Copyright Law in the Entertainment Industry Course

Program Overview

This entertainment law program provides a comprehensive overview of copyright law, covering topics such as intellectual property rights, copyright ownership, fair use, and international copyright protection. Taught by a practicing entertainment lawyer, the course utilizes real-world examples and guest speakers to prepare students for careers in the entertainment industry, including roles as entertainment lawyers, copyright agents, and film producers.

Program Outline

Outline:

• Course Content:
• Intellectual property rights
• Copyright law
• Role of copyright law in the film, music, and digital online industries
• Celebrity endorsements
• Branding
• Course Structure:
• Lectures
• Discussions
• Case studies
• Guest speakers
• Course Schedule:
• Summer 2024
• Tuesdays, 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM PT
• June 25 - September 3
• Individual Modules:
• Module 1: Introduction to Intellectual Property
• Definition of intellectual property
• Types of intellectual property
• Copyright law basics
• Module 2: Copyright Ownership and Authorship
• Who owns a copyright?
• How to establish copyright ownership
• Joint authorship
• Module 3: Fair Use
• What is fair use?
• The four factors of fair use
• Case studies on fair use
• Module 4: Copyright Licensing and Control
• How to license a copyright
• Copyright collectives
• Copyright infringement
• Module 5: Copyright Mechanics
• Copyright registration
• Copyright notice
• Copyright duration
• Module 6: Copyright Legislation and Congress
• The history of copyright law
• The Copyright Act of 1976
• Current copyright law issues
• Module 7: International Copyright Protection
• The Berne Convention
• The Universal Copyright Convention
• Copyright protection in different countries

Teaching:

• Teaching Methods:
• Lectures
• Discussions
• Case studies
• Guest speakers
• Faculty:
• Roxanne Castillo
• Unique Approaches:
• The course is taught by a practicing entertainment lawyer.
• The course uses real-world examples to illustrate copyright law principles.
• The course offers guest lectures from industry professionals.

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths:
• Entertainment lawyer
• Copyright agent
• Music publisher
• Film producer
• Digital media executive
• Opportunities:
• The entertainment industry is a growing field with many opportunities for those with a knowledge of copyright law.
• Copyright law is a complex and ever-changing field, so there is always a need for qualified professionals.
• Outcomes:
• Students who complete this course will have a strong understanding of copyright law and its application to the entertainment industry.
• Students will be prepared to work in a variety of entertainment-related fields.