Legal Representation For the Creative Force

It goes without saying that hardly any memberand other practitioners with regard to the
of the creative community can exist without legalimplications of intellectual property rights
representation, as the field is a crafty one, forlegislations dealing with matters such as
both performing artists and visual artists alike.Copyrights, Trademarks and E-Business related
The niche factor: The business of entertainmentissues.
law is a very specialized area of law and requiresBut artists and artistes can be a difficult bunch to
special training and skills. The scope ofhandle. Stanbury says one main challenge is the
entertainment law is also very wide, as itsignificant level of ignorance that exists among
encompasses music, films, radio and TVarts and entertainment practitioners, as well as
broadcasting, book publishing and games. Somethe general public regarding the requirements of
entertainment attorneys focus on niche areas ofthe business of entertainment.
practice such as music business law, or the lawTo fully qualify to become an attorney within the
relating to broadcasting, or films.Caribbean requires 5 years of training. However,
Although representing mostly performing artiststo become a good entertainment attorney training
of the creative tribe, US-based Jamaican Lloydand learning never ends. Aside from studying
Stanbury is one attorney who applies somecontract law, training in Intellectual Property Law is
elements in representing the visual artist. He alsoa must.
represents managers, producers of music andThe contract law principles and intellectual
film, book writers, events promoters, governmentproperty law principles governing the business of
arts development agencies, arts andentertainment are more or less the same in the
entertainment trade associations and collectivevast majority of countries around the world. As
rights management societies. This is in addition toan entertainment lawyer specializing in the music
his client list which includes clients list ranges fromindustry one has to interact with other attorneys
recording and performing artists, music producers,as well as record labels and music publishing
arts and entertainment managers, film producers,companies operating in various jurisdictions. These
industry associations and collective managementinclude the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom,
societies, to government agencies in theJapan, France, Germany etc. An experienced
Caribbean, Latin America and Africa.entertainment lawyer will therefore need to
The main components of this career are legalunderstand the peculiarities and differences in the
representation; arts and entertainment policyrules and regulations in the entertainment
development consultancy; lecturing/workshopindustries of overseas countries where such
training in arts and entertainment law andpeculiarities and differences do exist.
management.From the start, fees are charged, so consultation
As an entertainment attorney and consultant, theis a guaranteed charge. The costs can range from
responsibilities include the drafting and negotiationUS$100 to thousands of dollars US.
of all types of entertainment contracts, provisionRepresentation is normally billed on an hourly basis,
of advise on business establishment procedures,or in special cases on a contingency basis where
provision of advice to performers, songwriters,fees are linked to the value of the deal done or
music producers, event promoters, film producerstransaction negotiated.