Kennedy Center v. Redd: How a Canceled Jazz Concert Became a Free Speech Fight

When can a performer’s public criticism become a breach of contract? In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin Shareholders Scott Hervey and Richard D. Buckley, Jr. break down Kennedy Center v. Redd, a dispute involving musician Charles Redd, a canceled performance, a morals clause, and D.C.’s Anti-SLAPP Act. In this episode, they cover: How D.C.’s Anti-SLAPP Act applied to Redd’s public statements Why the court dismissed the Kennedy Center’s breach of contract claims What the decision means for venues, studios, and producers relying on morals clauses in performer agreements Tune in for a clear look at what happens when contractual morals clauses collide with legal protections for public speech. The Briefing from the IP Law Blog and The IP Law Blog are publications of Weintraub Tobin (www.weintraub.com). The Intellectual Property Law Blog provides insight in connection with copyrights, trademarks, patents, trade secrets, false advertising, licensing and promotions, and sweepstakes. The blog’s objective is to serve as a forum to discuss IP strategies that provide protection to businesses’ or persons’ intangible assets. The blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.