Panel 4

Documentarian Roundtable

7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Catered Reception

 

MLRC Banner Speakers & Moderators

Victoria Baranetsky headshot

Victoria Baranetsky
General Counsel,
Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting
View bio

Rebecka Biejo headshot

Rebecka Biejo
Chief Legal Officer,
Pilgrim Media Group
View bio

 

Ted Braun headshot

Ted Braun
Award-winning filmmaker & screenwriter,
Joseph Campbell Endowed Chair in Cinematic Ethics,
USC School of Cinematic Arts
View bio

 

Dale Cohen headshot

Dale Cohen
Special Counsel, "Frontline"
Director of Documentary Film Legal Clinic,
UCLA School of Law
View bio

 

Rachel Fiset headshot

Rachel Fiset
Co-Founder and Managing Partner, 
Zweiback, Fiset & Zalduendo LLP
View bio

 

Andrew Gass headshot

Andrew Gass
Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP,
Counsel for 
The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts
View bio

 

Evynne Grover headshot

Evynne Grover
Vice President, 
Media Liability Claims Practice Leader,
QBE North America
View bio

 

Jeff Hermes headshot

Jeff Hermes
Deputy Director,
Media Law Resource Center 
View bio

 

Lynn Jordan headshot

Lynn Jordan
Partner, Kelly IP,
Amicus Counsel for 
The Motion Picture Association in MFGB Properties v. Viacom
View bio

 

Susan Kohlmann headshot

Susan Kohlmann
Current President, New York City Bar Association,
Partner, Jenner & Block
Counsel for
Viacom/MTV in MFGB Properties v. Viacom
View bio

 

Eleanor Lackman headshot

Eleanor Lackman
Partner, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP,
Amicus Counsel for 
Authors Guild and News Media Alliance in Warhol
View bio

 

Aaron Moss headshot

Aaron Moss
Chair, Litigation Department,
Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger LLP,
Founder & Editor, Copyright Lately
View bio

 

Diana Palacios headshot

Diana Palacios
Partner,
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP 
View bio

 

Orly Ravid headshot

Orly Ravid
Associate Dean,
Biederman Entertainment and Media Law Institute
View bio

 

Julian Rubinstein headshot

Julian Rubinstein
Award-winning author, filmmaker,
& journalist
View bio

 

Dean Schramm headshot

Dean Schramm
Producer and Executive Producer,
The Schramm Group
View bio

 

Adam Scorgie headshot

Adam Scorgie
President and Founder,
Score G Productions
View bio

 

Rebecca Tushnet headshot

Rebecca Tushnet
Frank Stanton Professor of the First Amendment,
Harvard Law School
View bio

 

Danielle Van Lier headshot

Danielle Van Lier
Senior Assistant General Counsel,
Contracts and Compliance, SAG-AFTRA
View bio

 

Kevin Vick headshot

     Kevin Vick
Partner,
Jassy Vick Carolan LLP
View bio

 

Claire Warden headshot

  Claire Warden
Director of Advanced Training,
Intimacy Directors & Coordinators
View bio

 

Giulio Yaquinto headshot

  Giulio Yaquinto
Associate, Pirkey Barber PLLC
Amicus Counsel for the
American Intellectual Property Law Association in Jack Daniel’s
View bio

MLRC Banner Materials

Warhol Foundation v. Goldsmith and the Future of Fair Use

Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. v. Goldsmith, No. 21-869


Protecting Creativity with a Bottle of Jack on the Floribama Shore

Jack Daniel's Properties, Inc. v. VIP Products LLC, No. 22-148 (U.S.)

Diece-Lisa Industries, Inc. v. Disney Store USA, LLC, No. 22-347 (U.S.)

MGFB Properties, Inc., v. Viacom Inc., No. 21-13458 (11th Cir.)


Danger and Intimacy on Set: Safeguards and Lawsuits

On-Set Intimacy & Sexual Harassment

COVID-19 Protocols and Lawsuits

“Rust” Shooting


Documentarians

Victoria Baranetsky

Ted Braun

Julian Rubinstein

Adam Scorgie

Other

 

Thank You to our sponsors

Thank you to all our sponsors that made this event possible!

MLRC Sponsors 2023: Ballard Spahr, CNA Insurance, Davis Wright Tremaine, Fox
MLRC Sponsors 2023 Slide 2: Fox Rothschild, Jassy Vick Carolan, Jeff Kichaven Commercial Mediation, Jenner & Block,
MLRC Sponsors 2023 Slide 3: Katten Muchin Rosenman, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp, Mutual Insurance, Motion Picture Association
MLRC Sponsors 2023 Slide 4: QBE Insurance