Are you a performer, commercial artist, writer, director, producer or perhaps a creator in the entertainment industry?
You probably answered “YES” because you’re reading this article right now.
Well, then you should be familiar with all the legal protection and legal requirements that surround creative work in your space. So, the reality is:
As a creative professional has to deal with copyright, contract and intellectual property (IP) discussions with production companies, you need an Entertainment Lawyer who can protect your best interests.
Of course, we know how excited you are to get your masterpiece work out there – and you might even be thinking: “I can’t imagine how legal issues would arise from this.”
You’re not alone.
However, overlooking the legal aspects of the entertainment industry can put you at risk
Having an expert Entertainment Lawyer by your side is a way to ensure your career and work are protected, along with yourself. The entertainment field, after all, comes with a range of rights and obligations that can be quite overwhelming for anyone.
Still not convinced?
Here’s a quick guide about what an Entertainment Lawyer does and when they might be most helpful to you!
What is an Entertainment Lawyer?
An Entertainment Lawyer is a legal expert who specialises in the entertainment industry, handling negotiations and litigations regarding contracts, copyright laws and distribution centred around creative works.
Aside from these, an Entertainment Lawyer offers professional legal advice that can help in:
- managing your risks
- avoiding legal issues
- and pursuing the right opportunities.
To ensure you can seize the best opportunities in the competitive and complex show biz you’re in, you can rely on an Entertainment Lawyer to represent you, as well as provide legal assistance in various situations and circumstances that may impact your work and your overall career.
5 instances where you need the expertise of an Australian Entertainment Lawyer
When do you need the help of an Australian Entertainment Lawyer?
The following are some common cases in which our skills, knowledge and years of legal experience in the entertainment industry will be most useful to you:
- Establishing the ownership of your Intellectual Property (IP) and other kinds of creation
A lot of projects in the entertainment industry are products of collaboration. They are a result of multiple contributions from various people, such as co-writers and co-producers.
In the eyes of Entertainment Law, the person who holds the copyright gets the earnings. So, clarifying who owns what is a serious matter.
Backed by an Entertainment Lawyer, you can protect yourself from signing deals that may put you at a disadvantage here. An Entertainment Lawyer will also protect your rights from people who plan to use your Intellectual Property (IP) without your permission.
- Securing your future legal ownership over creative works
As an artist, creator or producer, it can be difficult to manage all the legal paperwork and negotiations when someone wants to buy, option or license your creative works. For instance, what are the implications if your project has a sequel or a spin-off in the future?
However, an Entertainment Lawyer will see to it that your copyright and trademarks are consistently protected. With an Entertainment Lawyer by your side, you can also be confident that the drafting of development and production contracts will always be accomplished in a fair manner.
- Developing entertainment project financing agreements
So, how will you finance your project? How are you going to get paid in the end?
An Entertainment Lawyer will assist you as you enter into agreements for various loans, sponsorships, grants and other forms of funding. Through the expertise of an Australian Entertainment Lawyer, you can also avoid signing legal arrangements that won’t provide you with the compensation or returns you deserve for your art.
- Facilitating distribution deals
Different states and countries have their own regulations when it comes to filming, advertising, marketing and the distribution of projects in the entertainment industry.
As such, it helps to be guided by an Australian Entertainment Lawyer who can help you prepare local form agreements – from location releases and appearance releases all the way to license agreements and other important matters that are involved in bringing your creative work to the market.
- Helping you connect within your industry and tap into more opportunities
Even though you may have been in the entertainment industry for years, you may not understand all the legal mechanisms in this field. But you don’t have to worry! An Australian Entertainment Lawyer can explain all of these things for you and provide answers to important things that you’re not fully aware of (but should be).
Furthermore, an Entertainment Lawyer can help you foster relationships between unions, guilds and other industry associations, ensuring you have the support you need to thrive and reach your goals.
When is the best time to approach an Entertainment Lawyer, then?
As someone who’s passionate about the entertainment industry, you want a strong career and to be rewarded for your work.
We want that for you too!
So, to successfully carve a career in the world of entertainment, you and everything you produce must be legally protected.
And as cliché as it may sound, reaching out to an Entertainment Lawyer as soon as you can is essential. An Australian Entertainment Lawyer like those at Reeve Law can provide the crucial legal advice and assistance you need to negotiate, develop and distribute your projects right from the start.
As your trusted Australian Entertainment Lawyers, Reeve Law can protect your creative interests and career
At Reeve Law, we have the entertainment legal team you need by your side to help you succeed.
Through our comprehensive entertainment law services and friendly approach, we ensure that your concerns are addressed, your questions are answered and your rights are protected.
We collaborate with producers, production companies, distributors, creatives and media industry bodies on all legal aspects of film, TV and stage.
This encompasses financing, production and distribution, the assigning ownership of IP and creative copyright, public funding and legal structuring of a project. Our team also provides advice on public funding requirements, including producer offset and government grants, private equity and licensing.
Reeve Law delivers the right entertainment law services tailored to your needs, with a human approach.
If you have other questions or concerns about entertainment law, feel free to book a complimentary, no-obligation chat with us.
Contact us
Street Address:
Level 13, 333 George Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000
Mobile Number:
0427 135 368
Email Address:
craig@reeve.law