Entertainment Law

Creative work also involves business decisions: how a project will be delivered, who can use the finished work and when payment is expected. The Law Offices of Wunsch and Cruz assists entertainers and influencers with agreements, rights to their work and professional disputes. For help with a proposed deal or a project already underway, discuss your entertainment law needs with the firm.

The entertainment practice serves authors, recording artists, songwriters, online creators, production companies, music producers, managers and other entertainment professionals.

Agreements tied to your creative work

The firm reviews and negotiates entertainment contracts, including music publishing, record-label, sponsorship and advertising agreements. A useful review starts with the actual project and the people involved, rather than treating every creative arrangement as the same transaction.

Tell the attorney whether you are considering a first draft, responding to proposed changes or working under an agreement that is already signed. Include any related project brief or earlier agreement so the discussion reflects the full arrangement.

Look beyond the payment figure

Questions to raise when reviewing an agreement include:

• What work must be delivered, and who approves revisions or the final version?
• How does the agreement address use of your work, name or image?
• What channels, time periods or exclusivity terms are proposed?
• When is payment expected, and how are expenses or cancellation addressed?
• What happens when the parties disagree about the project?

Copyright and trademark concerns

Questions about ownership, credit or another person's use of your work should be considered alongside the relevant agreements. The firm's entertainment practice addresses copyright and trademark concerns and related disputes. Bring the work at issue, the agreement and examples of the disputed use so the attorney can assess the specific question.

For social media projects, retain the campaign brief, approval messages and copies of the relevant posts. These materials help explain what was requested and what was actually published.

When a project changes or a disagreement develops

New deliverables, a request for broader use of content or a missed payment may call for another look at the agreement. Keep the signed version, proposed amendments and communications together. Note what has been completed and what each party is now asking for.

Prepare for a contract conversation

Bring your current draft and identify the terms that matter most to you, such as creative approval, payment timing or future use of the work. You can also explore our broader contract services.

If you need help negotiating a creative agreement or addressing a dispute over your work, contact the firm about your project. Explain what is being proposed and what you want the arrangement to accomplish.