Highlights from Loeb & Loeb’s 2024 IP/Entertainment CLE Conference in NYC

Loeb & Loeb hosted its ninth annual IP/Entertainment Law CLE Conference in New York City, designed exclusively for in-house legal professionals in the entertainment industry. More than 240 lawyers representing motion picture studios, television networks, music labels, sports agencies, podcast production studios and various other media and entertainment enterprises gathered on Jan. 25, 2024, for an immersive day of CLE panels. In addition to the yearly NYC conference, the firm also hosts an annual conference in Los Angeles, which has been running since 2008. 

The conference began in the morning with a panel featuring Litigation associates Keane Barger, Edward Delman, Sarah Levitan Perry and Nathalie Russell. They analyzed noteworthy cases in IP and entertainment law, covering subjects such as statute of limitations, copyright infringement and copyright termination.

After the initial session, industry experts—along with Kenneth Adler, chair of the firm’s Technology & Sourcing practice, and Litigation partner Tal Dickstein—sat down to explore the legal risks and business opportunities associated with artificial intelligence (AI) in the entertainment field. The third panel of the day featured a discussion between an executive from SAG-AFTRA and Entertainment Labor senior counsel Dimitry Krol focusing on the collective bargaining negotiations that transpired during the SAG-AFTRA strike in 2023.

After lunch, Litigation partner Wook Hwang, alongside other professionals, took the stage to examine recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that have had an impact on the entertainment industry, such as the trademark ruling in Jack Daniel’s Properties Inc. v. VIP Products LLC and the copyright fair use case in Andy Warhol Foundation v. Goldsmith. Next, Bess Morgan, deputy chair of the firm’s Brand Protection practice, along with Corporate partner Mike Grossman, engaged in a discussion with a talent agent and in-house counsel of a leading brand, exploring key considerations for deal structures related to talent and brand partnerships.

The conference concluded with a legal ethics session by Litigation partner Don Miller and a law school professor that included ethical considerations, practical insights, along with live demonstrations, related to the use of AI. A cocktail reception closed out the day.