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. 

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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: 

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. 

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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: 

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. 

The Role Of Media And Entertainment Solicitors In The Creative Industry

The role of media and entertainment solicitors in the creative industry is diverse. Solicitors are well embedded within the creative industry, protecting the rights and works of individuals and organisations.  

For more insight, continue reading this blog. We will look at media and entertainment law solicitors in protecting intellectual property, contract drafting, and dispute resolution. 

 

An Overview Of Media And Entertainment Law  

The landscape of the media and entertainment industry is vast, innovative, and in these modern times, hard to define. How we consume media and entertainment, how it is made and where it is shared is constantly changing. 

New media and entertainment avenues are always cropping up. Social media has taken the industry by storm. The sanctions that regulate industry activities are under constant review just to keep up with the moving times. 

As well as content moving more digital, the UK’s exit from the EU has caused unclarity around the active policy area for digital media and regulations imposed prior to the UK’s severance with the EU.  

Media and entertainment law is multifaceted and takes on many legal categories. It is not one singular ‘Act’. The related laws are in place to protect the interests of creators, distributors, and consumers within the creative industry.  

The key areas of media and entertainment law include are- 

  • Intellectual Property Law: Protects creator’s ownership of their work, in terms of brand, inventions, aesthetics, writing or product. 
  • Contract Law: Governs the relationships and agreements made between media and entertainment businesses and sectors. 
  • Defamation Law: Protects the reputation of creators, individuals, and organisations from false claims. 
  • Privacy Law: Balancing the public’s right to access information as well as an individual’s privacy. 
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensures individuals and organisations comply with and adhere to industry-specific regulations. 

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The Role Of Media And Entertainment Solicitors In The Creative Industry 

Protecting Intellectual Property (IP) 

To identify potential IP assets, solicitors will conduct an audit. This can be time-consuming, so it is rare for individuals to have the capacity to comb through their own catalogue of creative works. 

Solicitors will then assist their clients with registering their works with appropriate authorities to secure copyright recognition and suitable protection. In some cases, organisations in the media and entertainment industry wish to trademark their brand, which is also something a solicitor can help with. 

Media and entertainment solicitors are committed to securing advantageous intellectual property for their clients. One way they achieve this is by monitoring the marketplace to identify any potential infringements that occur. Such vigilance will ensure that creative works are well protected. 

 

Contract Negotiation And Drafting  

When it comes to contract negotiations in the creative industry, a media and entertainment solicitor will ensure the terms are legally sound and beneficial for their client.  

They will set up an initial consultation to establish the client’s needs and concerns. In the first meeting, they will gather enough information to devise the most advantageous approach to negotiations. After assessing their client’s rights and obligations, they will then ensure the contract accurately reflects this. 

Upon drafting a contract for their client, the key clauses defined are- 

  • Scope of Work: Details specifically what the project entails and the responsibilities of the parties involved.  
  • Payment Terms: Specifies how payments will be made and when they are due.  
  • IP Rights: Clarifies the ownership and usage of intellectual property rights used or created.  
  • Confidentiality: Protecting the privacy of involved individuals as well as sensitive information that is unauthorised for disclosure.  
  • Termination Conditions: Should a party wish to end the contract, this will outline the conditions for doing so.  
  • Dispute Resolution: Establishes the approach to resolving disputes that may arise throughout the project.  

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Dispute Resolution 

It is common for disputes to arise in the creative industry. Artists and creators are protective of their work and have a close attachment to it. Like with any business dealings, it is in their best interest to handle matters and disputes swiftly.  

Despite what you may think, solicitors do not want disagreements to occur. While they are there to manage disputes should they arise, it is in everyone’s best interest that things run smoothly. In actuality, media and entertainment lawyers will diligently oversee dealings and take preventive action to minimise contention. This includes ensuring clarity in contracts, offering legal counsel, and monitoring compliance.  

Should disputes arise, media and entertainment solicitors will fulfil litigation duties. This includes case preparation, trial advocacy, court representation, and post-trial actions. 

Media And Entertainment Solicitors From Blacks Legal  

We hope you are now feeling more familiar with the role of media and entertainment solicitors in the creative industry.  

At Blacks Legal, we know that roles in the creative industry can attract significant attention, and how clients wish for legal matters to be handled discreetly. We navigate all legal proceedings in this jurisdiction with utmost professionalism and skill.  

Our services extend to supporting contracts, sponsorship agreements, disputes, defamation and reputation management, financial crisis management, and any criminal matters.  

If you would like to know more about us and what we do or have any questions relating to media and entertainment law, then please don’t hesitate to contact us.