A Recap of Loeb & Loeb’s 2023 IP/Entertainment CLE Conference in Los Angeles

Loeb & Loeb hosted its 14th annual IP/Entertainment Law CLE Conference in Los Angeles, catering specifically to legal professionals and in-house counsel in the entertainment industry. On Oct. 12, more than 400 in-house lawyers from motion picture studios, television networks, music labels, sports agencies, podcast production studios and other media and entertainment enterprises congregated to engage in a comprehensive day of CLE panels. These sessions delved into an array of pertinent industry subjects, ranging from intellectual property to labor and ethics, and included valuable insights from seasoned legal professionals. David Grossman, co-chair of Loeb's Litigation department, served as the Master of Ceremonies at this year's event. Loeb’s Los Angeles conference has been a flagship event since its inception in 2008, and the firm also hosts an annual New York conference.

The conference commenced in the morning with a panel featuring Litigation associates Keane Barger, Todd Densen and Sarah Levitan Perry, alongside Advanced Media & Technology associate Jessica Manavi, as they examined recent significant cases in IP and entertainment law. This included topics like copyright infringement, as well as copyright termination and the work-for-hire exception.

After the initial session, industry experts engaged in a discussion on the strategies for cultivating trust and collaboration in the aftermath of the latest WGA and SAG strikes, including negotiating collective bargaining agreements in a constructive and harmonious manner, moderated by Ivy Kagan Bierman, chair of Loeb’s Entertainment Labor practice. The subsequent panel—which included Kenneth Adler, chair of the firm’s Technology & Sourcing practice, and Litigation partner Tal Dickstein—delved into the legal challenges and potential business advantages surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) within the entertainment sector.

Following the lunch break, Litigation partner Wook Hwang, alongside other panelists, discussed recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings impacting the entertainment industry, including the Jack Daniel’s Properties Inc. v. VIP Products LLC trademark decision and the Andy Warhol Foundation v. Goldsmith copyright fair use case. 

In a separate discussion, a panel of legal entertainment professionals, including Advanced Media & Technology partner David Grace and associate Emily Borich, sat down to explore branding and licensing challenges in motion pictures. Their discussion offered a comprehensive examination of the trademark and licensing issues arising in "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" and "Barbie" films.

The conference concluded with a talk between Loeb Litigation partner Don Miller and Kate Chilton, a mediator and arbitrator at JAMS and a former judge at the Los Angeles Superior Court. Their conversation revolved around the ethical considerations and practical insights for legal professionals in integrating AI into their practice.