WASHINGTON, D.C., April 27, 2012 — In the realm of entertainment and sports law there are television and film contracts to negotiate, merchandising and endorsement deals to sign, and new Internet technologies to understand that impact intellectual property rights.  These issues and more top the agenda of the 3rd Annual International Legal Symposium on the World of Music, Film, Television and Sports, hosted by the American Bar Association Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries, May 2 – 4, at the Palms Hotel & Spa in Miami.    

Lawyers and others in the sports and entertainment fields will address diverse topics including combating online defamation, monetizing digital entertainment, advising clients on whether or not to join a union, and the impact of e-readers on the publishing industry.

ABA President-Elect Laurel G. Bellows will discuss human trafficking and the role that the television industry and media can play in enhancing public awareness at 10 a.m. on May 3.

Actress and producer Barbie Castro serves as the luncheon speaker at 12:15 p.m. on May 4. Castro stars in the newly released indie film Assumed Memories, and will talk about the making of the movie, which was shot in south Florida.

Program highlights include:

“Double Overtime in 2012: Representing Your Celebrity Sports Client in Film and Television on Transactional, Litigation and Labor Issues Concerning Network Programming and Branding of Sports Production, and Licensing and Merchandising Endorsements Worldwide” – The legal and ethical issues in representing sports clients in the negotiation of deals in film and television, including network deal memos and production agreements, will be discussed in this session. In addition, panelists will explore topics such as counseling, advising and protecting the athlete’s rights in such negotiations, and labor-related issues in light of collective bargaining agreements in the NFL and the NBA.

May 2, 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.

“Defamation and Libel in the New World of the Internet: Protecting Your Entertainment Client’s Reputation in the Digital Empire” – Panelists will discuss the issue of online defamation of clients by bloggers as well as traditional media, and give practical solutions such as identifying anonymous bloggers, using of take-down notices, and finding commercial services that manipulate search results.

May 2, 11:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

“Labor Law and Employment Law Issues Impacting Talent and Employers in the Entertainment and Sports Industries” – This session will focus on how to represent entertainers, athletes and their employers on labor, benefits and employment issues.  Experts will discuss whether or not to advise clients to join a union, collective bargaining agreements, allowable restraints on “free agency,” non-compete and confidentiality agreements, federal preemption and arbitration.

May 2, 2:15 – 3:45 p.m.

“Back by Popular Demand: Guerilla Marketing and Monetization in the Entertainment Industry in the New Age of Digital Entertainment – Where Transactional Law and Litigation Collide” – Experts will explore the best ways to advise a client and their management on the opportunities and challenges of marketing and monetizing music on the Internet.  They will discuss collecting digital performance royalties from new organizations such as SoundExchange, international legal parameters, the new face of Facebook, and privacy rights for artists as well as users in promoting content.

May 2, 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.

“Ethics and the Addict: Sports, Drugs and Rock ‘N Roll. Alcoholism and Substance Abuse in the Sports and Entertainment Industries” – Panelists will explore the detection and treatment of addictions in the industry, and the obligations of sports agents to their clients and teams. They will also discuss highlights of standard players’ contracts in the sports industry; Florida’s Marchman Act, which says a petition may be filed when there is good faith reason to believe an individual has lost the power of self-control with respect to substance use; and ethical issues confronted by legal counsel in addressing these areas of concern.

May 3, 8:15 – 9:45 a.m.

“The “Spinning Paradigm” Spinning Out of Control: The International World of Literary Publishing” –Writers, whether celebrity or non-celebrity, who create manuscripts to be published within the literary industry, face a myriad of issues including the growing use of e-readers such as the Kindle for downloading books. Panelists will explore the legal impact of such changes, as well as other topics including, traditional proprietary, copyright and trademark rights for the writer and publisher, and the expansion of independent publishing.

May 4, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.

A complete agenda and updated list of speakers can be found online.

For media credentialing, please contact Rabiah Burks at Rabiah.burks@americanbar.org. There is no charge for media to attend this event.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

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