Entertainment Law refers to services, such as copyrights and contracts, that deal specifically with entertainment, like movies, books and films. Working in the entertainment industry, you will want to protect your work from being exploited or plagiarized. In Georgia, the intellectual property rights of artists are protected by several laws that includes copyright and trademark provisions.

What is A Copyright?

A copyright is the legal right to exclusively produce a certain medium, such as art, movies and writing. Others are prevented from using or reproducing your copyrighted materials without your consent. Under Georgia law, the holder of a copyright has the right to negotiate licenses for the production of the copyrighted material that others might want to use. A copyright does not last forever, and all procedures surrounding copyrights are governed by state entertainment laws. You will want to familiarize yourself with the specifics, whether you want to simply protect your property rights or you are interested in selling licenses for your work.

What is a Trademark?

A particular commercial brand may have a symbol or other notable visual characteristic to serve as a trademark. In the entertainment industry, they help to establish product recognition. Although they do not expire, trademarks must be obtained through registering with the U.S. patent and trademark office. With your trademark, buyers will start to recognize your product more easily.

How Can a Georgia Attorney Help?

Deciding whether you need a trademark or copyright is often a decision best made with the advice of an attorney in Byron that has specialized in entertainment law. The filing process in Georgia can also go more smoothly with an attorney to guide you.