Rights & Permissions

As a musician, you may have spent years honing your craft and creating original works of art. But do you know how to protect your rights and interests in the music industry? Whether you are a singer, songwriter, composer, producer, or performer, you need to be aware of the legal issues that affect your career and your income.

We will explain some of the basics of music law and how a legal shield can help you navigate the complex and competitive world of music. (more…)

If you are a musician, composer, producer, or anyone who creates or uses music in your projects, you may have heard of the term “master license”. But what exactly is a master license and why is it important for music law?

Think of it this way: if you want to use the specific recording of Beyoncé’s Single Ladies in your film, you need a master license from whoever owns that recording (likely her record label). This is separate from getting permission to use the song Single Ladies itself, which would involve a synchronization license for the underlying musical composition. (more…)

“Every time your song is streamed, downloaded, or reproduced—a mechanical license is earning you money”

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Music remixing, the creative process of transforming existing musical works, occupies a complex space within music law. While remixing can be a powerful form of artistic expression, innovation, and tribute, it also raises significant legal considerations regarding intellectual property rights. Our firm, specializing in music and intellectual property law, offers this analysis of the legal complexities surrounding music remixing. (more…)

Rights clearance is a crucial process in the world of creative projects, ensuring that individuals and organizations have the legal authority to use copyrighted materials or other protected content in their work. Whether you’re a filmmaker, writer, artist, or content creator, understanding rights clearance is essential to avoid legal disputes and ensure your project can proceed smoothly. (more…)

Clearance and rights acquisition are not just essential steps in film production; they are fundamental, often complex, pillars that determine what material can actually make it into the final cut and be legally distributed. These critical processes involve the meticulous task of identifying, securing, and managing the necessary permissions and licenses for every piece of pre-existing content – from music and footage to artwork and even character likenesses – used in a film. Navigating this landscape requires a deep understanding of various laws and regulations governing the rights and obligations of producers, rights holders, and distributors, and getting it wrong can lead to costly legal battles, significant production delays, and roadblocks to releasing the film.

We explore some of the practical aspects and issues of clearance and rights acquisition in film law, such as: (more…)

Sampling is the process of taking a portion of an existing recording and using it in a new recording. Sampling can be a creative way to create new sounds and textures, but it can also be a legal minefield. In simpler terms, sampling is like borrowing a snippet of an existing song to weave into a new musical creation. Think of it as the musical equivalent of collage, but with significant legal considerations. (more…)

Music is a form of art and expression that can inspire, entertain, and educate people. However, music is also a subject of various laws and regulations that govern the rights and obligations of music creators, performers, producers, distributors, and consumers.

We will explore some of the key aspects and issues of music laws and regulations, such as: (more…)

Music law covers the wide range of legal issues that musicians, producers, and industry professionals face. This includes critical areas such as: (more…)

The rise of digital music platforms, from peer-to-peer file-sharing to global streaming services, has revolutionized how we access and distribute music. But with this transformation comes a host of new legal issues in digital music law – from copyright infringement and royalty disputes to the redefinition of licensing models.

In the digital age, artists, producers, and rights holders must navigate a shifting legal landscape where traditional laws often struggle to keep up with technological change. Understanding how music copyright, digital licensing, and streaming royalties work is essential for protecting intellectual property and securing fair compensation.

This rapid digital transformation has presented unprecedented legal challenges for music law and the industry built upon it: (more…)