This case involves a freelance screenwriter who attended a film festival in the hopes of selling a script he had been working on. The screenwriter networked with a producer who seemed very interested in reading the script. Following the event, the producer requested to read the script in full. The screenwriter met with the producer to exchange the script. After reading the script, the producer informed the screenwriter she had elected not to move forward with the script. The following year, the producer released a film with a plot line nearly identical to that of the screenwriter’s original script without the writer’s knowledge or authorization. It was alleged that the producer plagiarized the screenwriter’s script. An expert in copyright laws with particular experience in the entertainment industry was sought to determine if the film was substantially similar to the screenwriter’s original script.
Question(s) For Expert Witness
1. Please describe your experience with intellectual property and copyrights in regards to the entertainment industry (i.e. films, screenplays, etc.).
Expert Witness Response
My teaching and research focus on (inter alia) the legal standards for the establishment of copyright liability, including the evidence and legal standards relevant to substantial similarity analysis. Case law and statutes related to the entertainment industry are the resources that I most often use in this work. I am able to review the materials and offer an opinion.
Expert Bio:
This highly qualified expert holds bachelor's degree from an ivy league university and a JD from a southern law school. His areas of expertise include intellectual property, copyrights and trademarks, contracts, and law and technology, in which he frequently publishes and lectures on. His scholarships have appeared several recognized law journals and publications. He currently serves as a professor of law and associate dean at a major law school. He is also the founder and former director of the school's intellectual property institute.
About the author
Victoria Negron
Victoria Negron has extensive experience in journalism and thought leadership in the legal space, with a background crafting content, whitepapers, webinars, and current event articles pertaining to the role of expert witnesses in complex litigation matters. She is a skilled professional specializing in B2B product marketing and content marketing. Currently, she serves as an Enterprise Product Marketing Manager at Postman, and previously held the position of Technical Product Marketing Manager at Palantir Technologies, where she developed her skills in launch strategies, go-to-market strategy, and competitive analysis.
Her expertise in content marketing was further refined during her tenure at the Expert Institute, where she progressed from a Marketing Writer to Senior Content Marketing Manager, and eventually to Associate Director of Content & Product Marketing. In these roles, she honed her abilities in digital marketing, SEO, content strategy, and thought leadership.
Educationally, Victoria holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida - Warrington College of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, Art, and Hispanic Studies from Hamilton College. Her diverse educational background and professional experience have equipped her with a robust skill set in product marketing, content development, and strategic marketing initiatives.
