Entertainment Law: Advantages of Having a Lawyer Who Knows The Music Industry
5 Benefits of Being Connected to an Entertainment Lawyer
As creatives we make a living off of the art we produce, so it is important that we have means of protecting that art. Artists can face a variety of challenges, from copyright infringement, intellectual property management, & contract violations. No matter the art form created, every artist needs an entertainment lawyer to help protect their livelihood.
What is Entertainment Law & What Do Entertainment Lawyers Do?
Entertainment law is legal services covering different areas of media such as TV, film, music, internet, advertisement, publishing, etc). Entertainment law can cover contracts, copyright, protection of intellectual property, negotiations, and more.
Entertainment lawyers differ from regular lawyers because they have knowledge of the industry, vital connections, and are specialized in the entertainment world so they have your best interest at heart.
Understanding these benefits can help you create and protect the art you make, and make the most of your career in the music industry.
1.Negotiations and Litigations
All lawyers have to negotiate to protect their clients interests. Having an entertainment lawyer means they will better understand your interests and be able to negotiate in your best interest. They’ll be able to fight for fair compensation, secure talent releases, and help you get the best deal when working with other music industry professionals like producers or a record company.
Litigation is the idea of taking someone to court, which can mean settling a dispute with or without a trial. Either way, an entertainment lawyer is able to enforce your rights and protect you and your property (both intellectual and physical) from infringement. They are also able to defend you in the event a claim is taken against you.
2.Copyright and Protection of Intellectual Property
Copyright and intellectual property infringement happens a lot in the music industry. Whether it’s an honest mistake or an intended violation, individuals have the right to protect their work. Entertainment lawyers will ensure that you will be properly compensated and credited for your work.
“For example, if you wrote a song or cowrote a movie script, a lawyer would make sure that you retained your intellectual property rights as full owner of the song and partial owner of the script. This would ensure that you are properly paid when others sing your song or produce your script,” as stated in an article written by G7Tech.
“Since many entertainment lawyers have personal experiences within the industry, they have first hand knowledge of how to best protect their clients and their interests.”
3.They Can Help Understand Contracts and Taxes
A huge part of being a lawyer is understanding contracts and taxes. As music industry professionals, having an entertainment lawyer that understands the specific nuances involved in our contracts and taxes will help us get the best deals we can.
Since contracts and taxes can use language that can be confusing, it’s important to have a lawyer that can help us understand it. Being connected to an entertainment lawyer is beneficial because they have experience working with entertainment-related legal work, so they know how to make good deals and protect your money.
4.Connections
Networking is a big part of having a career in music, and entertainment lawyers can be another great way to connect you with other music industry professionals. They know other professionals like producers, record companies, managers, agents, and more. Being connected to an entertainment lawyer is a great way to make introductions to those music industry professionals.
Along with connections to music industry professionals, entertainment lawyers may also be able to help you with grants, tax cases, non-entertainment contracts, or even real estate.
5.Knowledge of The Industry
Many entertainment lawyers are musicians or artists themselves, or have been in the past, so they understand the creative side and hard work that goes on with their clients. Since many entertainment lawyers have personal experiences within the industry, they have first hand knowledge of how to best protect their clients and their interests.
Entertainment lawyers cover a wide range of media such as:
Film
Television
Music
Comedy
Publishing
Advertising
Internet & News Media
Having this background is crucial. Other lawyers might be able to fight for you, but they might not get you the best deal because they lack important industry knowledge. Having a lawyer who knows the music industry is one of the biggest benefits because it is vital in helping their clients the most productive way they can.
Entertainment Lawyers: How to Know If You Need One and What You Should Expect- The Den Collective
The Importance of Having The Right Lawyer
There are countless advantages of being connected to entertainment lawyers, and understanding these benefits will help you protect the art you work so hard to create.
The Den Collective partners with Law In The Limelight, an entertainment law podcast that provides insight on the entertainment law industry. In The Den Resources Peter Speroni, Wynton Yates, and Max Hass are entertainment lawyers providing courses and resources in entertainment law. More information on our resources can be found here, and more about our musicians tools can be found here.
Our CEO Kristen Klehr is a featured guest on an upcoming podcast with Law In The Limelight, releasing on all streaming platforms on Wednesday, December 22, 2021.
Want to know more? Stay tuned for the upcoming podcast from Law In The Limelight featuring our In The Den lawyers!
Instagram Handles:
@lawinthelimelight / @maxhassesq / @wyntonyates / @peter.speroni.musicattorney
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entertainment_law
https://www.wrapbook.com/blog/entertainment-lawyer-most-asked-questions
https://onlinellm.usc.edu/blog/the-unique-role-of-the-entertainment-lawyer/
https://www.epubzone.org/these-are-the-benefits-of-hiring-an-entertainment-lawyer/
https://www.naegeliusa.com/blog/what-is-litigation
https://g7tec.com/benefits-of-hiring-an-entertainment-lawyer/