Entertainment law is a branch of law concerned particularly with the property issues that surround pieces of entertainment like books, movies and visual arts. It is an imminent concern for those who work in the entertainment industries that their work is never plagiarized or exploited. 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 is the legal right to exclusively produce a given medium, such as art, movies and writing. Others are prevented from using or reproducing your copyrighted materials without your consent. The consent of the copyright holder for others to use the protected material is called a license. In New York, the copyright holder has the exclusive privilege of negotiating all licenses it issues. 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?

Entertainment law is sometimes an area of specialization for Lawyers in Sound Beach, so you may want to speak with them to find out whether you need a trademark or copyright. Also once you do apply, attorneys serve as good guides through the process of obtaining intellectual property right in New York.