Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vwmedialaw
Twitter : Specialities: Media law, Entertainment law, Commercial law, Music, Computer Games, Social Media, Film, Theatre, Film, and Intellectual property
MUSIC
We represent and defend the interests of those working within the whole spectrum of the UK music industry including Record Producers, Bands, Singers, Composers, Song
writers, as well as Record Labels, Publishing Houses, Agents, Sound Engineers and those working in the Live Events Sector. We advise on:
Record and Publishing Agreements
Management Agreements
Sync Agreements
Band Agreements
Copyright Matters
Contentious Matters
We draft and review agreements and contracts to ensure your rights are protected. FILM, THEATRE & TELEVISION
We advise on all aspects of the industry's legal and business matters. Film and Television
Matters include:
Licensing Agreements
Production Agreements
Producers’ Agreements
Directors’ Agreements
Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure
Distribution Agreements
Screenplay Writers Agreements
Actors’ Agreements
Composers’ Film Music Agreements
Location Agreements
Equity Investment Agreements
Option Agreements
Video Production Agreements
Crew member’s Agreements
Product Release
We also advise on Broadcast licensing and regulatory issues, mechanical licences, independent production company agreements. Theatre
Matters include:
Theatre Agreements
Actors Agreements
We also advise Playwrights, Actors, and Theatre Directors on all matters relating to the Theatre. COMPUTER GAMES & APPS
Computer Games
As the Computer Games sector continues to expand, it is essential to be at the forefront of developments. We advise on all aspects of interactive media entertainment and technology including Computer and Video games, Digital Media including cross - media projects. All aspects of the operation of an interactive business:
Matters include:
Software Development Agreements
Licensing Agreements
Copyright Protection
Copyright Infringement
Licensing Agreements
Assignment Agreements
Copyright Infringement
Confidentiality Agreements
Non-Disclosure Agreements,Disputes
Apps
Matters include:
Mobile Application Development Agreements
End User Licence Agreements
Licensing Agreements
Copyright Protection
Copyright Infringement
Assignment Agreements
Copyright Infringement
Confidentiality Agreements
Non-Disclosure Agreements,Disputes
PUBLISHING
We advise publishers on a variety of publishing issues, including contractual relationships with authors and with other publishers, copyright issues, confidentiality and issues relating to their websites e.g. Terms and Conditions of Use of websites, privacy policies; and drafting and advising on all necessary documents. Matters include:
Publishing contracts (for books, journals etc)
Confidentiality agreements
Assignments of copyright
Software licences
Distribution agreements
Electronic publishing rights contracts
Licences of multimedia rights
Online publication user agreements
Contracts with editors and freelance contributors
Contracts with illustrators
Contracts for acquisition or sale/licensing of translation rights
Contracts for international co-editions
Contracts for commissioning or use of artwork
Waivers of moral rights
Merchandising Licenses
Advising publishers on their standard forms of contract, particularly for new areas of activity for them, e.g. Internet publishing, and negotiating contracts for them, e.g. with other publishers or with other licensors. Authors
Advising authors (including authors of fiction, authors of professional books, and illustrators) on book publishing contracts and/or contracts for the exploitation of other rights (e.g. film and TV rights) and negotiating on their behalf. Matters include:
Book publishing contracts (print and electronic publishing)
Option and assignment or licence of film/TV and other rights
Licences of video/CD-ROM/computer games rights
Screenwriting agreements
TV Presenter agreements
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & COPYRIGHT
Intellectual Property rights are vital assets for many types of commercial concern. Intellectual Property means any Patent, Trademark, Copyright, Design Right, Registered Design, Technical or Commercial Information or other Intellectual Property. It describes the legal rights that exist in products of human creativity: inventions, designs, literary and artistic works, databases and brands. IP and industrial property are synonymous. We represent the interests of all kinds of companies, business people and professionals for whom expertise and pragmatism in advice on trademarks, designs, copyright, competition and trade secrets are essential requirements. Registration, maintenance, transfer, licensing, litigation: these are all aspects of managing intellectual property in which solicitors here can supply the experience, knowledge and clarity which clients require. Matters include:
Intellectual Property Protection
Copyright Licensing Agreements
Copyright Assignment Agreements
Copyright Infringement including “Passing Off”
Trade Marks and Trade Mark Infringement
Confidentiality Agreements
Non-Disclosure Agreements. NEW AND START UP MEDIA BUSINESS ADVICE:
If you are new to business, as a creative entity, you will be in safe hands with Victor Welsh Media Law. We aim to assist new, fledgling, and growing art and media businesses to set themselves up in a world in which, without proper legal advice and assistance, they may be exploited and/or misled by big corporations and predatory, unscrupulous middle men. Many musicians, game programmers, artists and designers, film makers, and drama companies have little knowledge or experience of reading or drafting copyright, publishing or programming contracts. They tend to ‘pull down’ such documents from the internet, which are often United States American in content, and wholly unsuitable for the context in which they are intended to be used. Our intent is to provide accessible, local, cost-effective legal advice to art and media business people not just in Merseyside but inthe United Kingdomto save them the necessity of approaching legal firms in London as the only available resource in this area of law. Please read the content of our site and see how effective the knowledge, and experience-based, advice and assistance we can offer can be in protecting your legal interests in your copyright, publishing, recording and programming materials. We can also offer you advice on how best to set up your business, whether by way of Sole Trader, Partnership or Company, and draft for you the relevant documents such as Partnership Deeds, Shareholder Agreements and Terms of Business. We can offer advice on business succession planning, Leases and/orpurchases of your premises, and all other aspects of your business.
