That’s entertainment: Dominic Regan goes behind the scenes of showbiz legal wranglings
The entertainment industry has generated a disproportionate number of bitter claims. The reason is simple: money. A successful song, film or entertainer can pull in millions and royalties accrue for decades beyond. Disputes go to court and can reveal astonishing tales.
Go for gross
One lesson for every adviser is not to agree a deal whereby your client is to receive a percentage of net profits. Those taking the money will seek to subtract every conceivable overhead so as to reduce the size of the fund upon which the percentage is calculated. Best advice is to go instead for a cut of the gross takings, a figure which is readily ascertainable!
Seeing red
Sometimes it is the entertainer who is found to be in the wrong. Chris “Top Gear” Evans was involved in a vicious High Court action which he instituted arising out of his antics while working as a DJ for Virgin Radio. In Evans v SMG Ltd [2003] EWHC 1423 (Ch), [2003] All ER (D) 348 (Jun), Lightman J found the claimant
