08 May

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Oral Argument Considered by Ninth Circuit in Our Client’s Case: Fertikh v. Blanche

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has notified the parties that the case of Fertikh v. Blanche is being considered for oral argument during the Pasadena sitting calendar in September 2026. Consideration for oral argument is a significant procedural development in a federal appellate case. In many immigration appeals, matters are decided solely on the written briefs. When a case is considered for oral argument, it may indicate that the Court wishes to examine the legal and factual issues in greater depth through direct questioning of counsel. Our client, Anton Fertikh, is an asylum seeker from Russia and...

29 April

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AI in Hollywood: Law Is Behind Technology

Posted by Ernest Goodman

in Copyright Law, Entertainment Law

Artificial intelligence is already embedded in the film industry. It is not theoretical. It is not “coming soon.” It is here. But its implementation is uneven, cautious, and often deliberately hidden behind traditional workflows. At the same time, other markets—particularly India—are moving faster, experimenting openly, and accepting risks that U.S. studios are unwilling to take....

27 April

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ACA Motions Are on Pause — But Asylum Cases Are Still Being Denied Early

Posted by Ernest Goodman

in Immigration Law

Under the ACA framework, the government would argue that a person should not be allowed to seek asylum in the United States because they passed through another country and could have applied there. These arguments were tied to a specific regulatory structure and were relatively straightforward in how they were presented in court. Today, those arguments have largely receded from day-to-day practice. This has created an impression that immigration courts may be returning to a more traditional process, where each applicant has a full hearing and an opportunity to explain their case in detail. In practice, that has not happened. Instead of...

20 April

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🎬 When Life Story Becomes Content: The Legal Risk

Posted by Ernest Goodman

in Entertainment Law

There is a persistent assumption in film, media, and online content creation that reality provides protection. If something actually happened, it can be shown. If a person has already become public, their story is available. If events are documented, then telling them again should not create legal risk. That assumption feels intuitive. It is also fundamentally wrong....

17 April

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🎬 What Happens When a Crew Member Claims Ownership

Posted by Ernest Goodman

in Entertainment Law

Today, we will talk about work-for-hire agreements. In film production, ownership is often assumed—but rarely verified. Many filmmakers operate under the belief that once a project is completed, the film “belongs” to the producer or the production company. That assumption may feel intuitive, especially when one party finances, organizes, and oversees the entire production....

30 March

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How People Pretend to Be Bigger Than They Are in the Film Industry

Posted by Ernest Goodman

in Entertainment Law

The film industry runs on perception. Reputation, access, and relationships often matter just as much as talent. But this creates a predictable side effect—an environment where some individuals build not real influence, but the illusion of it. Over time, especially through real experience at markets and festivals, you begin to recognize a pattern: people who try to appear bigger than they are by attaching themselves to others, exaggerating their reach, and using environments that look impressive. I’ve encountered this repeatedly—and in different forms....

29 March

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The Use of Your Legal Name as a Trademark

Posted by Ernest Goodman

in Entertainment Law, Trademark Law

Many professionals instinctively believe that their legal name belongs entirely to them in every context, including business. It feels natural to assume that if you are born with a name, you have the unrestricted right to use it commercially. However, trademark law operates on a very different principle. Your legal name does not automatically grant you exclusive rights in the marketplace. It does not guarantee trademark protection, and in certain situations, you may even be restricted from using it in connection with your own business. This disconnect between intuition and legal reality is where many costly mistakes begin. Trademark law is not...

16 March

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Copyright vs. Trademark in Film Titles

Posted by Ernest Goodman

in Copyright Law, Entertainment Law, Trademark Law

One of the most common misunderstandings among filmmakers is the belief that the title of a film is protected by copyright law. In practice, this is almost never the case. In the United States, the legal protection of film titles falls primarily under trademark law and unfair competition law, rather than copyright law. Understanding this distinction is important for filmmakers, producers, distributors, and anyone working in the entertainment industry....

09 March

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The O.J. Simpson Effect in Immigration Court

Posted by Ernest Goodman

in Immigration Law

As a lawyer who represents clients in immigration courts, I often see something surprising happen during asylum hearings. Cases that begin as administrative proceedings sometimes evolve into something that feels almost like a full-blown criminal trial—the kind of intense litigation people associate with famous courtroom battles such as the O. J. Simpson murder trial....

09 March

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Two Levels of Acting in Film

Posted by Ernest Goodman

in Entertainment Law

Through my work with producers and directors, I am sometimes approached by actors who are primarily looking for connections. They would reach out hoping that I might introduce them to producers, directors, or casting professionals....

Oral Argument Considered by Ninth Circuit in Our Client’s Case: Fertikh v. Blanche

AI in Hollywood: Law Is Behind Technology

ACA Motions Are on Pause — But Asylum Cases Are Still Being Denied Early

🎬 When Life Story Becomes Content: The Legal Risk

🎬 What Happens When a Crew Member Claims Ownership

How People Pretend to Be Bigger Than They Are in the Film Industry

The Use of Your Legal Name as a Trademark

Copyright vs. Trademark in Film Titles

The O.J. Simpson Effect in Immigration Court

Two Levels of Acting in Film

Appeals in Federal Circuit Courts: Procedural Law Matters

Morozova v. Blanche: Another Ninth Circuit Case Moving Toward Oral Arguments

Fertikh v. Blanche: Due Process Before the Ninth Circuit

Copyright Small Claims Court vs. TTAB

Immigration Bond Hearings Are Unpredictable

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