Entertainment Legal Questions

It all sounds illegal and you should call the police and make a report. If the company is in Los Angeles, also call the LA FILM Office. No one has a license to make porn films at their home, since a home would not be zoned for an adult sex business. When you make your reports, be sure to say your name must be kept confidential and may not appear on any paperwork. Do all you can to protect your own safety while you report this company.... Read More

I would need more details about what you are talking about. Is your business a music venue and are you being forced by PROs, or performing rights organizations, to buy performance licenses? The main PROs are ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC, and to play their repertoire, live or recorded, in most venues, they require the venue to purchase their licenses. The licenses supposedly go to pay the songwriters and their publishers, with the overhead of running the PRO. If this is what you are asking about, yes, they can do this, since the songwriters have joined the PROs. One way to avoid such licensing and still have music is to contract with a company that licenses royalty-free music. Those companies provide packaged music that is fully cleared for use with no further payments. The companies often offer to select music suited for your business. Many chain restaurants, stores, airlines, and health clubs have such music. With such services, you are not getting the latest hit songs and you don't get to hear whatever you want. But you do get solid, good music for your business at one price, with no threats or hassles. I hope this answers your question. ... Read More

It would be trademark infringement to use the names and logos of other companies in advertising. Depending on how the trademarks are used, it make be able to avoid paying fines if it constitutes fair use under the comparative advertising exception. Kind in mind, this is an affirmative defense which does not allow prevail and will not prevent the trademark holder bringing suit.... Read More

Get an attorney to immediately send a "cease and desist" letter to the club owner and insist on both removal of all promotion featuring your band as well as a public announcement that you won't be appearing. If the owner refuses, head directly to district court for a temporary injunction followed by a suit against the owner. Your damages are much larger than the fee you mention. The club owner is deliberately commiting fraud as well as harming the band's good name and using your names and likenesses without permission. Be sure to post a notice that the band will not be performing at this event on your own website, social media, etc. And contact any media outlet that promotes oreven mentions the concert to let them know the band won't be appearing.... Read More

You should hire a lawyer to find out what licenses and insurance are required by the Bahamas. Most likely the Bahamas requires such businesses to be licensed and to be paying taxes of various sorts to the Bahamas. Also keep in mind that the Bahamas may not allow you to work there, or may not allow you to run a tourist business there. I suppose you would need a work visa from the Bahamas. Have you inquired into getting one? In most nations, even a short time of working requires a work visa. So that should be your first point of contact. Then there may also be licensing required in the U.S., since you will be getting your customers in the U.S. Depending on the state, there may be very strict requirements for a travel or tourism business. Some states require such businesses to put up a special bond, since there have been so many problems with fly-by-night tourism companies. You will really be operating a two-nation company, even for the first few trial runs. You will also need insurance. You need to check the laws of the Bahamas as well as of the U.S. states where you will be operating. Then you need to check with several really excellent insurance companies, tell them your plans, and buy insurance. You will probably want a lawyer to write up a waiver for you, but whether it will hold in the Bahamas as well as in the U.S. is so questionable. It is very difficult to make such waivers hold, especially when someone has died, been injured, gotten sick, or been left stranded. If you want to try out such work, one way to do this may be to check with existing companies in the Bahamas and see if you can get a job. Or check with one of those tour organizer companies and see if you can connect on up with them. The U.S. citizens that I have known who have run such tourism businesses have done so in U.S. states, such as Hawaii or Alaska, or in U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands, which are St. Thomas, St.Croix, and St. John. It may be significantly easier for a U.S. citizen to get proper licensing and insurance in the Virgin Islands than in the Bahamas. ... Read More

Curfew is usually a local law. For example, if you are in Los Angeles, there is a curfew law that is part of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, or LAMC. Under the LAMC, there is a daytime curfew for people under age 18, and a nighttime curfew as well. The daytime curfew says that during school hours, those under 18 cannot be out in public, such as at streets, parks, eating places, public buildings, unless you are with parent, it is an emergency, you are going directly to your job, or going to the doctor. The law has more details than this, but I am giving the overview. The Los Angeles nighttime curfew for those under age 18 is 10 PM until sunrise the following day. If you live in a different city, you should check your local municipal code and ask about the curfew. Or you can call the police non-emergency number and ask about the curfew. Keep in mind that the curfew that applies is the one of the place where you are located. For example, if you live in a town where the curfew is later and you go into Los Angeles, you are subject to the 10 PM curfew while you are there. ... Read More

Since he refuses to cooperate, you're going to need to take him to court. You will need to prove that he stole the majority of his product from you, that he did it deliberately, and that you suffered damages as a result. You can also challenge any patents or copyrights that he holds on the product.... Read More