Entertainment & Media
The role of intellectual property lawyers in the entertainment industry is central, as cultural industries rely primarily on the creation, exploitation and protection of intangible assets. In sectors such as music, film, video games and events, economic value lies primarily in works, brands, characters, scripts, formats and creative universes.
We are therefore involved in every stage of an artistic or cultural project, from its conception to its commercial exploitation, including securing rights and managing disputes.
Advice, strategy, drafting and negotiation of contracts
Music law
Upstream of projects, solicitors play a strategic advisory role.
When an artist, producer, development studio or production company wishes to launch a project, it is essential to ensure that the necessary rights are available and properly secured.
Lawyers are involved in drafting or negotiating publishing contracts, production or co-production contracts, physical or platform distribution contracts, as well as all contracts related to artists’ image (sponsors, brand ambassadors, etc.) and the development strategy for merchandising products, co-branded collections or various partnerships.
Film and audiovisual law
The lawyer’s role is, in particular, to secure ownership of the rights to the screenplay, any pre-existing works that may have been adapted, and the contributions of the various authors involved in the project at different levels. The lawyer ensures that each creative contribution is covered by appropriate contracts allowing the work to be exploited under the desired conditions.
The solicitor also participates in the negotiation of production and distribution agreements, as well as legal strategies related to distribution on various streaming platforms, VOD rights and others, which may be essential to the success of a project.
Video game law
In the video game industry, we are required to protect the appearance and names of characters and games, particularly with a view to securing and promoting derivative products and merchandising.
We are also required to draft development contracts, graphics engine licences and publishing agreements with publishers, as well as contracts for the transfer and licensing of intellectual property rights associated with the game.
Our involvement also covers the negotiation of remuneration terms, operating territories, the duration of rights and the obligations of the various parties.
Events
Festivals, concerts, shows, and sporting or e-sport competitions also involve the management of numerous rights: copyright on the works performed, image rights of artists or participants, trademark licences, sponsorship agreements, and audiovisual broadcasting rights.
Trademark protection is also a major issue in the entertainment industry.
Film and album titles, artist names, video game franchises, festival names and event names can represent extremely important strategic and economic assets.
We therefore assist our clients in registering and managing their trademarks in France and internationally in order to secure their commercial exploitation. We can also intervene to protect an artist’s image.
Dispute management
We also play an important role in dispute management and prevention.
Creative industries are particularly exposed to conflicts related to counterfeiting (copying or imitation, integration of part of a film/song into a third party’s project, ambush marketing related to musical or sporting events, etc.) or even to breaches of contractual obligations.
For example, a producer may be accused of using a screenplay without the authorisation of the author of the book on which it is based, a video game may be suspected of reproducing protected elements from a previous work, an artist may contest the terms and conditions of use of their works, and many other situations.
In such situations, we intervene to analyse the legal risks, defend our clients’ interests and, where necessary, initiate legal proceedings.
Depending on the issues at stake and the overall strategy determined with our clients, we may also favour amicable solutions, such as negotiating settlement agreements, in order to preserve commercial relations and the image of the parties without taking the risk of legal uncertainty.
