There are several legal liabilities that are associated with my business plan that need to be cleared prior to the launch of Buckley Stone’s Totally Awesome Network! to avoid any legal confusion. The network I intend to launch is a 24/7 network that consists of professional wrestling, sports, action packed films, new programming including sketch comedy, highlight analysis and raw material featuring celebrities, athletes, models and WWE superstars. It is extremely important for the network to clear any legal and/or copyright controversies before the initial launch.

An example of this occurred with WWE’s recent network launch. A major concern, which may end in legal controversies, is the undetermined status of WWE superstar compensation. It is still unclear as to how wrestlers will be paid for appearances in events formerly called Pay-Per-Views. This includes compensation for top names and mid carders for PPV caliber events that are now part of the network price package. This complication could have been avoided and would have been far easier to negotiate if it had been worked out prior to the actual launch.

In the marketing and promotion of a new network, the company will need to utilize social media and make sure that it isn’t broadcasting content that is owned or copyrighted under intellectual property. In a recent article titled Copyright Issues for Social Media, it is stated that when reposting or repining news by giving credit to the original owner of material will not protect another user from copyright infringement. Anything that the organization posts or makes available as its product is considered “User Content.” This means, the publisher of preexisting content is legally responsible for the user content that is posted through the particular social media platform.

The main issue of producing and airing existing content on a new network is the potential of legal controversies regarding copyright infringement. This means that reproducing someone else’s content without permission may be considered infringement. Buckley Stone’s Totally Awesome Network! Plans to use previously produced work from its partners and associates, but clearly understands that through hypertext links, framing and internet patents, partners of the network need to give written permission for the network to display such information through the website. The network knows and understands that all of its affiliates are protected under copyright, ownership and Internet law and the network will not reproduce any existing content without clearance from its potential associate organization.