Harmonizing Hollywood: Entertainment Disputes, Ethics and Peacemaking

A John H. Mitchell Signature Course on Ethics and EntertainmentThe entertainment business often gives rise to disputes and questions of ethics that are unique to the industry. Reviewing recent cases and developments, this course will analyze areas of dispute such as idea submission, profit participation, defamation-by-fiction and rights of publicity. The class also will consider ethical issues and boundaries in the industry, particularly in the relationships and duties between agents, managers, entertainment lawyers and their clients. Throughout, we will discuss the interplay between these substantive issues, the procedural tools available in litigation, and the business considerations that impact strategic decisions. Finally, we will review approaches to dispute resolution that often are utilized in the entertainment context, including arbitration and mediation.