Entertainment law is a branch of law concerned particularly with the property issues that surround pieces of entertainment like books, movies and visual arts. Working in the entertainment industry, you will want to safeguard your work from being exploited or plagiarized. To safeguard the intellectual property rights of artists, copyright and trademark laws are available to those working in New York.

What is A Copyright?

A copyright for a particular piece of entertainment means that a party has the exclusive right to produce it. If others want to use it, they must first get consent from the copyright holder. In order to comply with the entertainment laws in New York, someone seeking to use your copyrighted material must negotiate and acquire a license or contract from you first. Entertainment law determines the process for getting a copyright and how long it lasts once issued. These concerns are important as you go about protecting your property rights or licensing your work to others.

What is a Trademark?

A trademark is a symbol or other notable visual characteristic that is associated with a particular commercial brand. 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 begin to recognize your product more easily.

How Can a New York Attorney Help?

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