The practice of entertainment law is really a body of clients with unique needs in many areas of traditional law more than it is a specific body of law. Examples of some of the things we do in our entertainment practice are: Contracts Publicity and Privacy Rights Corporate & Commercial Tax Finance Trademarks Labour and Employment Societies - Royalties Contracts • Actor agreements • Artist Management agreements • Broadcast licenses • Talent Agency agreements • Director agreements • Producer agreements (music, film and television) • Writers agreements • Distribution agreements (music, film and television) • Music Publishing agreements • Master Use and Master Synchronization licenses • Multi-media Production and Licensing agreements • Recording agreements • Literary Rights Option and Purchase agreements • Commercial Leases for studio space and locations agreements Corporate & Commercial • Incorporation of companies –both provincial and federal • Partnership agreements • Shareholder agreements • Private Share offerings • Asset Sale or Purchase Agreements • Share Sale or Purchase Agreements • Application of the Copyright Act to entertainment industry transactions • Copyright registration (Canadian Intellectual Property Office and Library of Congress) • Chain of Title opinions • Copyright licensing, assignment and transfer • Advise on enforcement of copyrights under contract Finance • Producer-side film financing • Producer Loan agreements • Shareholder Loan agreements • Personal Property Security registrations Labour and Employment • Advising on requirements of Canadian and US unions and guilds • Drafting and negotiating employment agreements • Drafting union and guild compliant agreements • Negotiations through a union or guild grievance Insurance • Production Errors and Omissions Insurance – clearance review for dramatic productions, docudramas and documentaries Publicity and Privacy Rights • Misappropriation of Personality • Invasion of Privacy • Defamation • Rights of Celebrity • Individual releases • Life Story rights agreements Tax • Corporate re-organizations • Structuring film and television projects to meet the requirements of federal and provincial “content” tax credits Trademarks • Application of the Trademarks Act to entertainment industry transactions • Registration of trademarks in Canada Societies- Royalties • Dealing with performing rights societies such as SOCAN in Canada and BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC in the US • Dealing with mechanical rights agencies such as CMRRA and SODRAC in Canada and The Harry Fox Agency in the US