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Assignment: Find and read the Michael Bolton case, Michael Coppell Promotions vs. Bolton re: an Australian tour. Kim Basinger initially agreed to star in the motion picture, Boxing Helena only to pull out later. Find and read Main Line vs. Basinger. Find the provisions of the California 7 Year Rule for Personal Services Contracts. Briefly explain these provisions. Find at least two cases that have been filed where an artist has tried to void an agreement based upon the seven-year limit? Briefly explain what happened. Olivia De Havilland, who recently died at 102, famous for her role in Gone With The Wind, was the first artist to use this provision to void an entertainment agreement. Find her case and briefly explain what happened. California also has a special provision regarding injunctive relief e.g. where a record label tries to get an injunction to prevent an artist from recording for another label. The main case was brought by Motown against Teena Marie in the 1980s: Teena Marie.
Assignment: find an article that is critical of 360 deals. Also, research what they are. Can you find an article that discusses when a contract is unconscionable? Read Holmes v. Smith (an interesting case re: the Fresh Prince here. Be prepared to discuss or ask questions of the student team presenting. It contains some interesting contract issues including the ability of minors to contract. We will also examine the problem of contracting with minors who are frequently the subject of entertainment industry contracts: see http://wallacecollins.com/minors.html. Wallace is a practitioner in New York.
Assignment: Find out what provisions are made for minors in film productions in New York and California. Are they essentially the same or are their differences? Please explain them briefly.
