Case List

Content Clearance: Literature.

19-113 Graphic novelist needs counsel to help evaluate the risk posed by five items in his graphic novel. Issues include possible infringement of intellectual property rights and violation of privacy rights.

NFP Advice: Dance

Dispute: Copyright Infringement.

19-244 Visual artist needs a cease and desist letter and copyright infringement evaluation. Counterfeit copies of enamel pins that he designed are being sold online. Referring attorney need not agree to commence litigation.

Pending Litigation.

19-395 Visual artist was the victim of a scam perpetrated though a credit card processing system, and the credit card company filed an action to collect from the artist. Client needs counsel to represent him in the defense of this claim.

Content Clearance: Film.

19-420 Documentary film-maker, in a master's degree program, is producing a film about the challenges faced by three friends who left a cult like environment in which they had been raised. Client is concerned about a possible defamation claim and needs an attorney opinion letter to submit with his application for errors and omissions insurance.

Dispute: Copyright VARA

19-477 Visual artist was commissioned to paint a mural on the wall of a public school in the 1990s. The mural was later removed and client needs help evaluating his rights under the Visual Artists Rights Act.

Contract Review: Dance

19-491 NFP dance group needs help evaluating whether there are any legal issues they need to address before offering programs that include both adolescent girls and adults.

Trademark Protection: Fashion

19-521 Graphic and sportswear designer needs help with trademark protection.

Contract Review: License: Film

19-539 Client licensed the rights to an out-of-print book to adapt it for the theater. Client performed three staged readings of the play which have gone well. Recently, a well known author expressed an interest in optioning the rights to the book for a film adaptation. Client needs help confirming that their rights to the stage production are protected.

Contract Review: Consulting and Commissioned Artwork for a Film Agreement

19-533 Visual artist received a contract to provide artwork and consulting services to a well known production company and needs help evaluating the offer.

Contract Drafting: License Agreement: Theater

19-557 Small cultural arts museum,Client, is funding the production of a play and needs a contract with the playwright/producer that describes the rights and obligations of the parties.

Dispute: Copyright

19-575, Recent college graduate/filmmaker wrote a script for a film that was produced by a start-up media company. The media company was a student organization that was operating with the support of the entrepreneurship program at U of I. Client recently learned that the founder of the media company (another student) registered copyright in her script in the name of the media company. Client needs help enforcing her intellectual property rights.

Contract Drafting: License: Photography

19-856 Photographer needs a license to allow a real estate developer to use her photos for marketing and decorating in connection with an upcoming development project.

Dispute: Independent Contractor & Copyright Ownership

19-632 Photographer provided services to a real estate broker under a verbal agreement. Recently, the parties terminated the working relationship. Client needs help collecting the balance due and enforcing his copyrights in the images.