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Bob Tarantino

Bob Tarantino

Partner
  • Toronto 416 643.6815
     
btarantino@heenan.ca LinkedIn profile
 
 
    

Bob Tarantino is a partner in the Entertainment Law group at Heenan Blaikie LLP and focuses his practice on the interface between entertainment and intellectual property law, with an emphasis on film and television production, financing, licensing, distribution, and IP acquisition and protection. His clients range from artists and independent producers to Canadian distributors and foreign studios and financiers at every stage of production, from development to delivery and exploitation.

The current Chair of the Executive Committee of the Ontario Bar Association's (OBA) Entertainment, Media and Communications Law Section, and a member of the OBA Council, Bob has been a visiting Lecturer at the Western University Faculty of Law and holds graduate degrees in law from Osgoode Hall and the University of Oxford. Bob is the Contributing Editor for Canadian Film & Television Business & Legal Practice, authored by Tony Duarte. Bob has also been recognized as one of Canada’s leading lawyers in the area of entertainment law in the 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 editions of The Best Lawyers in Canada (Woodward/White).

In addition to being a frequent panellist and commentator on various matters relating to law and intellectual property, Bob launched Heenan Blaikie's Entertainment & Media Law Signal, a collaborative blog by members of the firm's Entertainment Law group, which was recognized as a co-winner of the Best New Law Blog in the 2010 Canadian Law Blog Awards (Clawbies) and the winner of the Best Practice Group Blog in the 2012 Clawbies. His writing on various topics has been featured in publications ranging from This Magazine and the National Post to the Canadian Bar Association’s PracticeLink. His academic articles in the field of entertainment law have been published in the University of California Hastings Communications and Entertainment Law Journal (Comm/Ent) and the peer-reviewed Intellectual Property Journal, Canadian Intellectual Property Review and Osgoode Hall Law Journal.

Education

  • B.C.L., University of Oxford, 2009
  • LL.M., York University (Osgoode Hall Law School), 2005
  • LL.B., York University (Osgoode Hall Law School), 1999

Professional Affiliations

  • Intellectual Property Institute of Canada
  • New York State Bar Association
  • Ontario Bar Association
  • The Law Society of Upper Canada (Ontario)

Represented the Canadian co-producer of the Canada/France co-productions Silent Hill and Silent Hill: Revelation, based on the popular Konami video game franchise.

Represented Evolution/Twisted Pictures in connection with the production of Saw II, Saw III, Saw IV, Saw V, Saw VI, and Saw 3D, the most recent instalments in the hugely successful horror franchise.

Represented the Canadian co-producer of some of the largest budget co-productions in Canadian history, Resident Evil: APOCALYPSE and Resident Evil: RETRIBUTION.

Represented Canadian and U.S. producers on such productions as Edwin Boyd, Sharkwater, Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, Repo: The Genetic Opera, A Dangerous Method, Skinwalkers, Weirdsville, Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey.

Publications & Conferences

  • Chair, “Creative Commons + Commercial Exploitation │ Exploring the Use of CC Licensed Materials in Entertainment Projects” (May 7, 2013)
  • Chair, “Mistrial: An Inside Look at How the Criminal Justice System Works…and Sometimes Doesn’t” (featuring co-author Pat Harris) (May 3, 2013)
  • Author, “Practice Tips: Clearing Music for E&O Purposes”, Ontario Bar Association Entertainment, Media and Communications Section Newsletter, Vol. 22, No. 2, (April 2013).
  • Guest Lecturer, Osgoode Hall Law School, Law and Social Change: Creative Industries (April 2, 2013).
  • Presenter, Copyright Reversions and Terminations in Canada and the United States, OBA Entertainment, Media and Communications Law Section, (March 26, 2013).
  • Panelist, On Screen Manitoba All Access 2013, "Business Affairs and Joint Ventures", (March 18, 2013).
  • Presenter, The Osgoode Certificate in Entertainment Law (February 28, 2013).
  • Presenter, "Social Media and Defamation" (Heenan Blaikie 2013 CPD Series: 8 Minute Updates), January 31, 2013.
  • Author, “Rogers et al v SOCAN: Whither the ‘Making Available’ Right?” (2012-13) 13:8 Internet and E-Commerce law in Canada (December 2012).
  • Presenter, Deletions, Additions and Interstitial Rights – The Impact of the Copyright Modernization Act, Insight Conference, Copyright Law and Practice in Canada Now (December 3, 2012).
  • Panelist, "How Not to Get Sued for Your Videogame", Gamercamp 2012 (November 4, 2012).
  • Author, “Warman v Fournier: Copyright Infringement Assessed” (2012-13) 13:5 Internet and E-Commerce law in Canada (September 2012).
  • Author, “Online Defamation: Does Context Matter?” (2012-13) 13:4 Internet and E-Commerce law in Canada (August 2012).
  • Co-lecturer, McGill/IPIC Copyright Master Class – Entertainment Issues, August 10, 2012.
  • Presenter, Beverly Hills Bar Association, Canada's New Copyright Regime, June 22, 2012.
  • Panelist, “Mapping the Paper Trail: Legal Issues Panel”, Worldwide Short Film Festival, June 9, 2012.
  • Author, “Parody Defence Not Too Far Away”, The Lawyers Weekly, April 30, 2012.
  • Co-author (with Omar Ha-Redeye), Overview: The Rules of Professional Conduct and Their Application to the Legal Profession Online (and Off), (2011-12) Internet and E-Commerce Law in Canada (March 2012).
  • Author, The First Cut is the Deepest: The Right of Directors to “Cut” Their Films, Ontario Bar Association Entertainment, Media and Communications Section Newsletter, Vol. 21 No. 2, March 2012.
  • Moderator, The Copyright Act Amendment Process and Recent Supreme Court Appeals: Implications for the Entertainment and Publishing Industries, Insight Entertainment Law Conference, March 5, 2012.
  • Moderator, OBA Institute (Entertainment, Media & Communications Law Section: Foundations, Protection and Reinvention) “Chasing Paper: Who is Your Client? Professional Responsibility Issues for External and In-House Counsel”, February 10, 2012.
  • Author, “TV contestants surrender control”, The Lawyers Weekly, February 6, 2012.
  • Author, “Forgotten corner of the copyright canvas”, The Lawyers Weekly, January 16, 2012.
  • Panelist, “Ethical Considerations in an Age of Technology” (Law Society of Upper Canada) (October 7, 2011 and November 21, 2011).
  • Panelist, “Television Terms of Trade”, Entertainment Law Conference (The Commons Institute), October 28, 2011.
  • Course Leader, Mastering Entertainment Law, Toronto, October 24-25, 2011.
  • Author, “New television terms of trade”, The Lawyers Weekly, October 14, 2011.
  • Author, “Put on Shows That Will Enthrall Them: Producers as Authors of Motion Pictures” (2011) 27 Canadian Intellectual Property Review 31.
  • Co-lecturer, McGill/IPIC Copyright Master Class – Film and Television Issues, August 10, 2011.
  • Author, “Chasing Reputation: The Argument for Differential Treatment of ‘Public Figures’ in Canadian Defamation Law”, 48 Osgoode Hall Law Journal 595, 2011.
  • Author, “Copyright in Jokes”, The Lawyers Weekly, July 1, 2011
  • Panelist, 4th Annual Film Production & Finance Summit, Los Angeles, June 13, 2011.
  • Panelist, "Avoiding the Paper Cuts: Legal Issues Panel", Worldwide Short Film Festival (Saturday, June 4, 2011).
  • Panelist, Law Society of Upper Canada Entertainment and Media Law Symposium 2011, April 15, 2011.
  • Author, “The Relevance of PIPEDA to Filming and Photographing individuals for Inclusion in Film and Television Projects” 8(5) Canadian Privacy Law Review, April 2011.
  • Author, "Decision on usage-based billing sparks public outrage", The Lawyers Weekly, March 25, 2011.
  • Panelist, 14th Annual Conference of the Osgoode/Schulich JD/MBA Students’ Association, March 15, 2011.
  • Author, “Pandora and Canadian Copyright Royalties”, Internet and E-Commerce Law in Canada (2011-12) 11(9) IECLC 4.
  • Panelist, Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC) Fair Dealing Roadshow, January 27, 2011.
  • Author, “Brute political calculus rules the copyright reform agenda”, The Hill Times, January 24, 2011.
  • Author, “The Impact of PIPEDA on Filming and Photographing Individuals for Inclusion in Film and Television Projects”, Ontario Bar Association Entertainment, Media and Communications Section Newsletter, Vol. 20, No. 2, January 2011.
  • Panelist/Moderator, Insight – Rights and Copyright – Bringing Canada into the 21st Century, December 9, 2010.
  • Author, “Parts of Bill C-32 are complex, and that’s a good thing”, The Hill Times, November 29, 2010.
  • Author, “Guidelines for Documentary Filmmakers”, The Copyright & New Media Law Newsletter, vol. 14, issue 3, October 2010.
  • Moderator, “Documentary Organization of Canada’s Fair Dealing and Copyright Guidelines”, OBA Entertainment, Media & Communications Law Section CLE, September 29, 2010.
  • Author, “On-line Defamation: The Need for Digital Corrections”, c&l (Computers & Law), Vol. 21, Issue 3, August/September, 2010.
  • Co-lecturer, McGill/IPIC - The Business of Copyright in Entertainment and Publishing - Film and Television Issues, August 11, 2010.
  • Author, “Copyright battles over comics: Reversionary interests create challenges”, The Lawyer's Weekly, May 7, 2010.
  • Author, “Sweating the Details: Clarifying Protection for Film and TV Concepts and Formats”, Ontario Bar Association Entertainment, Media and Communications Section Newsletter, Vol. 19, No. 2, February 2010.
  • Author, “'Free to Deal as He May Choose': The Displacement of 'Freedom of Commerce' as a Necessary Condition to the Creation of Canadian Multiculturalism”, 39 Common Law World Review 7, 2010.
  • Moderator, OBA Entertainment, Media & Communications, “Media Law: From Defamation 101 to Defamation 2.0, The Online Frontier”, December 3, 2009.
  • Co-lecturer, McGill/IPIC – The Business of Copyright in Entertainment and Publishing – Film and Television Issues, August 12, 2009.
  • Panelist/Presenter, British Association for Canadian Studies – Being, Becoming and Belonging : Multiculturalism, Diversity and Social Inclusion in Modern Canada, March 30, 2009.
  • Co-lecturer, McGill/IPIC – The Business of Copyright in Entertainment and Publishing – Film and Television Issues, August 13, 2008.
  • Panelist, ReelHeART International Film Festival – What’s Love Got to Do With It? Distribution Panel, June 17, 2008.
  • Co-author, “Film industry suffers impact of Canada’s cultural concerns”, The Lawyer’s Weekly, October 12, 2007 p. 15 (with Ken Dhaliwal)
  • Moderator, WIFT (Women in Film and Television) International Summit – Diversifying Your Media Company, July 17, 2007.
  • Panelist, ReelHeART International Film Festival – Inside Out! Legal Ins & Outs of Film Production, June 18, 2007.
  • Lecturer, The Weather Network – Defamation Seminar, May 9, 2007.
  • Panelist, Osgoode Hall Entertainment and Sports Law Association, “From One Medium to Another: The Legal Issues Surrounding Adaptations”, Friday, March 9, 2007.
  • Moderator, OBA Entertainment, Media & Communications, “Anger Over the Airwaves –CRTC Issues Surrounding an al Jazeera International Broadcast License”, February 26, 2007.
  • Lecturer, National Screen Institute – Canada, NSI Features First “Boot Camp” Seminar, February 2, 2007.
  • “A Minor Conundrum: Contracting with Minors in Canada for Film and Television Producers”, 29 Hastings Comm. and Ent. L.J. 45, 2006.
  • Moderator, Reading, Writing, Robertson – The Supreme Court of Canada Decision, OBA Entertainment, Media & Communications Section Roundtable, November 23, 2006.
  • “We Know Where You Live – BC Privacy Commissioner Provides Guidance to Producers on How to Collect Residency Information from Cast and Crew”, Ontario Bar Association Entertainment, Media and Communications Section Newsletter, Vol. 16, No. 2, November 2006.
  • Lecturer, “Women in Film and Television” - Executive Management Program - Seminar: Protecting Intellectual Property in the Film and Television Industry, June 26, 2006.
  • Panelist, OBA Entertainment, Media & Communications / YLD Breakfast Sizzler, Entertainment-related Aspects of Routine Business Transactions, April 19, 2006.
  • “The latest thing - blogs and legal liability”, Ontario Bar Association Entertainment, Media and Communications Section Newsletter, Vol. 15, No. 2, March 2006.
  • Panelist, International Association of Business Communicators, Copyright Law and Expectations, March 8, 2006.
  • “Poppy trade-mark argument reveals unique amalgam of rights”, The Lawyer’s Weekly, Vol. 25, No. 37, February 10, 2006.
  • National Screen Institute - Canada - Seminar: NSI Features First “Boot Camp”, January 24, 2006.
  • “Moral Rights: Proper Attribution - Dolmage v. Erskine”, Ontario Bar Association Entertainment, Media and Communications Section Newsletter, Vol. 14, No. 1, October 2004.
  • “I’ve Got This Great Idea for a Show…”, Copyright Protection for Television Show and Motion Picture Concepts and Proposals, 17 Intellectual Property Journal 189, 2004.
  • The Annotated Shareholder Agreement, Law Society of Upper Canada, Continuing Legal Education, chaired by Stanley Freedman, Nathalie Mercure and Peter Wardle, September 18, 2003.

The Best Lawyers in Canada
(Entertainment Law - 2013)

CLawbies (Canadian Law Blog Awards)
(Winner of the Best Practice Group Blog Award - 2012)

CLawbies (Canadian Law Blog Awards)
(Co-winner of the Best New Law Blog Award - 2010)

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