A colleague (musician-turned-lawyer) and I have written a musical piece together. Can he himself represent the music legally and handle the copyright registration? He would also have to be the legal third-party regarding the publishing company. It seems to me this would all present a conflict of... Read more »
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answered on Mar 10, 2023
It is possible for your colleague, as a lawyer and co-creator of the musical piece, to represent the music legally and handle the copyright registration. However, there could be potential conflicts of interest depending on the specific circumstances of your situation. It is important to discuss any... Read more »
A colleague (musician-turned-lawyer) and I have written a musical piece together. Can he himself represent the music legally and handle the copyright registration? He would also have to be the legal third-party regarding the publishing company. It seems to me this would all present a conflict of... Read more »
answered on Mar 10, 2023
If you and him are business partners, one may thing that their interests are aligned. However, it may not be the case for ever. It is a good practice to have independent counsel. Thereafter, you can make an informed decision as to who should be in charge of the legal aspects of the registration of... Read more »
To my knowledge a talent manager is unable to procure work and negotiate contracts in NY State. I recently made the decision to part ways with my manager but am currently working on a job that they negotiated. I was told that even with our contract ending they are still entitled to the commission... Read more »
answered on Sep 3, 2022
Hi. Do you have a written agreement with your former talent manager that dictates the terms of the representation? If so, it may have language in there that addresses a breakup. Best of luck.
The name used in the movie is “Koriko” while I’ll use “Corico City”. The cities won’t be similar in any way. I wanted to use the name to pay homage to the movie, but am worried about copyright infringement. Thank you!
answered on Jul 12, 2021
Maybe.
Consult with an attorney to search for use of the name and whether there is any registration.
Best luck!
I left my racket at a sports club of which I wasn't a member. The coach picked it up and confirmed by email that he had it and had left it in his office. Then the COVID crisis hit so I was unable to visit the club to pick it up. The staff member was furloughed and never returned. Now the club... Read more »
answered on Jul 10, 2021
Yes, you can bring an action for replevin to return your personal property to you. That email acknowledging possession is an indication of having possession of your chattel. Assuming the coach is an employee, the owner of the club is responsible also, so sue them both. If the racket is worth less... Read more »
I wrote the music for my clients film. I requested half the payment ($900) upfront and half when the project is completed. I nearly completed the project and sent the project to the client for approval before finalizing the music and he decided he did not like it anymore and he did not want me to... Read more »
answered on Feb 9, 2021
An attorney who deals with contracts in the entertainment industry could advise best, but you await a response for three weeks. As a general matter, it would probably be difficult for any attorney to comment meaningfully without seeing the requirements of the contract. Additionally, contracts that... Read more »
I've been operating as a DJ under a certain name since 2016. I'm small-time, but have been paid to perform and have social media profiles registered under my performance name that have been in use since 2016, although I have never registered a trademark or anything.
Today, I found... Read more »
answered on Dec 8, 2020
Depends on how long you have been using it and if they started using it before you or after.
You may have common law rights.
You should contact an attorney to understand your rights better.
At best you could continue using the name unless they contact you in which case you... Read more »
So I design and print custom sports cards myself and recently I have been getting a lot of interest in them. I understand Panini has the sole rights to create and sell NBA cards. Is there a way to sell the cards I create without infringing on Panini’s rights? I’ve heard altering existing... Read more »
answered on Oct 20, 2020
There is not enough information here to answer this fully, but here are some areas of potential concern:
1) The NBA's rights to the trademarks of teams and their own marks
2) The Teams' rights to their own marks
3) Copyright rights to the photos you're using... Read more »
I am a producer on a film production that is following COVID-19 guidelines for the set. We are requiring cast/crew sign an Assumption of Risk and Consent/Release forms. Most templates have an agreement between the individual signing and the "Company." As the director does not have a... Read more »
answered on Aug 27, 2020
The short answer is no, you don’t need to be a legal entity to contract in this manner. But... Your question raises some potential red flags that aren’t easily discussed in this Q&A forum. I think you would benefit by by seeking the direct advice of an attorney here. If you would Like to... Read more »
answered on Jun 12, 2020
You could add Trademark Law to your categories. There's no guarantee all questions are picked up, but your post remains open for two weeks. Trademark attorneys have insight into issues that could arise in using a given name for an organization, business, or other purpose.
Tim Akpinar
I have hired a company for photography and video to record my daughters baptism around June 2018. I paid half of there contract. Until they gave me everything I would pay full. It is 2 years and they dont answer my text, email, or phone calls. This is not fair because I do not have one single photo... Read more »
answered on May 17, 2020
When the courts reopen you can sue. Likely a small claims type case.
answered on Sep 25, 2019
If you believe there was a Will you would check where the decedent kept important papers, get in touch with their attorney or check with the local Surrogate’s Court to see if it was filed. If there is a safe deposit box many times people make the mistake of putting their Will there.... Read more »
I intend to begin performing on the stage as well as sell my music and other media content via digital platforms: all under my name. On the longer run I intend to establish a company that will be specializing in producing media content, managing artists performances (primarily as a booking agency),... Read more »
answered on Jun 11, 2019
What is "gov legal name"? Do you mean your name? You actually need to trademark your name. While it seems odd, if your name is a brand, you need to protect it. Whether you incorporate at this point or not (and it generally is beneficial to do so), if your name will be the name of the... Read more »
answered on Feb 28, 2019
I always recommend suing where the defendant is located. It saves a step in enforcing the judgment.
The music is from two 1961 episodes of The Twilight Zone that were scored by composer Jerry Goldsmith. How would I go about getting the rights to use that music in a short film I am working on? Would this even be possible? Any idea of what it would cost? Thanks!
answered on Jan 2, 2019
See my reply to your same question posted in the CA section of this forum. A license from the copyright owner would be required if you don't qualify under the "Fair Use" exceptions. More details are necessary to provide a professional analysis of your issue. The best first step is an... Read more »
What can a team prevent athletes from doing on their own time?
answered on Jul 21, 2018
Yes, and no, and to a certain extent it depends on the institution providing the scholarship and what the rule is. There is no specific "law" for it. That is, no state or federal statutes that apply. Scholarships are contracts governing the rights of the parties -- and that is where you... Read more »
Like an empathic autobiography.
answered on May 14, 2018
In theory, yes it is possible. An attorney would need to know more about the work to give an opinion on whether the particular use is transformative.
answered on May 8, 2018
Yes, but then he or she loses all amateur eligibility to compete in NCAA and other organizations' athletics, but not necessarily the Olympics. An amateur athlete cannot have an agent. It is entirely legitimate to engage the services of a lawyer on a fee basis for legal advice and guidance,... Read more »
answered on Mar 15, 2018
The FTC guidelines for endorsements govern promoting products on social media. The guides are specific, but in general you need to make it clear that any “mentions” on social media are paid advertisements. There are are many ways that this can be accomplished. An attorney experienced in... Read more »
If 2 players decided to make a bet on which one of them was better in a skill based video game (online chess or League of Legends) is it considered gambling even though none of the results are controlled by luck?
answered on Feb 25, 2018
It is illegal when there are 3 elements present in the contest: (1) prize; (2) chance; and (3) consideration. In the scenario you describe above, the element of chance is missing in the equation.
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