SYLLABUS
Course Title: EIS 4360.01 – Entertainment Law & licensing
Semester: Fall 2008
Instructor: David Maddox.
Phone/Fax: O: 329-008 R: 834-8758; F: 320-7150
E-mail: maddoxd@mail.belmont.edu; david@dmaddox.com
Office Hours: by appointment –
Course Credit: 3 Units
Class Location: MC 414
Meeting Time: Monday, Wednesday & Friday 8:00 – 8:50AM
Final Exam: Friday, December 12th @8:00 AM
Educational Objectives of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music: 1. to provide a personalized, career-oriented and practical education that emphasizes leadership, innovation, private enterprise and entrepreneurship. 2) to equip students with the tools to think critically, communicate effectively, accept responsibility, make successful decisions, and prosper in diverse work environments. 3) To emphasize quality classroom instruction within the parameters of ethical Christian principles.
Course Description: This course provides an analysis of legal issues that frequently arise in the entertainment industry (e.g., the role of entertainment attorneys, contractual interpretations, right of publicity, freedom of speech, defamation, and obscenity). Additionally, the course is focused on licensing practices for various types of content in the entertainment industries such as textual, musical, audiovisual, and graphic works. Specific topics may include, but are not limited to, licensing intellectual property rights, licensing for film and television, computer games and the online environment, merchandise licensing, and international licensing considerations and practices.
.Learning Outcomes: Through homework, quizzes and classroom discussion the students will synthesize all course outcomes through understanding of common business practices related to the complex study of entertainment related topics.
Performance criteria: 1. Analyze legal and licensing issues and understanding skills necessary for effective negotiating in all sectors of the entertainment industry 2. Explain the legal issues where the entertainment industry continually intersects with the music world 3. Explain licensing possibilities in the entertainment industry 4. Compare the vocabulary and terminology involving legal concepts of the entertainment industry and the entertainment business at the corporate level.
Honor Code: It is the responsibility of each student to abide by the Belmont University Honor Code. “In affirmation of the Belmont University Statement of Values, I pledge that I will not give or receive aid during examinations; I will not give or receive false or impermissible aid in course work, in the preparation of reports, or in any other type of work that is to be used by the instructor as the basis of my grade; I will not engage in any form of academic fraud. Furthermore, I will uphold my responsibility to see to it that others abide by the spirit and letter of this Honor Pledge.”
Accommodation of Disabilities: In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Belmont University will provide reasonable accommodation of all medically documented disabilities. If you have a disability and would like the university to provide reasonable accommodations of the disability during this course, please notify the Office of the Dean of Students located in Beaman Student Life Center (460-6407) as soon as possible.
Electronic Device Policy: You are generally free to use notebook computers or other electronic devices (e.g., PDAs, etc.) in class to take notes. However, use of any electronic and/or digital device (whether now known or hereafter in existence) during exams or assignments is strictly prohibited unless I give specific permission otherwise (e.g., a take-home exam or assignment requiring you to use Internet resources, etc.). Cell phone use (i.e., calling and receiving calls, sending and receiving text messages, etc.) in class is prohibited since such activity can be disruptive to other students. All use of computers and other electronic devices is also subject to any applicable policies of Belmont University.
Attendance: Class attendance follows university policy as stated in the current Undergraduate Bulletin. Class participation is expected; attendance and absence will be noted. Missing classes are UNACCEPTABLE and WILL affect your final grade. Lectures are only given once, and it is the student’s responsibility to obtain any missed notes from a fellow student. You are responsible for all material covered in class and class readings. DO NOT ASK ME HOW MANY ABSENCES YOU HAVE. YOU KEEP YOUR OWN SCORE!
Notebook: Students should keep a notebook. You will want to keep a notebook of this material, which will not be available in the textbook. It could be on the quizzes.
Textbooks: There is no textbook for this course. All material will be presented in class in outline form, Powerpoints and hand-out materials; students are responsible for classroom discussion materials. Powerpoint presentation will be available on Blackboard.
Homework Assignments: There will be weekly homework assignments given for point credit.
Grading Procedure: There will be 4 quizzes given during the semester based on weekly lectures. Each quiz is worth points that accumulate till the end of the semester. If the student misses a quiz, there are no make up quizzes given. Instructions for the Research Paper will be provided separately in a handout.
Percentage of point values:
Tests 40%
Homework 10%
Final Exam 25%
Attendance 10%
Research Paper 15%
100%
Grading Scale: Final grades will be points accumulated from: attendance, homework, quizzes and final exam.
Grading Formula: 95+ - A; 90-94 A-; 87-89 B+; 84-86 B; 80-83 B-;77-79 C+; 74-76 C; 70-73 C-; 67-69 D+; 64-66 D; 60-63 D-; <59 F.
Topics and Lectures: Topics and dates are subject to change by e-mail or class announcement.
|
Date |
Subject |
Comments |
|
8/27/08 |
Course Introduction |
|
|
8/29/08 |
Contracts |
|
|
9/1/08 |
LABOR DAY |
NO CLASS |
|
9/3/08 |
Negotiations |
|
|
9/8/08 |
Litigation |
|
|
9/10/08 |
What is a License? |
|
|
9/12/08 |
Review |
|
|
9/15/08 |
First Test |
|
|
9/17/08 |
Music Licensing |
|
|
9/19/08 |
Music Licensing |
|
|
9/22/08 |
Uses of Music |
|
|
9/24/08 |
Film Production |
|
|
9/26/08 |
Film Production |
|
|
9/29/08 |
Film Production |
|
|
10/1/08 |
Television Production |
|
|
10/3/08 |
2d Test |
|
|
10/6/08 |
Principles of Labor Law |
|
|
10/8/08 |
Screen Actors Guild |
|
|
10/10/08 |
Am. Federation of TV and Radio Artists |
|
|
10/13/08 |
Writers Guild |
Mid-point in Semester |
|
10/15/08 |
Directors Guild |
Mid Semester |
|
10/17/08 |
3d Test |
|
|
10/20/08 |
Sports Law |
|
|
10/22/08 |
Agents |
|
|
10/24/08 |
Negotiations with Teams |
|
|
10/27/08 |
Research paper due |
|
|
10/27/08 |
Signing Bonuses |
|
|
10/29/08 |
Free Agency |
|
|
10/31/08 |
Merchandising |
|
|
11/3/08 |
Deferred Compensation |
Last Day to W/P |
|
11/5/08 |
Pacman Jones Case |
|
|
11/7/08 |
Michael Vick Case |
|
|
11/10/08 |
Roger Clemons Defamation Suit |
|
|
11/12/08 |
Legal Issues that Arise from Pop Culture |
|
|
11/14/08 |
Controlled Substance Abuse |
|
|
11/17/08 |
Endorsements |
|
|
11/19/08 |
Advertising and Promotion |
|
|
11/21/08 |
Fourth Test |
|
|
11/24/08 |
Current Events in the Entertainment Industry |
|
|
11/26-28 |
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY |
NO CLASS |
|
12/1/08 |
Review |
|
|
12/3/08 |
Review |
|
|
12/5/08 |
Review |
|
|
12/8/08 |
Last Day of Class |
|
|
12/12/08 |
Exam |
8:00 AM Friday |