Insights & News

Changes to EU law around the regulation of On Demand Video

07 December 2016

25 May 2016: The European Commission has proposed wording for the revision of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD)

Lewis Silkin advises Haymarket Media Group on the sale of its motorsport division to Motorsport Network

Deal

25 November 2016

Lewis Silkin has advised long-standing client Haymarket Media Group, the privately held media company, on the sale of its motorsport division to Motorsport Network, a specialist online motor racing content and events company.

Protect against Defamation and Privacy actions

Inbrief

15 November 2016

The law of defamation and also the law of privacy is at a watershed. Since the beginning of 2010 the media have stepped up their campaign for a change in our laws, for more flexibility and a greater ability for freedom of expression to be paramount. This has been much more evident since the Human Rights Act 1998 incorporated the European Convention of Human Rights. This inbrief is intended to show how best to try and avoid a letter before action and a claim, when legal advice is appropriate and what to do when you get a complaint.

Video commerce the next frontier for retailers

08 November 2016

Retailers are increasingly becoming broadcasters and looking to sell their goods via shoppable videos and other platforms.

Lewis Silkin works with ISBA to create suggested vlogger contract for brands and influencers

Press

13 September 2016

Lewis Silkin is proud to have worked alongside trade body ISBA (The Incorporated Society of British Advertisers) to draft a new legal template for brands dealing with the emerging world of YouTube vloggers and other creators.

Naughty pics and controversial clicks - new guidance on hyperlinks to third party content

09 September 2016

The Court of Justice of the European Union yesterday released its judgment in GS Media v Sanoma, which is the latest in a series of judgments on the legality of posting links to third party content on the internet.

Blurred lines: sampling, inspiration, pilferage and plagiarism

08 June 2016

We reported late last year on a dispute between rapper Rick Ross and dance-pop duo LMFAO over the use of a hook “everyday I’m hustlin’” / “everyday I’m shufflin’” (see here). Well, the arguments over what constitutes legitimate ‘borrowing’ from musical works continue.

Defamation & Malicious Falsehood

Inbrief

19 April 2016

Reputation protection which embodies our law of defamation has become increasingly important. Together with the law of privacy, including confidentiality, reputation protection is a vital right for individuals and corporations, especially the advertising industry where image and celebrity rights attract so much attention.

Lewis Silkin advises StoryFirst on joint venture with Pinewood Group plc

Deal

26 January 2016

Lewis Silkin has advised StoryFirst PST Limited, the independent media investment company on its joint venture with leading provider of studio and related services to the global film and television industry, Pinewood Group plc.

BBC's strictly formats future

Press

15 January 2016

We have written an article for C21Media discussing the increasing financial pressure on the BBC to reduce its dependence on the licence fee.

Broadcast: Fremantle raises questions over Bring the Noise

Press

28 October 2015

Originally published in Broadcast: Fremantle Media UK has written to Sky and the indie behind Bring the Noise seeking assurances that the music panel show is unrelated to a format it previously pitched to the broadcaster.

Behind One Direction Fans

Press

23 October 2015

We have been quoted in an article on One Direction fans' backlash against the band's management, which is appearing in the upcoming edition of Billboard magazine and online.

Lewis Silkin expands top-ranked media & entertainment team with key hire

Press

01 October 2015

Lewis Silkin today announces the appointment of digital media expert David Deakin as a partner in the firm’s renowned Media, Brands and Technology (MBT) team. He joins Lewis Silkin from Wiggin LLP where he drove many digital media initiatives.

Virginia shooting raises questions around whether Facebook and Twitter should shut off autoplay when graphic videos circulate

Press

01 September 2015

Jo Farmer has been quoted in an article by The Drum which discusses the use of autoplay functions by Facebook and Twitter following the tragic shooting of two journalists last week in Virginia. Jo comments on how the feature becomes problematic when viewers get no warning that they’re about to see potentially distressful content.

Social Media and Online Issues - Defamation and Privacy

Inbrief

19 July 2015

Online publishing via social media is now instant, free and easily accessible. Anyone can publish content without much in the way of control or the input of an in-house legal team to veto high risk content. Such freedom and accessibility raises issues for online publishers who face the possibility of claims of defamation and breach of privacy.

Online content: risks and rewards

Inbrief

05 June 2015

With digital content becoming ever more popular and users becoming more sophisticated, all those involved in the online publishing industry need to be aware of the risks that come with the rewards of digital content.

How to Protect your Format

Inbrief

26 April 2015

This paper is based on that extensive experience, and sets out a number of practical steps that you can take to make the protection of television formats easier for those that have invested substantial time and money in their creation.

Protecting your reputation via your legal and regulatory rights

Inbrief

05 April 2015

“The exercise of restraint over the media by means of the threat and/or use of all available legal and regulatory mechanisms” - The deinition of Meda Management

Cliff Fluet quoted in "Two CMJ Panels Tackle Nuanced, Important (and Dry) Entertainment Law"

Press

28 October 2014

Cliff Fluet has been quoted in Billboard.com's write up of the Entertainment Business Law Seminar at the 2014 CMJ Music Marathon in New York City.