Entertainment Law

Leading the Way in Entertainment Law

Are you in need of an entertainment law firm attorney in Beverly Hills, California? The area of law can be somewhat complex and many attorneys claim to have knowledge of entertainment law but are not sufficiently familiar with the building blocks (e.g., copyright law). Our entertainment law attorneys are well-versed and knowledgeable in all areas of entertainment law. From contract law to intellectual property, we can assist you with your legal needs. Contact Lowe & Associates today for answers to your questions and to learn more about how we can serve you in this area of law.

Transactional Entertainment Law

Of particular importance in entertainment law are the contracts into which you enter. Our attorneys have specific experience in this area. We draft, negotiate, and review documents and contracts and secure intellectual property rights specific to the:

  • Television;
  • Film;
  • Music; and
  • Art and Fashion industries.

Through our representation, we aim to avoid or minimize disputes, BEFORE they begin or escalate. Well-drafted agreements can greatly impact a person’s life for the better and a breach can have serious consequences.

Entertainment Litigation

When there are breaches or other disputes between or among parties to an entertainment contract or someone has infringed upon your copyright, trademark or other intellectual property rights, our attorneys at Lowe & Associates review the same and provide strategic counsel and representation to benefit our clients.

We provide extensive guidance and litigation in the following areas:

  • Royalty disputes;
  • Takedown notices;
  • Disputes with distributors;
  • Copyright Infringement;
  • Idea Theft;
  • Breach of Contract (Oral, Written, Implied);
  • Rights of Publicity and Privacy;
  • Defamation;
  • Claims for Fraud, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, and other business “torts”.

Our first goal is resolution via negotiation, arbitration and/or mediation. If, however, the parties are unable to expeditiously resolve the dispute to our client’s satisfaction, we have no issue moving forward with litigation if need be. Our attorneys are trial lawyers and know how to effectively negotiate to bring forth a settlement, but they also know how to effectively prosecute or defend a case before a judge and jury.

Contact Experienced Entertainment Law Attorneys in Los Angeles County, California

If you are in need of an entertainment law firm with experience, a highly-qualified team, integrity, and commitment, then our attorneys at Lowe & Associates are here for you. We collaborate. We are thoughtful. We are persistent. And we perform. Contact Lowe & Associates today.

Trademark Law in Los Angeles County

Trademarks and service marks are used in commerce as a means for a business or another entity to express and distinguish themselves from other companies in the same market. Trademarks identify a company’s product via any of the below, including any combination of the below:

  • Words
  • Phrases
  • Slogans
  • Names
  • Graphic symbols
  • Pictures
  • Emblems
  • Designs
  • Logos

Service marks, on the other hand, relate to a company’s services and/or events.

Trademark law provides guidance on the use of both trademarks and service marks and provides remedies for violations of the law.

At Lowe & Associates, we help our clients create, register, protect, and use their trademarks to their maximum benefit.

Copyright Law in Los Angeles County

Beverly Hills, California ( which is adjacent to Hollywood, California), is home to many creative minds. However, Hollywood does not have a monopoly on creative minds by any stretch of the imagination. But this is where a great deal of the business related to creative works takes place. It is also where most of the theft takes place. Thus, our firm is dedicated to protecting and enforcing the rights of creative professionals. As a subset of intellectual property law, copyright law helps protect specific work product created by screenwriters, novelists, musicians, artists, and many others. Copyright law grants to the creator or the owner of the copyright the exclusive right to copy his or her own work as he or she wants, including:

  • Displaying it;
  • Exploiting it;
  • Distributing it;
  • Performing it, or
  • Licensing the work.

Copyright law also allows the owner of the copyright to prohibit others from doing any of the above unless the product is subject to the fair use doctrine or other defense. The fair use doctrine allows copyrighted works to be used without the owner’s permission in certain circumstances. Examples include:

  • Critical commentary
  • Research and scholarship
  • News reporting.

At Lowe & Associates, we are experts in copyright law and aggressively help keep our clients and their creative products protected.


 

When another party breaches a contract, you have the right to sue for enforcement of your protected rights. A breach of contract can lead to financial harm for you or your company as well as lost opportunities.

To protect the rights granted by the contract and enforce those rights, experienced California entertainment contract lawyers at Lowe & Associates will fight on your behalf.

Entertainment Contracts

Those who work in the entertainment industry are typically creative, passionate, and talented. What they typically do not want to do is deal with reading the fine print in contracts or worry about another party taking advantage of them.

Entertainment contracts cover a variety of situations, including:

  • talent agreements;
  • royalty agreements;
  • option agreements; and
  • distribution contracts.

Actors, Directors, and Producers

The creative professionals behind some of the country’s best entertainment content deserve protection from companies that seek to take advantage of their talents. A contract between one of these individuals and a company can set forth:

  • the precise rights licensed or transferred;
  • compensation;
  • duration;
  • termination; and
  • royalties.

These details are important and can be carefully addressed by an experienced California contract attorney.

Entertainment Companies

Companies in the entertainment business invest heavily in the creative works they produce, and those investments deserve protection. A contract with an:

  • artist;
  • writer(s);
  • producer;
  • director; or
  • distributor

should be enforced. For example, a director should not be allowed to flake out on your company for no reason, and disputes with other creative persons should be handled efficiently and effectively.

Breach of Entertainment Contracts in California

In a contract, each party agrees to certain terms that each is expected to perform. A breach of contract is considered a failure, without legal excuse, to perform all or any part of that agreement.

Establishing a breach of contract requires the plaintiff to prove:

  • the existence of a valid contract,
  • that the contract was broken,
  • that you were damaged, and
  • that the defendant was responsible for those damages.

Ensuring Your Contracts Are Valid

Of course, it is always best to create a valid and enforceable contract to begin with. Entertainment disputes can get heated, but an ironclad contract is the best way to ensure your rights and interests are protected.

When creating contracts with other parties, an experienced attorney can work with you to figure out the details of what you want and how to memorialize it in writing. Your attorney can then draft a valid contract on your behalf or review a contract that has been given to you for comment and eventual signature.

You should not sign a contract without having an attorney review and analyze its terms line to line. Legal language often has a precise and specialized meaning beyond the ordinary usage of the words. Companies may attempt to use vague language to obtain a tactical advantage.

Breach of Contract Lawsuits

When another party has failed to fulfill the terms in the contract, there are remedies available to the non-breaching party.

Letter from an Attorney

Sometimes, a demand letter from your attorney to comply with the contract or cease and desist from the activity that breaches the contract can save you the cost and expense of litigation. An attorney letter stating a lawsuit will be filed may convince the other party to comply with the demanded actions. Sometimes, a demand letter from your attorney to comply with the contract or cease and desist from the activity that breaches the contract can save you the cost and expense of litigation. An attorney letter stating a lawsuit will be filed may convince the other party to perform their obligations under the contract.

Mediation

Mediation is a process through which a neutral third party helps to foster settlement and negotiation between the parties. The parties and attorneys meet with the mediator in an attempt to avoid litigation and to settle the dispute amicably.

Filing a Lawsuit

Sometimes, a letter or other negotiations are not enough. When that is the case, you need highly experienced legal counsel at your side to file a breach of contract lawsuit. You can file a lawsuit to enforce the rights and obligations described in the entertainment contract.

Damages for Breach of Contract in California

If you win your breach of contract case, there are several different remedies to compensate you for the damages suffered from the breach of contract.

These include, but are not limited to:

specific performance of the contract terms ( in certain situations);
money damages to put in the position you would have been in had the other party not breached.;
an injunction, a court order that requires a party to do or not do something ( in certain situations); and
restitution.

With the help of your attorney, you can prove your damages in court and receive compensation for the losses you incurred as a result of the other party’s breach of contract.

Consult an Experienced California Breach of Contract Attorney

Another party is not allowed to breach a contract and get away with it without consequence. An entertainment contract can be enforced with the help of a knowledgeable attorney.

An experienced California breach of contract attorney at Lowe & Associates can create and enforce your contracts. Contact us today for a consultation.