EDWARD E. WEIMAN joined White O'Connor Fink & Brenner LLP in 2001, after several years specializing in trademark and other intellectual property disputes both in federal court and before the United States Patent and Trademark Office's Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Mr. Weiman became a partner in the firm in 2006, continuing his representation of major film and television production entities and other clients in copyright and idea submission, general business, antitrust, and insurance bad faith litigation.

Mr. Weiman has been named as one of Southern California’s “Super Lawyers” by Los Angeles Magazine in both 2005 and 2007, and is a member of the Intellectual Property & Entertainment Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and a member of the Forum on Communications Law and Intellectual Property Law Section of the American Bar Association.  Mr. Weiman has provided numerous in-house lectures to entertainment clients over the years on the subjects of copyright and trademark law, idea submission claims and legal ethics, and is a co-author of a casebook study guide on contract law, High Court Case Summaries (Dana L. Blatt ed., 6th ed., West Group 2002).

Mr. Weiman received his B.A. degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1987. He received his J.D. degree from the University of Southern California Law School in 1997, where he was the Champion of the Hale Moot Court Honors Program, a member of the National Moot Court Team, and a Topic Editor on the Moot Court Executive Board. Mr. Weiman is a member of the California state bar, and is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Central District of California and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Appeals

Maureen Marder v. Jennifer Lopez, Sony Music Entertainment, Inc. and Paramount Pictures Corporation, 450 F.3d 445 (9th Cir. 2006).  Representing Paramount Pictures Corporation, successfully moved to dismiss a copyright infringement and copyright co-ownership action concerning the motion picture “Flashdance.”  Affirmed.

Rex Reginald v. New Line Cinema Corporation, United Talent Agency, Inc., and Robert Shaye, Docket No. 04-55615 (Cal. App. 2004).  Representing New Line and Robert Shaye, secured the dismissal on summary judgment of an idea submission action concerning the motion picture “Wedding Crashers.”  Affirmed. 

Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P. v. Continental Casualty Company, 72 Fed. Appx. 586 (9th Cir. 2003).  Representing TWEC, successfully moved for summary judgment in an insurance bad faith action, resulting in $2.7 million judgment against Continental Casualty for breach of duty to defend Time Warner in litigation brought by Francis Ford Coppola.  Affirmed.

David H. Verdiner v. Scottrade, Inc., Docket No. 06-56655 (9th Cir. 2006).  Representing Scottrade, successfully moved to dismiss this securities class action alleging false advertising and unfair business practices regarding the assessment of online broker fees.  Pending.
 

Other Representative Cases

Troll Company A/S v. DIC Entertainment Corporation, American Arbitration Association and United States District Court (represented DIC in four-month arbitration and concurrent federal litigation concerning alleged breach of character license agreements, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, etc., regarding Classic Troll dolls).

Regina Kimbell v. Home Box Office, Inc., Chris Rock, et al., United States District Court (represented HBO and Chris Rock in copyright infringement action concerning the documentary "Good Hair", successfully defending against application for temporary restraining order and motion for preliminary injunction).

Carlo Carlei v. Gianni Nunnari, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court.  Represented Gianni Nunnari, the President of Hollywood Gang Productions, in an idea submission action concerning the motion picture “300,” securing the dismissal of numerous claims on summary judgment, including breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and fraud.

Intertainer Inc. v. Time Warner Inc., et al., United States District Court, Central District of California.  Represented Time Warner, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Warner Home Video, and New Line Television in this antitrust and misappropriation action alleging a conspiracy and combination to restrain competition in the Internet video-on-demand market, and an agreement to fix prices for the licensing of studio product.

In Plain Sight Media, Inc., et al. v. City of Los Angeles, et al., United States District Court, Central District of California.  Represented IPSM in this First Amendment challenge to an ordinance restricting the placement of supergraphic signs on the exterior of the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, securing a preliminary injunction against the enforcement of the ordinance at issue, which led to its repeal.

Marty Stouffer Productions, LTD v. King World Direct, Inc., United States District Court for the Central District of California.  Represented King World in a copyright infringement action arising out of the alleged breach of a licensing agreement for the distribution of the “Wild America” home video series.

Santa Fe Entertainment Inc. v. Paramount Pictures Corporation, et al., United States District Court, Central District of California.  Represented Paramount Pictures in this copyright infringement action concerning the motion picture “Clockstoppers.”

Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P. v. Continental Casualty Company, United States District Court, Central District of California.  Represented TWEC in this insurance action, securing summary judgment on a multi-million dollar claim for breach of duty to defend TWEC in an action for copyright infringement brought against Warner Bros. regarding the motion picture "Contact"

Publications

Michael J. O’Connor, Edward E. Weiman, and Audrey J. Jing, New Appleman on Insurance, Ch. 31, Media Liability Insurance, Forthcoming 2010.

Edward E.. Weiman and Kenneth D. Kronstadt, Anti-SLAPP Protection in the Entertainment Context:  The Legacy (If Any) Of Dyer v. Childress, 27-1 Communications Lawyer (April 2010).

Michael J. O’Connor, Edward E. Weiman, and Audrey J. Jing, California Insurance Law and Practice, Ch. 52, Media Liability Insurance (Matthew Bender & Company, Inc. 2009).

Edward E. Weiman, et al., High Court Case Summaries on Contracts (Dana L. Blatt ed., 6th ed., West Group 2002).

Lectures

What To Expect When You’re Accepting:  Recent Developments In Copyright And Idea Submission Law, MCLE Seminar (August 2009).

Faculty, American Bar Association, Forum on Communications Law, 14th Annual Conference, Training & Development Media Advocacy Workshop (February 2009).

Dude, Where’s My Cut?:  Case Studies in Idea Submission Law, American Bar Association, Forum on Communications Law, 13th Annual Conference, Training & Development Media Advocacy Workshop, MCLE Seminar (February 2008).

Steal this Program:  Recent Developments in Copyright and Trademark Law, Continuing Legal Education Seminar (Fall 2007).

Sqrat Fights and Reality Bites: Recent Developments in Copyright and Idea Submission Law, Continuing Legal Education Seminar (October 2006). 

Barbarians at the Gates:  Recent Developments in Copyright and Idea Submission Law, Continuing Legal Education Seminar (September 2006). 

Trump Bashers and Wedding Crashers:  Recent Developments in Copyright and Idea Submission Law, Continuing Legal Education Seminar (February 2006).

Surviving America's Most Amazing and Extreme Legal Makeover:  Copyright and Idea Submission Claims Invade Reality Television, Continuing Legal Education Seminar (October 2005).

The Whole Enchilada:  Wrench LLC v. Taco Bell Corp. and Idea Submission Claims, Continuing Legal Education Seminar (May 2004).

Legal Ethics:  Relevant Issues and Developments, Continuing Legal Education Seminar (July 2003).