As an entertainment lawyer, I represent artists, photographers, authors, screenwriters, scriptwriters, playwrights, designers, lyricists, songwriters and other creative professionals. One commonly-asked question I get all the time is “how do I copyright my work?”
The answer is easy—once you have written, or painted, or sculpted, or recorded, or otherwise permanently “fixed” your work in a...Read More
Today’s question is whether a “band”, that is a group of musicians playing together, can sign a contract with a venue and be bound by it.
Like the answer the many legal questions, the answer to this question is: it depends.
Picture a four piece band composed of a guitarist, vocalist, bassist, and drummer. Let’s imagine a couple of different scenarios.
In the first scenario, the band...Read More
Whether you’re a photographer hiring a post-production assistant, a caterer hiring a sous chef, or a designer bringing in someone to do the books, there are several issues to consider when hiring an employee for your creative enterprise.
Use a written agreement
If you are hiring any person to do any type of work for you or your creative enterprise, you should have a written agreement with...Read More
We’re thrilled to announce our new Flat-Fee Consultation Packages!
These packages are designed to eliminate uncertainty about how much hiring a lawyer will cost you. Designed for new clients who want to get to know us and sample the legal services we offer, our Flat-Fee Consultation Packages give you access to our top-flight consultation and analysis at an affordable price. The best part...Read More
California’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program has expanded, and the increased incentives could have a potentially huge impact on your next project.
In 2014, Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill expanding California’s film production tax credit program. That bill went into effect last year. And it is already having a big effect in Los Angeles.
Film production in Los Angeles during the...Read More
Believe it or not, copyright law is ever-evolving, and today the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would consider two pressing IP issues in its next term (which begins in October 2016). Depending on how the Court decides these two cases, there could be potentially two major decisions that affect creative professionals seeking to protect their work and to enforce those protections.
Copyright...Read More
There is fine print language at the end of almost every contract that may appear to be less important than the rest of the contract (it’s not). Many people call this boilerplate language because they assume it is full of standard, unimportant, put-me-to-sleep, lawyerly clauses.
How many times have you signed a contract without reading to the end? It’s important to keep in mind that the...Read More
In the attorney-client relationship, it is important that the client feels empowered. I tell all of my clients that they are in the driver’s seat. I work for them, and I will offer my best and most sound advice, counsel, and recommendations. Ultimately, however, the client calls the shots.
Like many other types of professionals, attorneys bring their own set of biases and beliefs to their...Read More
As a Los Angeles transactional attorney, I regularly draft and negotiate contracts for clients. One issue that arises in every deal is the mechanism for dispute resolution.
The parties to a contract can agree to whatever form and method of dispute resolution they prefer in the event of a dispute. These decisions may include:
Mediation: parties can agree to undertake mediation prior to...Read More
