A Copyright Séance: Do United States Copyrights Have an Afterlife in Europe?

ABOUT THE EVENT:

All copyrights must eventually perish. And under U.S. law, some older copyrights may have died prematurely, from failure to renew (when renewals were mandatory). But is there any place in the world such “dead” copyrights live on? In some parts of Europe, the surprising answer may be yes! Works can enjoy a protection term for longer than the U.S. term through the application of the Revised Berne Convention or through bilateral copyright treaties, e.g. in force between the U.S. and Germany since 1892. Our speakers from Germany will present the legal doctrine and case law confirming the possible afterlife of U.S. works in Europe.

Come hear our internationally renowned speakers from one of Europe’s leading copyright law firms, Boehmert & Boehmert in Berlin, Germany, Dr. Jan Nordemann and Dr. Julian Waiblinger, tell us about areas of international copyright that have a direct impact on copyright in the United States. Also included will be valuable introductory comments on European copyright, including some comparisons on differences between the United States and Europe on topics such as duration of copyright, termination rights, international splitting of rights between copyright owners, and the public domain.

In our tradition of welcoming a “real world” perspective on the legal topics, we are honored to welcome one of the legendary literary and film rights representatives in the United States, Joel Gotler, who as CEO of Intellectual Property Group represents leading authors, as well as their estates in publishing and motion picture rights.  Mr. Gotler will share his comments and practical perspectives on these important aspects of United States and European copyright law.

As always in the Los Angeles Chapter meetings, an informal “around the table” setting over luncheon invites discussion, comment and questions from those attending.  Please join us for this unique opportunity to travel the world with copyright courtesy of the LA Chapter of CSUSA.

SPEAKERS:

Julian Waiblinger is a German attorney-at-law and a certified copyright and media attorney. He also works for BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT in its Berlin offices and lectures in Potsdam University on copyright. 

Joel Gotler started his career over 30 years ago at the William Morris Agency in New York, and was made an agent upon signing superstar Mama Cass Elliot of “The Mamas and The Papas.”  Gotler has been instrumental in deals for best-selling authors and celebrities such as Sting’s best-selling memoir, Broken Music and Lyrics by Sting; television personality, Fran Drescher (Cancer, Shmancer and Enter Whining); Roger Ebert (Life Itself), Shark Tank Judge, Robert Herjavec (You Don’t Have to Be A Shark), Shark Tank Judge, Lori Greiner (Invent it, Sell it), Ron Stallworth (BlacKkKlansmen), Sue Grafton (A is for Alibi); Sci-Fi/Fantasy writer, Piers Anthony (Xanth series); Robert Graysmith (Zodiac, Zodiac Unmasked); Renee Loux (The Balanced Plate, Green Home Living); Dr. Tim LaHaye, creator of The Left Behind series, Babylon Rising and Pete Rose. In addition, Gotler exclusively represents the film and television rights to other best-selling authors such as James Ellroy (The Black Dhalia, American Tabloid, L.A. Confidential, White Jazz);  Debbie Macomber (200 million books in print); Ken Bruen (London Boulevard, The Guards, Blitz); Caldecott Award winner David Wiesner (Flotsam, Three Pigs, Tuesdays); Edgar Award winner, Michael Connelly (The Poet, Bloodwork, Lincoln Lawyer, Bosch series in its fifth season on Amazon); Pulitzer Prize winners, Richard Russo (Empire Falls) and Frank McCourt (Angela’s Ashes) and Viet Nguyen (The Sympathizer). He also represents a long list of literary estates including John O’Hara; John Ball; James M. Cain; FX Toole and Andre Dubus II. Gotler is also responsible for selling the underlying rights to hundreds of films, including, but not limited to The Untouchables, Beetlejuice, Chocolat, In The Bedroom, The House of Sand and Fog, Dangerous Minds, Indecent Proposal, Glory, White Oleander, London Boulevard, Band of Brothers, The Pacific, Boardwalk Empire, True Blood, Wolf of Wall Street, In With the Devil, Lincoln Lawyer, and Mr. Popper’s Penguins, and McScam, the recent $1-million dollar sale to Fox with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon attached written by Jeff Maysh (Maysh has seven other feature projects set up in Hollywood). As a producer, Joel’s credits include Ferdinand the Bull (Fox), Wolf of Wall Street (Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese), In With the Devil (Brad Pitt, Paramount) and the June 2011 release Mr. Popper’s Penguins (Jim Carrey, Fox). And most recently, he is a co-packager on the Carol Mendelsohn/James Ellroy Project at FX and Exec Producer on the upcoming show, “Bad Hombres”, at HBO written by Michele McPhee.

COST:

Members: $25
Non-Members: $45
Students: $19  |  Must present valid student ID at the door

Program will satisfy 1.5 CA CLE credits pending approval by the State Bar of California.