Intellectual Property: Media, Entertainment, Sports

IP law is an integral part of a media and entertainment law practice. Studios copyright their TV and movie scripts; sports teams seek to protect and license their logos; special effects companies need patents or copyrights to protect their technical advancements. Today, entertainment law also includes related product development and licensing (i.e., video games, toys, etc.), online content, and product placement. All of these issues require an understanding of not only basic business principles, but also copyright and trademark law.

Some entertainment attorneys specialize in the IP issues. For instance, some copyright attorneys focus on protecting and licensing the work of their client authors, artists, filmmakers, and musicians. Others have a broader business or litigation practice, combining IP issues with various other traditional legal disciplines, such as contracts, torts, antitrust, and secured transactions.