Entertainment, Copyright and Trademark

Today, Massachusetts is a nationally recognized center of film, television, and video production, and Rich May is taking center stage. In fact, with the enactment of the Massachusetts film tax-credit law, the media and entertainment business is booming.

Rich May’s Entertainment, Copyright and Trademark Practice Group is dedicated to serving the needs of entertainment and creative professionals. We provide a full range of expertise in entertainment and intellectual property law. Together with lawyers from other Rich May practice groups, we offer an interdisciplinary approach to this industry’s growing contracting, licensing, intellectual property, tax and employment needs.

Our Entertainment, Copyright and Trademark practice group is composed of lawyers experienced in all aspects of the media and entertainment industry, who can meet the varied needs of clients in a cost-effective manner. Our attorneys have worked in-house at commercial and public television networks, and in the private sector. We have broad experience in the financing, production and distribution of film and television projects, representing a broad range of clients including production companies, writers, directors, artists, animators, multi-media and software producers, distributors, book authors and publishers.

We provide legal and strategic guidance to clients in all aspects of the entertainment industry, including:

• Negotiation and drafting of contracts for the financing, production and distribution of film, television and video projects
• Trademark and copyright protection
• Fair use evaluation and rights analysis
• First Amendment review, including defamation and privacy claims
• Employment and independent contractor agreements
• Private placement and financing documents
• Formation of LLCs and corporate entities
• Advice and consultation on the Massachusetts Tax Credit law
• Entertainment, copyright and trademark litigation