Aaron Moss

For Immediate release:   Paramount Bidder Steven Paul found Liable for Willful Copyright Infringement.   Following a six-day jury trial, a federal jury found Steven Paul and two of his companies, SP Releasing, LLC and Echo Bridge Acquisition Corp., liable for willful copyright infringement and circumvention of copyright protection systems in Harvest Aid LLC v. Steven Paul, et al., Case No. 2:21-cv-4154-SSS-KS. The verdict, which came down on the afternoon of June 27, 2024, awarded Harvest Aid $152,500, the maximum statutory damages allowable for the claims at issue.   The case concerned allegations that the Defendants, who were authorized to distribute DVDs of Harvest Aid’s faith-based film I Believe to Walmart, also manufactured and distributed counterfeit copies of that film. Harvest Aid learned of the counterfeiting from a closeout reseller who obtained 10 pallets of overstock DVDs, including thousands of copies of I Believe, from Echo Bridge when it was closing its WI distribution facility. After Harvest Aid advised the reseller that Echo Bridge had no right to sell the DVDs to anyone other than Walmart, the reseller returned the I Believe DVDs to Harvest Aid, who realized they were counterfeit. Prior to the closure of its WI facility, Echo Bridge told Harvest Aid that it had over 7,000 I Believe DVDs in inventory which it would return to Harvest Aid, but never did. The Defendants failed to explain what happened to those DVDs if they were not the counterfeit ones sold and shipped to the closeout reseller, or why the DVDs were never returned to Harvest Aid if they were authentic copies.   Mr. Paul is currently leading an investor group in its efforts to acquire Paramount Studios. He has reportedly been in negotiations with Shari Redstone in a bid for her holding company National Amusements. Bloomberg previously reported that Paul’s investor group made an offer that was more than the $2.25 billion offered by Skydance, but less than $3 billion.   “Our client is so appreciative of the jury's time and hard work” said Harvest Asid’s lead trial counsel Stephen M. Doniger. “We are thrilled to have been able to hold Defendants to account for their infringement of the film I Believe and hope this case sends a message that even independent film makers and other artists of limited means have recourse to protect their rights.”   [For any other questions or comments, please contact the undersigned.]   Stephen M. Doniger, Esq. DONIGER / BURROUGHS 603 Rose Avenue Venice, CA 90291 (310) 590-1820 [email protected] #verdict #copyright #infringement #harvestaid #stevenpaul #echobridge #redstone #nationalamusements #walmart #paramountstudios #dvd #stephendoniger #leadcounsel #donigerburroughs #pressrelease #counterfeit #independentfilm #distribution #kelseyschultz #entertainment #trial #artists #filmakers

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In this issue of Dechert Re:Torts, we cover the Supreme Court’s intervention in the Medical Marijuana, Inc. v. Horn case, Gilead’s appeal on the contours of manufacturers’ duties under California tort law, the MDL court’s assessment regarding reliable methodologies and more. Learn about each of these topics below.

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🚨 JURY VERDICT ALERT 🚨 When is an adverse jury verdict actually a victory? When the plaintiff recovers less than 10% of the amount that they requested from the jury, and less than half of their final settlement demand. This is the extraordinary result that F+B’s civil litigation team achieved last week in San Diego Superior Court. As experienced litigators know, not every case will result in a finding of no liability. Sometimes defense counsel is faced with a high probability of a liability finding. In those cases, the name of the game is to minimize the jury's award to the plaintiff. Thank you to the members of the jury who truly served their community throughout 7 days of testimony, arguments, and deliberations. Kudos to F+B’s entire civil litigation team, led by our firm’s Founder and Managing Partner Heywood G. Friedman, Esq., co-second chairs Arman Shirinian, Esq., and Deborah Park, Esq., and supported by our exceptional team of paralegals, law clerks and professional staff. Thanks also to our clients, who refused to compromise their principles! If you want to learn more about F+B's cutting-edge trial defense strategies, reach out to our firm’s Founder and Managing Partner, Heywood G. Friedman at [email protected] Niranand Raum | Caroline Hoyt #FriedmanBartoumian #ForTheBestDefense #AlwaysBeClosing #TheBestDefense #DefenseAttorneys #RiskManagement #Insurance #InsuranceLaw #Attorneys #Attorney #Lawyers #Lawyer #Law #Legal #LawFirm #California #CaliforniaLaw #CaliforniaLawyers #CaliforniaLawyer #CivilLitigation #Litigation #Trial #SanDiego 

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In light of Disney's recent decision to back down from moving a wrongful death lawsuit to arbitration, it's a stark reminder of the critical importance of well-drafted terms and conditions (T&Cs) for any business. The case, which involved a clause tied to Disney+ that could have kept a tragic matter out of public court, highlights how T&Cs can have far-reaching implications—sometimes in ways that aren't immediately apparent. T&Cs are more than just legal jargon; they define the relationship between a business and its customers, covering everything from guarantees and warranties to jurisdiction and limitation of liability. They can protect your business, set clear expectations, and prevent costly disputes. If you're running a business, it's essential to ensure that your T&Cs are comprehensive, transparent, and tailored to your specific needs. Whether it's addressing price and payment terms, outlining the conditions for termination, or ensuring retention of title, getting your T&Cs right can make all the difference. Check out this article to learn more about why having strong terms and conditions is vital for safeguarding your business and maintaining trust with your customers.

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Friends - below a link to an article that I wrote for Law360 on the SCOTUS decision in Warhol vs Goldsmith and its aftermath. I hope you enjoy it! Take care, Jose #copyrights; #SCOTUS; #bilzin; #Warhol; #Goldsmith; #fairuse

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The new era of depositions is here. Legal Recorder has quickly gained recognition among California attorneys for its ability to simplify Zoom depositions. Read our tips here - https://lnkd.in/d8S52KEk

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Munger, Tolles & Olson partners Zachary Briers and Rose Leda Ehler were recognized as 2024 Top Intellectual Property Lawyers by the Daily Journal. The award recognizes California’s best patent, trademark and copyright attorneys. #MTO #DailyJournal #topiplawyers #iplaw #intellectualpropertylaw

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In a recent article for the Interactive Advertising Bureau’s Q2 2024 Practical Privacy Insights, Partner Fernando A. Bohorquez, Jr., Counsel Aaron Goodman and Associate Kate Prince discuss the best way to approach using privacy enhancing technologies (PETs) and how to comply with data privacy obligations. #BHNews #DataPrivacy #DigitalAdvertising

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We’re thrilled to announce that Law Insider is the official Media Partner of Future Lawyer USA in Boston and Legal Innovators California, the two must-attend Legal shows by Cosmonauts this May and June. These two conferences offer exclusive opportunities to stay connected with legal innovators from the East Coast to the West Coast, plus valuable insights into the ever-evolving landscape of law. Stay ahead of the curve and expand your network by reserving your tickets today. As an official media partner, we are able to offer an exclusive deal: 10 complimentary tickets for GCs using the code ‘LAWINSIDERGC10’, and 10 complimentary tickets for law firms using the code ‘LAWINSIDERLF100’. Additionally, all Law Insider members will have access to a 30% discount for all other ticket purchases. Just use the code 'LAWINSIDER30' at checkout. Future Lawyer USA https://lnkd.in/e3q5Bcip Legal Innovators California https://lnkd.in/eMqvvptS Don't miss out on these opportunities! Join us at the event closest to you. #FLUSA #LIC #FuturelawyerUSA #LegalinnovatorsCalifornia #LawInsider #Cosmonauts #legaltech #legaltechconference #boston #sanfrancisco #legalnews

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Microplastics may be a new concept to some of us in the #legalfield, but they are quickly staking their claim in litigation across multiple industries. In a recent article, FDCC member Bill Vita of Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. discusses #microplastics as a #litigationtrend and what #attorneys need to know. #legalpros #legalindustry #litigation https://lnkd.in/eMU4BGtc

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Optimizing attorney workflows is what we do. We develop features that attorneys love to use because they make working easier. One of those features is in-app annotation. As one attorney at an AM Law 100 firm shared, “The annotation capability in LINK is great - I can annotate directly and save without having to jump between apps.” To learn more about what LINK has to offer, request a demo at https://lnkd.in/eSKc7MSK. ____________________________ LINK provides lawyers and knowledge professionals with easy workflows in a single, encrypted app. LINK is the app for lawyers. ____________________________ Discover more on mobilehelix.com #mobilehelix #workflows #linkforlawyers #amlaw100 #legaltech #legaltechnology #legalit #legal #law #lawyer #attorney #legalinnovation

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