Music law
The Law Office of Shourin Sen’s music law practice draws on our proficiency with copyright litigation and licensing and our industry specific experience. Our law firm believes that legal representation in the new music industry requires strong concise drafting, creative solutions to business issues, and zealous advocacy.
Duke Ellington May 1943; by Gordon Parks
Copyright music litigation
The Copyright Act grants composers and performers exclusive rights in works that are fixed in any tangible medium of expression. Underlying a musical recording is a web of separately assignable exclusive rights. Composers are granted exclusive rights in the public performance, distribution, public display and reproduction of their works. Performers are granted exclusive rights in the reproduction and digital performance of their works. Both composers and performers are also granted the exclusive right to make works derived from their works.
The Law Office represents individual artists and labels in copyright infringement and royalty disputes. Our law firm is unique, even among other boutique firms, in that copyright suits form a large component of our litigation docket. We believe that this focus on copyright in the creative and technology industries allows us to present compelling cases, and achieve favorable results for our clients.
Artist-label-publisher agreements
Representation in the new music industry must be designed to achieve the objectives of a client. Our law firm realizes that labels and artists are best served by agreements that reflects the intricacies of their genre and market position. We do not approach our music law practice with a one-size-fits-all mentality.
Our law firm reviews and negotiates, among other agreements, recording contracts, independent producer agreements, production agreements, songwriting agreements, merchandising agreements, master purchase agreements and other rights transfers, and domestic and foreign distribution agreements. We draft contracts that clearly express obligations and are consistent with the long term ambitions of artists and labels.
Band Formation Agreements
Band members can bring stability to their groups by formalizing their organization and structure. Band members can limit their liability by shifting from a partnership implied in law to a formal corporation or limited liability structure. It’s also potential advantageous for tax planning.
Having a formal organizational structure can help limit disputes over the management responsibilities, division of profits, and ownership of a group name and copyright in recordings and publishing. Our law firm will consult with a band to advise them on how they can clearly delineate the rights and responsibilities between band members and draft the responsibilities into bylaws or resolutions. Our firm will assist band members in finding a structure that will limit potential disputes among members, and liability to third-parties.
