ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses relaxed government regulation of the mass media since the early 1990s has led to increased concentration of ownership in certain areas. It explores some of the ethical issues involved in entertainment business negotiations. Lying is part of the game in business negotiations and the bluffing and puffery examples typically would not constitute ethical lapses. The ethical issue of lying during negotiations can overlap the business issue of how to carry on an efficient and effective negotiation. In California, the Rules of Professional Conduct regulate professional conduct of members and provide ethical guidelines governing conflicts of interest. For a law firm, the risk of an ethics violation might be deemed a cost of doing business. Despite the potential benefits of being well connected, violations of the ethics guidelines can and do result in disciplinary action by the state bar, court sanctions or malpractice lawsuits.
