How Media And Entertainment Solicitors Handle Copyright Infringement Cases 

If you are wondering how media and entertainment solicitors handle copyright infringement cases, then this blog is for you.

Media and entertainment law is a complex field that requires specialist expertise. Today we’re taking a closer look at one particular aspect of media and entertainment law – copyright, and explaining how media and entertainment solicitors handle copyright infringement cases. 

What Is A Media And Entertainment Solicitor? 

Media and entertainment solicitors handle all legal matters relating to their clients’ careers. They typically work exclusively with clients who have careers in media and entertainment, whether they are already established names or are new to the industry. As such, their clients might include musicians, TV personalities, comedians, actors, authors or influencers, to name just a few. 

A media and entertainment solicitor works to protect their client’s interests and help further their careers by assisting in a wide range of legal issues, such as: 

• Negotiating contracts 

• Managing finances 

• Assisting with Public Relations (PR) 

• Estate planning 

• Handling disputes 

Media and entertainment solicitors also help to protect their clients’ Intellectual Property (IP). This can be anything their client has personally created, from a song to a script to a brand name. IP law is its own specific area of law and includes matters relating to copyright. 

What Is Copyright? 

Copyright protects your work and prevents other people from using it without your permission. In the UK, copyright is automatic. This means you don’t need to apply for copyright, it is legally granted to you immediately and automatically on the creation of a piece of work. 

Copyright applies to any piece of work you’ve created. This includes obvious things, such as a book you’ve written, a picture you’ve painted or a photograph you’ve taken, but you also hold copyright over other things you may not have considered. For example, sound recordings, web content, logos and fonts. 

As the creator of a piece of work, you hold the exclusive right to distribute and use your work. You’re then able to sell these rights to other people who want to use, adapt or distribute the work, provided you’re happy for them to do so. 

What Is Meant By Copyright Infringement? 

Copyright infringement happens when someone uses your work without your permission. This could be accidental – for example, they may not have realised that you owned the copyright, or it might be deliberate. Copyright infringement is also known as ‘piracy’ since it involves the theft of someone else’s (intellectual) property. 

As a copyright owner, you’re responsible for defending your own work against copyright infringement. However, in reality, this can be very difficult to do! Not only would you need to constantly check if anyone was using your material without your permission, but you’d also need to be aware of the next steps to stop people from using your work and how to handle potential copyright disputes. 

That’s where the expertise of an IP professional, such as a media and entertainment solicitor comes in. 

Protecting Your Artistic Work With The Help Of A Media And Entertainment Solicitor 

As IP and copyright are extensive legal fields within themselves, having a media and entertainment solicitor is vital to ensure your work is fully protected from misuse. 

In many cases, copyright lasts until 70 years after the creator’s death, meaning that copyright issues aren’t just something that will affect your career and finances in the present day, but can also impact your estate planning and the legacy you leave for your loved ones in the future. 

Having the support and expertise of a professional with a robust understanding of copyright and IP law helps protect your work by defining when and how it can be used, by whom and for how long, as well as ensuring that you’re suitably compensated for its use both now and in the future. 

Media & entertainment solicitors handle copyright infringement cases in a number of ways. They can: 

• Evaluate whether a copyright claim is valid, or whether the work copied is covered by ‘fair use’. 

• Advise on how to proceed if copyright has been infringed, including issuing takedown notices, and handling disputes about copyright ownership. 

• Negotiate licensing agreements for the permitted use of copyrighted work. 

• Handle mediation, arbitration, or – if necessary – litigation. 

A media and entertainment solicitor can also help if you believe you’ve been wrongly accused of copyright infringement. 

Blacks Legal – Specialist Media And Entertainment Solicitors 

If you’ve been wondering how media and entertainment solicitors handle copyright infringement cases, we hope this has helped to clear things up. 

Here at Blacks Legal, we have a wealth of experience assisting clients in the media and entertainment sector, including advising on Intellectual Property and copyright matters. 

So if you work in the media or entertainment industry and are looking for legal advice around copyright, be assured that our team of specialised media and entertainment solicitors are on hand to help you find the best possible solution to protect your career and your assets. 

Don’t hesitate to get in touch today to discuss how our specialist media and entertainment solicitors can help you find a way forward.