Skip to content

Brought to you by

Dentons logo

Entertainment & Media Law Signal

Information and observation on the newest developments in entertainment and media law.

open menu close menu

Entertainment & Media Law Signal

  • Home
  • About Us

Inside the Room Full of Spoons: Key takeaways and hot topics from the Wiseau Studio v Harper saga

By Bob Tarantino, Caitlin Choi, Matthew Diskin, and Meredith Bacal
May 13, 2020
  • Copyright
  • Fair Use/Fair Dealing
  • General
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via email Share on LinkedIn

Wiseau Studio v Harper is an important case for Canadian entertainment lawyers because it offers the first authoritative Canadian decision pertaining to documentary films on a number of topics, including fair dealing, intrusion upon seclusion, misappropriation of personality and moral rights considerations – all of which are important for film and television producers and their counsel.

As a follow-up to our popular post, Room Full of Spoons: The Contributions of Wiseau Studio v Harper to Canadian Entertainment Law, Bob Tarantino and Caitlin Choi speak with Matt Diskin and Meredith Bacal, who represented the defendants in this case, for their insider insights. In this episode of the Entertainment & Media Law Signal podcast, the crew dives into the backstory behind this claim, hot topics raised during trial and critical takeaways from the decision.

If you would like to discuss this podcast or the Wiseau Studio v Harper decision, please contact Matt Diskin, Meredith Bacal, Bob Tarantino or Caitlin Choi.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via email Share on LinkedIn
Subscribe and stay updated
Receive our latest blog posts by email.
Stay in Touch
Bob Tarantino

About Bob Tarantino

Bob Tarantino is Counsel at Dentons Canada LLP and focuses his practice on the interface between the entertainment industries and intellectual property law, with an emphasis on film and television production, financing, licensing, distribution, and IP acquisition and protection. His clients range from artists and independent producers to Canadian distributors and foreign studios and financiers at every stage of the creative process, from development to delivery and exploitation.

All posts Full bio

Caitlin Choi

About Caitlin Choi

Caitlin is an associate in the Media, Entertainment and Sports and Corporate groups at Dentons. In her entertainment practice, Caitlin advises clients on the development, financing, production and exploitation of film, television and digital media projects. She is experienced in corporate, production and project financing. She also advises on treaty co-productions and copyright matters. In her corporate practice, Caitlin supports both foreign and domestic clients on a variety of business law matters, including mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, corporate governance and fund formation. She has experience working with companies in a number of industries, including the music publishing, manufacturing and alcohol sectors.

All posts Full bio

Matthew Diskin

About Matthew Diskin

Matthew Diskin is a partner in Dentons’ Intellectual Property, and Litigation and Dispute Resolution groups. Matthew’s diverse practice focuses on entertainment, intellectual property law and commercial litigation.

All posts Full bio

Meredith Bacal

About Meredith Bacal

Meredith Bacal is a senior associate in the Firm’s Intellectual Property, and Litigation and Dispute Resolution groups. In her litigation practice, Meredith represents a diverse client base on matters related to media, entertainment, technology and defamation. She has appeared before many levels of court, including the Superior Court, Federal Court and Divisional Court, as well as numerous arbitral tribunals.

All posts Full bio

RELATED POSTS

  • Copyright

Determining Public Domain Status

An important part of an entertainment lawyer’s job is determining what rights need to be obtained or licensed when a […]

By Bob Tarantino
  • General

Re-opening resources

By Media and Entertainment Group
  • Copyright
  • Music

Lyrics Websites and Copyright Licensing

I confess that back when buying an album on CD was a big part of my life, I was always […]

By Bob Tarantino

About Dentons

Dentons is designed to be different. As the world’s largest law firm with 20,000 professionals in over 200 locations in more than 80 countries, we can help you grow, protect, operate and finance your business. Our polycentric and purpose-driven approach, together with our commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and ESG, ensures we challenge the status quo to stay focused on what matters most to you. www.dentons.com

Dentons boilerplate image
Producing in Canada

Twitter

Categories

  • Announcements
  • Contracts
  • Copyright
  • Defamation
  • Errors and Omissions Insurance
  • Fair Use/Fair Dealing
  • Financing
  • General
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Publishing
  • Tax/Tax Credits
  • Television
  • Trademarks
  • Video Games

Subscribe and stay updated

Receive our latest blog posts by email.

Stay in Touch

Dentons logo

© 2022 Dentons

  • Legal notices
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of use
  • Cookies on this site