Pop Culture

"All I've ever wanted to do is move the needle on popular culture."

Jimmy Iovine
 

Pop Culture Legal

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We work with clients in the Media, Tech, Internet, Brand, TV, Music, Film, Art, and Fashion industries on the unique legal issues they face in order to minimise their risks and maximise their opportunities.

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In these spaces we assist clients including multi-national corporations, individual content streamers and producers, media companies, film producers, creative talent, independent studios, bands and solo artists, authors, photographers, designers, retailers, art galleries and artists with regard to the following common legal issues effecting those creating and driving Pop Culture:

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Media 

• Codes of practice compliance

• Deal negotiation

• Defamation

• Digital/online media

• Domain name registration and assistance

• Intellectual property

  • Copyright, including the rights of writers, songwriters, performers and producers, licensing, sampling, editing, and copyright infringement

  • Trade marks including search, applications, registrations, advice and disputes

• Media rights agreements

• Online security

• Privacy

• Rights agreements and clearances – music, books, TV, film, online

• Services agreements

• Social media – terms of use; policies, and subscription agreements 

• Talent contracts and agreements

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Internet / Technology 

• Business advice, setup, and structuring for technology startups and emerging companies

• Commercial contracts and agreements

• Corporate governance

• Distribution agreements

• Employment agreements, disputes, dismissals, shareholder plans and options

• Joint ventures

• Incorporation including shareholder agreements and company constitutions

• Intellectual property

• License agreements

• Privacy policies

• Subscription agreements

• Terms and conditions of use

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Brands

• Business advice, setup, and structuring for brands

• Commercial contracts and agreements

• Compliance and regulatory

• Corporate governance

• Data privacy

• Distribution agreements

• Employment agreements, disputes, dismissals, shareholder plans and options

• Joint ventures

• Incorporation including shareholder agreements and company constitutions

• Intellectual property

• License agreements

• Merchandising

• Rights agreements

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TV

• Intellectual property

• Production distribution E&O Insurance review and sign-off

• Talent agreements

• TV production and development agreements including financing, licensing, distribution, royalties, management, partnerships, shareholder and joint ventures, promotion, sponsorship, and merchandising agreements

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Music Artists & Publishers

• Intellectual property

  • Copyright, including the rights of songwriters, performers and producers, licensing, sampling, editing, and copyright infringement

  • Trade marks for businesses and band names including search, applications, registrations, advice and disputes

• Music agreements including recording, licensing, publishing, distribution, royalties, management, partnerships, shareholder and joint ventures, touring, booking, sponsorship, merchandise and venue hire agreements

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Film Producers and Talent

• Film development and productions agreements, including financing, licensing, distribution, royalties, management, partnerships, shareholder and joint ventures, promotion, sponsorship, and merchandising agreements

• Film producer E&O Insurance review and sign-of

• Talent agreements

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Art

• Acquisitions and disposals

• Business advice, setup, and structuring for artists, photographers, galleries, and managers

• Commissioning agreements

• Exhibition agreements

• Foundation and trust establishment and management 

• Gallery agreements

• Intellectual property

  • Copyright, including the rights of artists and copyright infringement

  • Trade marks for designs, including search, applications, registrations, advice and disputes

• Leasing 

• Merchandising ​

• Title investigations and advocacy

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Fashion

• Anti-slavery

• Business advice, setup, and structuring for designers and labels

• Capital raising and financing

• Commissioning agreements

• Distribution agreements

• Exhibition agreements

• Export market and international agreements

• Intellectual property

  • Copyright, including the rights of designers and copyright infringement

  • Trade marks for designs, including search, applications, registrations, advice and disputes

• Leasing 

• Manufacturing agreements 

• Marketing and branding 

• Merchandising ​

• Model agreements 

• Retail leasing and management

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General Media & Entertainment

• Business advice, setup, and structuring for artists, photographers, authors, bands, solo artists, labels, and managers

• Dispute resolution including litigation, mediation, and settlement negotiation

• General entertainment law including film and television production, publishing, advertising, sport, digital media and other creative content

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Recent Experience

Ovo Mobile

Assisted and advised this growing mobile based media company on media rights acquired to broadcast sports. Also advised on a satellite services agreement.

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Podcasters

Advised on copyright and licensing issues.

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Film Producers

Assisted and advised the Producers of a feature length film with Errors & Omissions (E&O) Insurance for theatrical release and distribution.

Script writer/creator

Assisted the script writer/creator of a web-based TV series with advice and advocacy regarding an alleged copyright claim.

Publishing/Author Agent

Advised and represented the long-standing agent of a prominent published author on the dissolution of the agreement between the parties and the treatment of residual rights in relation to a film deal and other rights.

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SAAS Developer

Assisted and advised a software developer client on trademark breach allegations from a global CRM provider.

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Web Design Agency

Drafted and settled a commercial agreement covering design services provided to an online e-commerce vendor offering online shopfronts based upon my client’s designed templates.

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IT Start-Up

Advice and representation to a start-up tech company on the breakdown of an undocumented employee shareholder plan.

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Pop Culture Consulting

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We help with research, strategy, planning and the execution of commercialisation and growth programs in pop culture industries, including the following:
 

• Asset valuations, acquisitions, and disposals

• Audits and reviews

• Brand development 

• Brand protection and commercialisation

• Business planning

• Crisis management and response

• Data mining and analytics

• Deal negotiations

• Digital asset development

• Economic impact analysis and strategies

• Export market development

• Grant applications

• Governance implementation and management

• Market analysis 

• Market research

• Media engagement

• Organizational structuring

• Product development and licensing

• Project management

• Reviews and analysis

• Regulatory and compliance

• Rights clearances

• Rights management

• Rights negotiations

• Shareholder management

• Strategy development

• Training

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