The Legal Side of Product Placement in Film and Television Shows
Posted Jun 26, 2025 | Law Student Blog,
By Olivia Miller, Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School, Juris Doctor Candidate, 2027 From Reese’s Pieces in E.T. to Pepsi in Wayne’s World, product placement in films and television shows has had a long-lasting impact on American culture and consumerism. According to a study conducted by BENlabs, 75% of...
Borrow First, Justify Later: AI’s Copyright Playbook
Posted Jun 24, 2025 | Law Student Blog,
By Omowunmi (Wunmi) Odeja, Washington University School of Law, Juris Doctor Candidate, 2027 Meta Platforms, Inc. has been sued by 13 authors for allegedly using pirated copies of their novels taken from online shadow libraries like LibGen and Books3 to train its AI model, LLaMa. As seen in filings...
Much Ado About Ethics
Posted May 12, 2025 | News & Events,
A FREE FAST-PACED PRESENTATION FOR ATTORNEYS AND ACCOUNTANTS 2.0 hours of Missouri CLE or CPE ethics credit Tuesday, June 3 at Husch Blackwell, 8001 Forsyth Boulevard in Clayton Presentation begins promptly at 3:00 PMNetworking Reception follows at 5:30 PM Please register no later than May 30. The works of...
In Memoriam: Marv Nodiff (1945-2025)
Posted Apr 27, 2025 | News & Events,
By Sue Greenberg, executive director We are saddened by the recent passing of Founding Board Member Marvin J. Nodiff. Marv was the leading man in our origin story. The first chapter began in 1981 with Zia Gipson, who worked for the City’s Arts & Humanities Commission (which later became...
Hobby or Business?
Posted Apr 17, 2025 | Financial Matters,
by Sue Greenberg, VLAA executive director Creatives often ask about deducting their business expenses when they are getting ready to file their Schedule C Profit or Loss from Business with their federal tax returns. Generally, if your business deductions exceed your income for the tax year, you can claim a loss,...
Meet Quinton Ward
Posted Apr 04, 2025 | News & Events,
We are pleased to announce that Quinton Ward is our new part-time Community Engagement Manager. He succeeds Shayba Diaz Muhammad, who is leaving the St. Louis area. Quinton will build awareness of our programs and services on social media and by making in-person connections with underserved artists and creative...
Grants to Support Arts Engagement and Learning
Posted Jan 27, 2025 | News & Events,
The East St. Louis Regional Arts Partners (RAP) grant program, previously known as the Community Arts Access program, awards grants to local cultural organizations and nonprofits offering arts programming. Schools and individual artists are also eligible for funding. The RAP program is made possible by funding from the Illinois...
2025 Tax Preparation Assistance
Posted Jan 21, 2025 | Financial Matters,
Our volunteer accountants aren’t available to prepare tax returns for our pro bono clients until May. As a courtesy, here are are some options to consider if you need assistance: STL Tax Counselors at the Salvation Army STL Tax Counselors prepares tax returns at the Salvation Army in South...
Recordkeeping Resolutions
Posted Jan 02, 2025 | Financial Matters,
By Sue Greenberg, executive director As we begin 2025, here’s a suggestion that will pay off: Take deliberate control of your creative business by spending 15 minutes per week on recordkeeping. A complete set of records will help you track your income, assets, and expenses. Additionally, your records (including...