SYLLABUS

FALL 2005 SEMESTER

MBU 4630: LEGAL ISSUES IN THE MUSIC (ENTERTAINMENT) INDUSTRY

Note: Please read this syllabus thoroughly and retain it until the end of the semester since it contains information which should be useful to you in this course. A copy of this syllabus is also posted online and can be viewed, downloaded and printed. By enrolling in this course and being supplied with a copy of this syllabus, you agree to be held subject to all of the requirements specified herein.

Professor: Rush Hicks

Phone: Cellphone: 319-1912

Office: Massey School of Business, Room 222

E-mail: hicksr@mail.belmont.edu

Class Hours & Location: T 3:30 PM - 6PM (Massey School of Business, Rm. 203B)

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course provides an overview and analysis of legal issues which frequently arise in the music and entertainment industry. The topics to be covered include the role of entertainment attorneys, recording contracts including royalty provisions, contracts with minors, production company contracts, movie & television industry structure and contracts, right of publicity and merchandising agreements, licensing for entertainment media, freedom of speech, music in film and TV, payola as well as applicable case law and copyright legislation.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: To gain an understanding of the basic legal relationships among the various parties involved in the entertainment industry and how different areas of law affect these relationships and the entertainment industry. I intend to create a classroom atmosphere open to questions and comments in the hope of fostering a class that is interesting and as well as informative. However, I cannot do this alone. In order to get the most out of this class, you must be willing to do the required course work, participate and be prepared for class.

TEXT: There is no text designed to cover this entire course (although there are some good books that cover parts of the course.). Consequently, rather than requiring you to buy 2-3 books, I will be providing you with reading materials, most of which will be available online. See the Course Schedule below which may be supplemented with additional reading materials during the course. I will also be posting my lecture notes (in outline form) online. You may feel free to read them, print them, and use them as a study aid although you should also take your own notes during class (since most people learn better by writing things down in their own words rather than reading someone else’s). Although not required, the following are some suggested books:

(1) The Musicians Business & Legal Guide, 3^rd Edition, Halloran, Prentice Hall 2001.

(2) Dealmaking in the Film & Television Industry, 2^nd edition, Litwak, Silman-James Press 2002.

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.). Cellphone 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. However, if your cellphone rings during class, I will be happy to answer it for you and take a message since I am here to serve you. All use of computers and other electronic devices is also subject to any applicable policies of Belmont University.

COURSE SCHEDULE: A tentative weekly Course Schedule is included below with corresponding reading assignments. Please note that although I have attempted to plan the Course Schedule on a weekly basis, it may be necessary to adapt this schedule somewhat during the course of the semester. I will try to post any significant changes to the schedule online as well as announce them in class.

READING ASSIGNMENTS & PARTICIPATION: You are expected to come to class prepared to participate in class discussions. Participation includes the responsibility of having read any assigned materials prior to class. This is exceptionally important and if you do not keep up with the assigned reading, you will likely fall behind and your performance may suffer accordingly. Additional reading materials may be assigned in class, by e-mail and/or posted on the course webpage.

NOTE: In order to understand the material covered in the course, you must have at least a basic understanding of the United States legal system (e.g., the legislative & judicial systems, etc.). If you’ve taken a business law course, that should have provided you with a sufficient foundation. However, you may want to look over the materials at http://www.copyrightguru.com/unitedstateslegalsystem.html and www.lectlaw.com/files/env02.htm to refresh your recollection.

ATTENDANCE: The policies of the current Belmont University Undergraduate Bulletin will to this class (i.e., “When the number of absences for any reason exceeds four times the number of scheduled class meetings per week, a student will be involuntarily dropped from the course with a grade of ‘WF’”). Regular class attendance is expected and an attendance sheet may be distributed at the beginning of each class session. If you are not present at the beginning of class when attendance is taken, you will be counted as absent. Since Belmont’s policy allows for a significant number of absences without any direct penalty, I do not make any distinction between excused and unexcused absences. You do not need to inform me of the reason for absences and absences will not directly affect your grade for the course except: (1) The failure to attend class on any exam date without the professor’s prior approval (Provost’s approval for the final exam) will result in a grade of 0 for such exam; and (2) exceptional attendance and participation may result in borderline grades for the course being rounded up (e.g., if your course grade based on exams and assignments is an 89, it could be rounded up to 90 giving you an A- rather than a B+for the course). It is solely your responsibility to keep up with your absences. Please do not ask me how many absences you have during the semester since I will not total absences until after the last class session.

GRADING: The grading specified in the current Belmont Undergraduate bulletin applies to this class. Exams, including the final, will be averaged to determine your grade. Plus and minus grading, but no A+, will be utilized.

EXAMS: The format for exams will consist of some or all of the following: multiple choice, true/false, matching, short answer and/or essay questions. Exam questions may cover terminology, concepts, and application of concepts to hypothetical scenarios (requiring you to apply what you have learned rather than merely repeating it). The Final Exam will be comprehensive as required by College policy and will take place on the date specified by Belmont University. * UNIVERSITY POLICY DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO CHANGE THIS DATE AND ANY EXCEPTIONS MUST BE APPROVED IN WRITING BY THE PROVOST.

HONOR CODE: In order to uphold academic integrity, the University has adopted an Honor System. It is expected that students will abide by the Belmont University Honor Code at all times. Following is the Student Honor Pledge that guides academic behavior: “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.” Please note that Honor Code violations are subject to serious penalties, including receiving a failing grade for the course, suspension & expulsion from the University.

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 Tammye Tanksley, Director of Counseling & Developmental Support in the Office of Student Affairs (460-6407) as soon as possible.