As a result of advances in artificial intelligence, it is now possible to digitally create realistic images of people that are indistinguishable from their actual images. In response, California has enacted two new laws, AB 2602 and AB 1836 recently signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. The laws are meant to protect persons from the unauthorized
Law Offices of Mark Litwak & Associates Blogs
Latest from Law Offices of Mark Litwak & Associates
Trademarks in Films
A producer does not always need a release in order to show a product in a film. Assuming you don’t disparage the product, or misleadingly use its trademark in a manner that implies the manufacturer has endorsed or sponsored your film, a manufacturer would find it difficult to prevail in a lawsuit simply on the
Upcoming Presentations
Mark will be speaking on legal issues for writers at the upcoming Story Expo on Sunday, September 29th at the Westin Hotel LAX. Story Expo has been a major conference for Screenwriters, TV Writers, Authors. For more info, https://www.storyexpo.com/Mark will be moderating a panel on talent representation at the American Film Convention on
New Rules Require Disclosure of Company Owners
If you own a corporation or LLC, you should be aware that the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), is a new U.S. federal law that went into effect as of January 1, 2024. Its aim is to fight money laundering, drug trafficking and the use of anonymous shell companies by requiring companies to report the identity
Top Gun Copyright Lawsuit Dismissed
A recent case raised the question of whether a sequel movie is always a derivative work of the original work. The sequel was Top Gun: Maverick which featured Tom Cruise reprising his role as U.S. Navy test pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. The film was wildly successful grossing $1.5 billion worldwide. The original movie was based on a
Molli and Max in the Future in Theaters February 9, 2024
I am excited to announce Molli and Max in the Future is having our nationwide theatrical release beginning Friday, February 9th! There will be Q&As with some of the cast and crew members for the two screenings in LA, as well as the 7pm screenings in NYC on 2/9, 2/10, & 2/14. For a list of
Seminar: Risky Business: Financing and Distribution Independent Film
I am once again presenting my Risky Business seminar for the New York Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. However, this year the seminar will be in the form of an online webinar on Zoom. The seminar will be presented over two days, 3 hours each day. For those of you who have wanted to attend
Cracking the Code of Film Law, interview with Mark Litwak
Molli and Max in the Future Theatrical Release
Deadline has released the news that Molli and Max in the Future will be theatrically released early 2024. Molli and Max in the Future, the sci-fi rom-com starring Girls‘ Zosia Mamet and SNL‘s Aristotle Athari that has drawn praise in its run at festivals including SXSW, has been picked up for North American distribution and
Script Annotation
Screenwriters should annotate their scripts to document the source of their work. A careful annotation will help a screenwriter defend against defamation and invasion of privacy lawsuits by showing that the writer acted carefully. Recall that when a public figure or public official sues for defamation they must prove that the defendant acted with “actual