Copyright Transaction Attorneys
When you license or sell and assign your work, it is important to work with a copyright attorney who has experience in these types of transactions. Copyright has specific rules and laws governing it, and a general attorney who may be very talented in other areas of the law may not fully understand the rules related to copyright.
If you have created a work that is subject to copyright protections, you have the rights to that work. You also have the right to license certain (or all) rights to the work, or to transfer your rights completely to another party.
As the attorneys representing the copyright holder, we work with you to structure the deal you want on the terms you want. Are you looking to allow someone to use your image exclusively for a certain period of time? Are you licensing on a non-exclusive basis (meaning you can license to others also)? Are you looking to “sell” (fully assign or transfer) your rights to another party?
Whatever your goals, we can work with you to structure a transaction that protects your legal interests.
Experienced Copyright Attorneys
Our experienced copyright attorneys can help you with the licensing of your work to third parties. From photographs to video, written text to music, our lawyers will work with you to move forward with agreements that protect your legal rights.
We handle a wide range of copyrighted materials, including:
- Photographs
- Graphic art designs
- Illustrations
- Paintings
- Text (literature)
- Video
- Film
- Music
- Logos
Types of Transactions Handled
Our copyright attorneys, helping clients nationwide, will help you with all sorts of agreements, including:
- Copyright agreements
- Work Made for Hire agreements
- Assignment agreements
- License agreements
- Confidentiality agreements
Additionally, if you are settling a claim against a party, we will also prepare the settlement agreement for that matter.
What Happens to My Rights if I Enter Into a Transaction?
When you enter into a transaction to convey part, or all, of your rights in work protected by your copyright, the impact could be small or large. It really depends upon what you are looking to accomplish and the terms you negotiate.
Focusing on the Revenue
While most copyright holders look to license their work in order to make money, there are many ways to structure a deal. Will you be paid a lump sum? Will you be paid a certain amount over time? Will you be paid an amount based on usage (such as your design on T-Shirts, with payment based on the number of shirts sold)? Will you receive a percentage of profits?
There is no one right answer, and we need to learn more about what you are looking to accomplish before recommending a specific type of licensing transaction.
License Duration
Like most terms in the contract, one thing you need to address is the duration of the license. Is it permanent? For a certain duration? Is it exclusive during that duration? Again, this depends on the terms you want for your specific business goals.
Will You Retain Any Control?
In some licensing deals, the copyright holder chooses to retain some level of control over the copyrighted work. For example, if you license your design for use on a coffee mug, you may want to retain control over the copyright and give a very limited use license. You may want to require that colors match to a certain degree of accuracy. You may want to specify what uses are permitted (i.e., use on coffee mugs is permissible, but on beer mugs it is not). There are many ways in which you can control the deal, and as your attorneys, it would be our responsibility to structure the deal the way you envision.
Contact Our Copyright Lawyers to Discuss Your Transaction
If you would like to discuss any transactions you are engaged in or a violation of your copyright, please contact our attorneys today. Our copyright lawyers have the experience to help you, and navigate the difficult waters of copyright agreements and Federal copyright litigation.
Please call today for a no-risk consultation.
