P. John Burke Quoted in Bloomberg News Article on U.S. Scrutiny of Entertainment Deals with China

P. John Burke, head of Akin Gump’s entertainment practice, has been quoted in the Bloomberg News article “Red Star Over Hollywood: ‘Dr. Evil’ Says China Wants Movies” regarding efforts by a Washington public affairs firm to raise security concerns over growing Chinese stakes in the U.S. entertainment business.

Rick Berman, known by some as “Dr. Evil” for his lobbying work against labor unions, has been trying to capture the attention of those in Congress about the motives of Chinese companies acquiring U.S. studios and cinema chains. According to the article, Berman sees it as an attempt to influence public opinion and tailor films to the liking of rulers in Beijing.

Burke co-authored a recent Akin Gump client alert questioning whether the U.S. government might increase its study of entertainment deals. “You can’t ignore it as a potential problem,” he said.