Visual Artists and Bands

Trademark Registration – Your band name is one of your most valuable assets. Registering a trademark not only protects your ownership of the name, but also prevents others from using it and gives you added leverage when combatting bootleggers.

Copyright Registration – Protecting your songs and imagery is of utmost importance. Registering your songs and art not only protects you, but it serves as a record that your work existed at least as early as the date of registration. Additionally, in the event your worked is infringed, having a copyright registration gives you a great deal of leverage in resolving the situation.

Recover Your Album from a Record Label - Title 17 of the United States Code allows recording artists to recover their recordings and song compositions from the record label that licensed the material for free in certain circumstances. If your licensed your record to a label more than 25 years ago, you may be able to get it back at relatively low cost, even if you transferred every right to the record label, or any other party. If your album is less than 25 years old, you still may have some leverage to recover the release.

Corporate Entity Registration - Registering your band as a separate legal entity provides at least two distinct (and necessary) benefits. First, you are able to treat the band as its own taxable entity, which could save you thousands in taxes. Second, it protects you individually from liability in the case that the band faces.

Internal Band Agreements - An Internal Band Agreement is essential to protecting your band as well as protecting each member's individual interest. Who owns a song when it is presented to the band? Who owns the band name? How will profits be divided? What happens when a member leaves the band? An Internal Band Agreement plans for all of these events and more, and thereby avoids problems that would arise later.

Bootleg Policing - If third-parties are using your work without authorization, we can end that unauthorized use. You may also be able to recover the money you lost, and even punitive damages, from the party bootlegging or using your work without permission.

Royalty Disputes - If you believe that your label is unpaying you (or not paying you at all), we can review your statements and contract to determine if there is a possible payment issue.

Contract Review - Are you considering filing a contract with a label, manufacturer, distributor, or other third-party? We can review the contract before you sign it and let you know the advantages and disadvantages of the Agreement and also let you know if it is fair considering the level of your band.