Stephen Bate – författare

Media and entertainment law is one of the fastest growing sectors of practice in the UK and European Community. Practising lawyers are hungry for information and informed analysis of the latest developments in this fast-moving field. This Yearbook spans the traditional concerns of media lawyers such as free speech and freedom of the press generally, including libel law and contempt of court as well as the core areas of entertainment law practice such as copyright, contracts, licensing and competition. In addition it covers the emerging fields of new technologies, the impact of the much heralded `information highway' upon media law, the effects of European Community initiatives in this area and the ever changing subject of broadcasting regulation. The Yearbook consists of high-quality analytical articles, important annual surveys of developments in all these fields and reviews of recent publications, all of which will be of interest to the practising and academic lawyer.

In the fast-changing world of the media the role of the law is growing ever more important. In response to a bewildering range of technological innovation as well as to perennial concerns (such as freedom of the press) the media lawyer is called upon to handle increasingly complex issues. Lawyers have a vital role in negotiating contracts and licences, litigating in the event of disputes, ensuring the effective protection of intellectual property rights and advising on often novel questions concerning competition, regulation, and international cross-border disputes. This highly complex field had not been well served by legal literature; the Year Book remedied that omission. It answers the needs of professionals in the field while also making a significant contribution to media law as an area of serious academic study. The central feature of the Yearbook is the annual surveys prepared by expert practising lawyers. Covering all issues from libel, contempt of court, music contracts, new technology, competition, regulation, and copyright, the surveys contain considered and thorough analysis of the most recent developments in the UK, the EC, and beyond. In a global industry, this comparative and international approach is vital. In addition, each edition of the Yearbook contains specially commissioned articles on subjects of particular topicality. A further feature is the review of recent publications which provides a valuable check for those wishing to verify their current awareness of developments in the field. Edited by the countrys leading academic media lawyer and ably assisted by two of the best known practitioners in the field, the Yearbook is well-established as an indispensable part of every media lawyers library.

Up to date and informative, the Yearbook of Copyright and Media Law is now well-established as a key source of information and analysis for all copyright, media and entertainment law professionals. It is is designed to respond to practical developments and problem areas such as the Internet and Multimedia while also making a serious contribution to copyright and media law as a legal discipline. The central feature of the Yearbook is the range of annual surveys prepared by expert practising lawyers. Covering all issues from copyright, trademarks, licensing societies and new technology to libel, contempt of court and music contracts, the surveys contain considered and thorough analysis of the most recent developments in the UK, the EC, and beyond. The special survey in this yearbook focuses on definitions of film and there are in-depth articles on subjects of particular topicality such as the Microsoft judgment and the impact of The Human Rights Act and the Data Protection Act.