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Discusses several issues on the funding of theater and the arts in Australia. Grounds for the warning issued by the Performing Arts Board of the Australia Council to Sydney Theatre Company; Opinion of newspaper critiques concerning the formulation and implementation of policies for arts funding; Proposal by the Australia Council regarding amendments to the Australia Council Act 1975.

Comments on key controversies pertaining to the trial of theater performer, Lenny Bruce in the U.S. for violating the Criminal Code on Immoral Shows and Exhibitions. Details about the allegations against Bruce; Profile on Bruce and his career in theater; Allegations of harassment of the arts filed against Bruce for obscenity climaxes in his performances; Court trial proceedings; Details about Bruce's arrest for obscenity and possession of narcotics; Indications of laws on theater and the performing arts.

The author explores the impact of affirmative action plans on the U.S. theatre industry. She argues that basic anti-discrimination laws do not regulate private conduct, which can be deemed state action. She mentions the stance of theatre programs and festivals on the anti-discrimination laws of the U.S. The author also discusses anti-discrimination laws including the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, Title IX and Title VII.

This section offers news briefs on several issues of interest to artists as of May 2008. International artists have lobbied the U.S. Congress to pass a legislation that would protect performance rights from radio networks. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers has filed lawsuits against 29 establishments in 22 states for copyright infringement. The Campaign for Democratic Media has criticized Bell Canada for its decision to limit the bandwidth used by Internet service providers in the country.

Reports on the reaction of entertainment industry executives to United States Senator Joseph Lieberman's proposal for a universal ratings system for television, movies, video games and music. Inappropriateness of uniform ratings for a widely disparate art forms; Consideration of the rating system as an indirect form of censorship.

Reports on an update related to legislation for suspending antitrust laws to allow entertainment companies to develop an industrywide code of conduct in the United States. Authors of the proposed bill; Removal of federal obstacles that prevent the industries from getting together to put into place self-policing standards.

Focuses on state legislation governing the entertainment industry in California. Competition posed by Canada; Efforts of the Screen Actors Guild; Legislation governing child actors.

Reports on legislation affecting the performing arts in the United States. Revised version of the recession bill to the budget of the National Endowment for the Arts; Impact of the balanced budget resolution on nonprofit organizations.

The article reports that the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has determined that reintroducing the Performance Rights Act (PRA) would not be an effective measure.

The article offers information on the German copyright law development related to intellectual property right for performing arts. It discusses the result of the September 2010 final judgment given by Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court on VG Bild-Kunst filed unauthorized exhibition of 1964 Joseph Beuys' photographs of live performance against Museum Schloss Moyländer in Germany. Other applications of intellectual property law to recorded art performances are also mentioned.

The article offers congressional updates on performing art. The Performance Rights Act, approved by the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, guarantees that a performance right will be paid to musicians on sound recordings aired over terrestrial AM/FM radio. The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) continues to fight for legislation that would streamline the process of visa for foreign musicians. AFM was also involved in the AFL-CIOs efforts on health care reform.

The article reports that the Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries offers law students to get a better idea on how to enter into this practice area. The Forum, the biggest national organization in sports and entertainment law in the U.S., caters to the needs and interests of lawyers whose clients are in the sports, entertainment and arts industries.

The article reports on the relevance of the U.S. Performance Rights Act granting royalties to performers on a recorded work of music when played on radio. It notes that the National Association of Broadcasters fights for the bill and a competing bill which prohibits the Congress from any royalty addition to what radio pays. It points out that most first-world nations resist paying the share it earned by American musical performers since there is no payment reciprocity to their native talents.

The article discusses revisions made to the Basic Showcase Code of Actors' Equity Association (AEA) to accommodate Off-Off-Broadway productions, effective May 25, 2009. The revisions state that producers will be limited to 128 hours of rehearsal but may accommodate rehearsals for five weeks, rather than four. Furthermore, the budget cap has been increased to 35,000 U.S. dollars exclusive of the Equity stipends payable to the actors. The advantages and disadvantages of these changes to Off-Off-Broadway productions are discussed.

The article deals with the statement released by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organization's (AFL-CIO) Executive Council in support of the Performance Rights Act. According to the statement, the AFL-CIO supports the passage of the act which would allow musicians and singers to receive compensation for terrestrial radio play of their recordings. The resolution is also supported by American Federation of Musician (AFM) President Thomas Lee.

This article reports on the impromptu performances staged by a number of American Federation of Musicians (AFM) members on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. in support of the Performance Rights Act of 2007. The legislation is important to musicians because it is about individual creators. Some of the musicians who supported the creation of a performance right along with the AFM and musicFIRST Coalition members were BeBe Winans, Jon Carroll, and Carole Bean.

This article reports on legislation that is supported by Mary Wilson, one of Supremes founders. Wilson wants legislators in Texas to pass laws preventing impostors from performing as if they were the original musicians. Numerous acts from the 1950s and 1960s have been subjected to impersonators, and the proposed legislation would allow for up $15,000 in fines as punishment.

Reports that New York Governor George Pataki has vetoed a New York state bill that will allow personal managers to seek employment for their artist clients. Effect of the bill on the performing arts sector, according to Paul Christie, president of the New York branch of the Screen Actors Guild; Significance of the vetoing of the bill to professional actors.

The article reports that Americans for the Arts Action Fund offers its members training in advocacy, providing letter templates and advice for how to reach local politicians about arts legislation. The Fund aims to impact the arts positions of candidates for office as well as evaluate the voting records of members of the U.S. Congress on arts and arts education issues.

Reports the agreement of the U.S. Justice Department and Federal Communications Commission for control of merger reviews in entertainment industry. Efforts for improvement of law enforcement; Efficiency on investigation of anti-competitive conduct affecting consumers; Development of expertise over certain sectors of the economy.

Focuses on the proposed bill of United States Senator Joe Lieberman concerning the entertainment industry in the country.

Expounds on the revision of the 1939 Coogan Law in the United States. Naming of the law after child star Jackie Coogan whose parents squandered his show business earnings; Incorporation of provision stating that the child actor's earnings are the child's property; Requirement to set aside a percentage of child's earnings in a blocked account; Right of children to investment the blocked account in mutual funds.

Provides information on a court ruling in Tennessee in 1941 on a case filed by a musicians' union to support the implementation of a law that would prohibit public school bands from playing for free at private functions. Views of the union's counsel on public school bands; Success of school bands in the case.

Focuses on the Artists' Rights & Theft Prevention Act introduced by senators Dianne Feinstein and John Cornyn in the U.S. Aim of the legislators to criminalize the use of camcorders to tape movies off the bigscreen; Advantage of the bill to strengthen the ability of movie studios and record labels to crack down on unauthorized copying and distribution of DVD and CD on the Internet and black market; Violation of the copyright law by recording a movie off the bigscreen.

Cites the inclusion of Motion Picture Association America chairman and chief executive officer Jack Valenti in a consulting committee that will advise the Brazilian government on a bill to regulate the audiovisual industries and promote local production. Issues raised by Valenti; Regulatory proposals that could include new taxes of foreign films and programming.

Presents updates on the United States entertainment industry's support to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) as of July 2001. Involvement of the New York Entertainment Industry Health Insurance Coalition with the legislation; Background information on the subsidy bill.

Looks at the legislative bills approved by the United States Congress which are important to the non-profit organizations and to the performing arts industry. Bills which were signed into law by President Bill Clinton; Highlights of the bills; Bills pending in the United States Congress.

Reports on the 2000 budget proposal of New York State Governor George Pataki for the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). How Pataki's proposal compared to the 1999 funding proposal; Amount in grants for arts organizations with the proposed budget; New York legislative bills that will affect the arts in 2000.

Presents a recap of entertainment industry-related proposals and legislation in the first session of the 106th Congress in the United States. Media-violence proposals; Internet taxation bills; Passage of the Cyber-Piracy Prevention Act.

Reports on a legislative bill introduced in the State Assembly and State Senate for the classification of workers as independent contractors in the United States. Involvement in legislation of the Unions for the Performing Arts; Purpose of the bill.

Describes bill proposals in the United States that would affect performing artists. S428, a capital program for the arts and cultural projects; A2897 for arts funds; A5649 for creating ticket surcharges for sporting, theater and arts events.

Part II. Focuses on legal issues pertinent to the performing arts in the United States. Unemployment insurance law; Definition of employment; Exposure of local communities to the performing arts; Concerns of artists in applying for unemployment benefits; Employers delegating the requirement to pay benefits to artists; Employers refusing to provide benefits.

The article presents advice on finding an entertainment lawyer, focusing on the music industry. Recommendations include getting references, meeting with potential lawyers in order to determine whether a good working relationship is likely, and investigating the various possible payment options. Obtaining legal representation before signing a contract is described as essential.

Information about the special presentation forum held at the Hilton Nashville Downtown in Nashville, Tennessee on April 29, 2009 is presented. Highlights include the discussion of the Performance Rights Act, its history and backgrounds. It is noted that the discussion has also shifted to net neutrality with the highlights on internet service.

The article reports that a bill that would have given unions much greater flexibility in workplace organizing was defeated in the U.S. Senate. The Employee Free Choice Act, which was supported by Hollywood talent unions and opposed by the Motion Picture Association of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, was designed to let workers join a union by signing an authorization card rather than by holding an election.

The article discusses Doug Mark's term as an artists' lawyer. Mark met Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz as a school band singer, which turned out to be a bond that helped him in his legal career. Mark who has a vast client list from the music industry , including Michelle Branch, and R&B artist Sebastian, moved to Barnes Morris in 2000, at the time of digital revolution. The article also presents that Mark's passion for music has helped him in creating a bond between him and his clients.

Focuses on the draft to veto any attempts of the European Union (EU) to deregulate the cinema in France. Decision of EU to reinstate the voting procedure; Amendment of the draft; Sectors banned by the French government from commercials.

Reports that Assomusica, the Italian concert promoter trade organization, is seeking to have music recognized as a cultural activity in order to receive government support. Increase in live music-related revenue in 2002 over 2001; Fiscal benefits of this distinction; Outlook for the Music Bill, which contains several proposals aimed at assisting and regulating the music industry.

Discusses the meeting between representatives of several performing arts unions and the United States (U.S.) Immigration and Naturalization Service on March 14, 2001 about immigrant performing companies. Failure of foreign performing companies to meet a legal requirement for consultation with labor unions in the U.S.; Categories of foreign actors which seek employment in the U.S.

Focuses on bills sponsored by New York lawmakers that could affect the arts as of March 2001. Background of a legislation introduced by Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio; Information on an admission ticket surcharge enacted.

Focuses on several developments in the retail segment of the sound recording industry. Retail industry considering consolidation as a strategy to compete with big companies; Independent distribution sector as the leader in this trend; Debate sparked by the performance-right legislation introduced in Congress; Several appointments in the industry; Target Store and CEMA; National Assn. of Store Fixture Manufacturers.

Reports on the ruling of the California Court of Appeal that personal managers must be licensed as talent agents or work with licensed talent agents if they want to procure work for their clients.

Provides an overview of the series of legislative bills dealing with arts issues in New York City, New York. Sales tax break proposed by Senator Roy Goodman; Legislation on state arts funding; Issue on performers' and employees' salaries.