This course introduces students to the principles of drafting and negotiating customary agreements that arise during motion picture development, production, and distribution, as well as the provision of attendant legal counsel. The course will follow a fictional property (and future blockbuster) from its inception, focusing on the legal issues that arise from its acquisition and/or creation and continuing through its ultimate distribution as a finished project. Areas of particular focus include the drafting and negotiation of a wide range of customary entertainment industry agreements and the provision of legal counsel throughout the lifespan of motion pictures and television shows. Other areas of focus include music, ancillary exploitation, distribution/licensing, and issues within unions (e.g., the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), the Directors Guild of America (DGA), and the Writers Guild of America (WGA)).

This upper-level, substantive course primarily focuses on the legal and business aspects of contracts and agreements used in various sectors of the entertainment industry.

Prerequisites: Intellectual Property or Copyright

Recommended for the following Professional Pathways: IP/Copyright and Trademark; Media, Entertainment, Sports, Fashion; Tech/Privacy; Corporate Transactions and Governance

2 Credits