Entertainment & Technology Law Conference 2020
Entertainment & Technology Law Conference 2020
Given the fast-paced, tech-based nature of the modern music industry, it is critical to stay informed on the legal guidelines on proper use of music so that all stakeholders are fairly compensated. This year’s program brings together law experts from across the industry to examine a variety of important topics and issues.
This year’s program has been approved for 4.58 credits by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education. These credits will be reciprocal for other states. Instructions on how to apply credits to states outside of TN will be provided as the event draws near. Providing your working address on the registration form for the event will ensure that instructions are collected for all states represented by our attendees.
Click here for profiles on all of our event speakers!
11:30 — 11:35 AM
Welcome
11:35 AM – 12:30 PM
Licensing The Livestream: Ensuring Proper Payments for Creators & Copyright Owners
During the last few months of the COVID-19 crisis, we’ve witnessed great creativity by artists in finding ways to continue to connect with their fans as touring and events have come to a halt. Livestreaming has been a major part of this. This upward trajectory has brought to the forefront many questions about the licensing required to ensure creators and copyright holders are getting paid. If platforms are not properly licensed, these groups stand to lose a great deal of revenue rightfully owed to them. This panel will take a close look at performance and sync licenses and the future of livestream licensing.
Moderator
Panelists
12:35 — 1:30 PM
When the Songwriter Also Creates the Master: Negotiating Publishing Deals on Behalf of Writers/Producers
With the multitude of digital home studios around Nashville and across the country, many writers and co-writers are often also the producer and creator of the high quality demo masters they record during or after the writing session. There are special considerations when negotiating with publishers on behalf of songwriters who also own their masters. Master splits are now negotiated like writer splits and rights to the Masters may reside with several different producers, production companies and publishers. This panel will address the latest trends and issues in negotiating and administering master splits and discuss how to make sure that the writer/producer is compensated fairly for both sides. We will also discuss the latest trends with regard to sync opportunities for writer/producers, citing significant synchronization opportunities from the past year, which produced multiple revenue sources for the writer.
Moderator
Panelists
11:30 — 11:35 AM
Welcome
11:35 AM — 12:30 PM
Trump vs. Neil Young: Knowing Who Can Use Your Music & For What
Five years after Neil Young claimed that he did not authorize the Trump campaign to use his song “Rockin’ in the Free World,” the country has entered into another presidential election cycle. This brings to the forefront not only a current copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Young against Donald Trump and his reelection campaign, but also many questions about who can use a songwriter’s music, for what purposes, and in what cases is their permission necessary.
This panel will break down the six exclusive copyrights, focusing mostly on the right to public performance and the exceptions to the scope of a performance license. We’ll explore the significance of the Performance Rights Organizations (PROs), paying specific attention to the relationship between a PRO and a songwriter, as well as a PRO and a venue seeking a blanket license to use music in their daily operations.
Moderator
Panelists
12:35 — 1:30 PM
CASE Study: Small Claims and Big Issues With The CASE Act
It’s a tag-team match. At stake? The fate of the CASE Act. With the players that helped shape the conversation around the CASE Act we will debate its efficacy, legality, purpose, Constitutionality and if there really is a need for small claims court to deal with copyright infringement. Three rounds, two combatants per side, and one referee. LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE!
Moderator
Panelists
1:35 — 2:30 PM
Buyer Beware: What Does the Legal Future Hold for TikTok?
Understanding TikTok’s struggle requires learning a whole new lexicon of acronyms like CFIUS, FARA, CCP, IEEPA and PCAOB as well as the reach of US Executive Orders and China’s National Intelligence Law. The TikTok divestiture raises a host of questions about the implications for U.S. companies doing business with TikTok, as well as for TikTok’s employees. Can TikTok’s data and music licensing problems be solved by divestiture or will the liabilities continue even after a sale?
Moderator
Panelists