Putting the "Entertainment" into Media and Entertainment Law

Ever wondered what a letter from Lindsay Lohan's lawyers would look like? Perhaps you wanted to know how Britney Spears and Kevin Federline agreed to enter into a fake marriage? Or maybe you wanted to see how contestants in American Idol sign their rights away on entering the show? If so, look no further. US law professor Eric Johnson has put together an excellent compendium of materials on media and entertainment law for his courses. Unlike traditional materials, however, his compendium includes not just the (relatively staid) decisions of the courts but also dressing room requirements, the bluff and bluster of correspondence, and more. As he explains:

I'm a strong believer in assigning readings other than judicial opinions. So my compendium includes contracts, demand letters, and various litigation pleadings. These documents are especially valuable reading in entertainment law and media law, where industry custom, intimidation tactics, creative lawyering, ignorance, bullying, and fear all combine to play a role that rivals that of the law itself.