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High Risk Ventures – What Protects Sasha Baron Cohen From Liability?

When evaluating a client’s new business venture, one of the first things a lawyer will do is consider the risk profile. If there is a high probability of being sued, then the cost of defending those suits needs to be included in the financial planning. Examples of ventures with a high risk of facing lawsuits include: (1) disruptive ventures (such as Uber), (2) reliance on third-party data sources (such as data scraping operations), (3) use of another’s intellectual property (such as parodies of copyrighted material), (4) publicizing negative reviews (such as Yelp), and (5) anything that will publicly embarrass or anger others (meet Sacha Baron Cohen).

Cohen has made a career of making intelligent and successful people look foolish or worse via vehicles such as Ali G, Borat, Bruno, and now, Who is America? The model is based upon Cohen assuming the identity of an odd and outlandish character, and then interviewing or otherwise interacting with his “guests.” One of the most dramatic outcomes was the recent resignation of a Georgia state legislator following his very embarrassing encounter with Cohen which included exposing himself and using racial slurs. Who are some of his other victims who will be appearing on Who is America? Dick Cheney, Bernie Sanders, Sarah Palin, Joe Arpaio, Ted Koppel, Howard Dean, and Roy Moore, to name a few.

Well, publicly embarrassing the powerful through deception sounds like a high-risk venture to me. So how does Cohen avoid massive crippling liability?

Meet the Consent Agreement

The American legal system is known for granting many rights to its citizens and for providing a means of protecting those rights. However, this system also grants the power to waive many of these rights and protections.

The American legal system is known for granting many rights to its citizens and for providing a means of protecting those rights. However, this system also grants the power to waive many of these rights and protections. Prior to appearing on any news (or in Cohen’s case, quasi or pseudo-news) shows, a guest will be required to sign a Consent Agreement. A Consent Agreement is a powerful document. And, as you will see, even the so-called “intelligent” can sign such an agreement and not understand its import.

The following terms are taken from that Standard Content Agreement used by Cohen in the past that were revealed in some of the lawsuits filed against Cohen. So, while these are not necessarily the same terms as currently used by Cohen, they are probably close.

Most salient terms appear below (emphasis added):

“The Participant specifically, but without limitation, waives, and agrees not to bring at any time in the future, any claims against the Producer, or against any of its assignees or licensees or anyone associated with the Film, that include assertions of (a) infringement of rights of publicity or misappropriation (such as any allegedly improper or unauthorized use of the Participant’s name or likeness or image), … (d) intrusion (such as any allegedly offensive behavior or questioning or any invasion of privacy), (e) false light (such as any allegedly false or misleading portrayal of the Participant), (f) infliction of emotional distress (whether allegedly intentional or negligent), … (h) breach of any alleged contract (whether the alleged contract is verbal or in writing), (i) allegedly deceptive business or trade practices, … (k) defamation (such as any allegedly false statements made on the Film), (l ) violations of Section 43(a) of the Lanham Act (such as allegedly false or misleading statements or suggestions about the Participant in relation to the Film or the Film in relation to the Participant), (m) prima facie tort (such as alleged intentional harm to the Participant), (n) fraud (such as any alleged deception or surprise about the Film or this consent agreement), … or (p) tortious or wrongful interference with any contracts or business of the Participant, or any claim arising out of the Participant’s viewing of any sexually-oriented materials or activities.”

It’s not by chance that the most frequently used word in the above paragraph is “allegedly.” The author/lawyer of the Standard Consent Agreement was clearly anticipating many potential allegations. The primary language limiting Cohen’s liability is where the participant waives any right to seek redress for:

(1) improper or unauthorized use of the participant’s name or likeness,

(2) offensive behavior,

(3) false or misleading portrayal of the participant,

(4) negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress or other harm,

(5) deception,

(6) defamation/false statements about the participant, and

(7) deception or surprise about the Film or this consent agreement.

This list covers pretty much any claim that could arise from Cohen’s outrageous behavior and conduct.

Why does anyone, especially “intelligent” and “successful” people, sign such an agreement? The short answer is a desire for publicity and the resulting fame and public recognition (for a longer answer, consult with a mental health professional). Well, at any rate, they are sure getting publicity, but not the kind they sought.

What’s more, the Standard Consent Agreement states:

“This is the entire agreement between the Participant and the Producer or anyone else in relation to the Film, and the Participant acknowledges that, in entering into it, the Participant is not relying upon any promises or statements made by anyone about the nature of the Film of the identity of any other Participants or persons involved in the Film.”

Based upon the above language, the participant even waives a right to claim that the entire production and the circumstances around entering into the Standard Consent Agreement were based upon deception.

The following case can be viewed for further text of the Standard Consent Agreement used in the past by Cohen: In re Kathie Martin v. Sacha Baron Cohen et al.

Bottom Line:

Is such a Consent Agreement enforceable? Well, to the chagrin of the victims, the answer is yes, and this document has basically stopped almost all past actions in their tracks. And, claiming that you didn’t read or understand it is not going to be any defense.

The solution is simple – know what you are signing.

William S. Galkin
William S. Galkinhttp://galkinlaw.com/
Mr. Galkin has dedicated his legal practice to representing Internet, e-commerce, computer technology and new media businesses across the U.S. and around the world. He serves as a trusted adviser to both startup and multinational corporations on their core commercial transactions including corporate formation and transitions, intellectual property, technology licensing and transfer, regulatory compliance, and agreements for online businesses. His broad experience gained during more than 20 years in practice allows him to provide cutting-edge, creative and efficient solutions to complex problems. Mr. Galkin has been an Adjunct Professor of Computer Law at the University of Maryland School of Law and Adjunct Professor of Business Law at the Merrick School of Business at the University of Baltimore, as well as the Chairperson of a panel on Crimes in Cyberspace for the 19th National Information Systems Security Conference (Sponsored by the National Security Agency). Mr. Galkin also authored the Maryland Intellectual Property and Technology Transactions Forms and Practice Manual, published by Data Trace Publishing. Mr. Galkin is also a member of Schwell Wimpfheimer & Associates LLP, with responsibility for technology transactions, which affiliation allows Mr. Galkin to provide a broad array of legal services to his clients. Additionally, he serves as Of Counsel to the Information Technology Group of one of the largest Israeli law firms, managing many U.S. transactions for the firm’s clients.

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