Entertainment Law
Agreements and Rights for Detroit’s Creative Work
Artists, producers, venues, galleries and agencies make deals every week. We help protect the name, the work and the money, with contracts written in language everyone can understand.
What We Handle
Legal Work for Artists and the Businesses Around Them
We represent individual creators and the venues, galleries, studios and agencies they work with.
Trademarks
Clearing and registering band names, stage names, labels, studio and venue names and logos.
Copyrights
Registering music, recordings, artwork, photography and video, and sorting out who owns what in a collaboration.
Artist Agreements
Artist and venue, artist and gallery, and artist and agency agreements, plus producer and collaboration deals.
Gear Rental and NDAs
Equipment rental agreements that cover damage, loss and insurance, and nondisclosure agreements for projects in development.
Business Formation
Forming and dissolving the LLC, partnership or corporation behind a band, label, studio or production company.
Creative Space Leases
Negotiating and drafting leases for studios, rehearsal rooms, galleries and venues, where use, sound and hours matter.
Common Situations
What Creatives Tell Us
Most problems in creative work start with a handshake deal that nobody wrote down.
“Another band has our name.”
You’ve built a following and found someone else performing or selling merchandise under the same or a similar name.
“The gallery wants a contract signed today.”
You want to understand the commission, how sales are reported and when you get paid before you hand over work.
“We made it together. Who owns it?”
A producer, co-writer or photographer contributed, and nobody agreed on ownership or splits.
“The venue didn’t pay what it promised.”
A show happened, the door count is disputed, and the agreement is a string of text messages.
“Our gear came back damaged.”
Rented equipment was returned broken or not at all, and the terms were never written down.
“We’re leasing a studio space.”
The landlord’s form lease doesn’t address noise, late hours, buildout or public events.
How We Work
Clear Terms Before the Work Begins
Hear the Deal
We learn who is involved, what is being created or performed, and how everyone expects to be paid.
Protect the Rights
We identify what should be registered or assigned, from a band name to a recording.
Put It in Writing
We draft or review the agreement and explain each term before you sign.
Enforce When Needed
If someone doesn’t pay or uses your work without permission, we take the next step.
Plain English
Rights and Contracts Every Creative Should Understand
Trademark Protects the Name
A trademark identifies who is behind a product or service: a band name, a label, a gallery or a venue. Using a name in commerce creates some rights in the area where it is used. Federal registration with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office gives broader, nationwide protection and makes it easier to stop others. Clearing a name before you invest in it is far cheaper than changing it later.
Copyright Protects the Work
Copyright arises automatically when original work is fixed in a tangible form, such as a recording, a file or a canvas. Registration with the U.S. Copyright Office is still important. For U.S. works it is generally required before you can sue for infringement, and registering promptly makes additional remedies available. In music, the song (the composition) and the recording of it are separate copyrights that can have different owners.
Who Owns a Collaboration
When people create something together without an agreement, the law may treat them as joint owners, each with rights in the whole work. Work made by an employee within the job, or certain commissioned work under a written agreement, can belong to the company that paid for it. A short written agreement at the start avoids most ownership disputes.
Artist, Venue, Gallery and Agency Agreements
A good agreement covers payment and how it is calculated, deposits, cancellation, who provides equipment and staff, merchandise, recording rights and insurance. Gallery agreements should address commission, pricing, how long work stays on consignment, loss or damage, and when the artist is paid after a sale. Agency agreements should set the commission, the term, exclusivity and how either side can end the relationship.
What to Watch For
- Avoid signing over all rights forever when a limited license would do.
- Confirm who owns masters, artwork files and photos before release.
- Write down splits among band members and collaborators early.
- Keep copies of everything you sign and every payment received.
Questions
Entertainment Law FAQ
Do I need to register a copyright to own it?
No. You own the copyright once the work is fixed. Registration matters when you need to enforce it, and registering early can make more remedies available.
Should our band form an LLC?
Often, yes, once there is real income, gear or shared assets. An LLC with a written operating agreement sets out who owns the name, how money is split and what happens when a member leaves.
Can you review a contract someone sent me?
Yes. We review recording, management, agency, gallery, venue and licensing agreements and explain what each term means for you.
Is an NDA worth it for a creative project?
It can be when you are sharing unreleased work, a concept or business information with potential partners. It is most useful when it clearly defines what is confidential and for how long.
Do you represent venues and galleries too?
Yes. We draft performance, consignment and rental agreements and negotiate the leases for the spaces they operate in.
What if someone is using my work without permission?
Gather proof of your work and the use, and contact an attorney. Many cases are resolved with a demand letter or a license agreement.
Talk to Kyle
Making a Deal Around Your Work?
Tell us what’s on the table. You’ll hear back from Kyle within one business day.