Zala IP Law LLC - Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law

Zala IP Law LLC - Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law Zala IP Law LLC is a trusted intellectual property law firm that proudly serves clients throughout New York. Contact us today to see how we can help.

At Zala IP Law LLC, we believe your ideas, creative work, and brand are more than just concepts, they’re valuable assets worth protecting. Our mission is simple, to help creators, entrepreneurs, and businesses protect what they’ve built with clarity, care, and confidence. We focus on intellectual property law, including trademarks, copyright protection, IP licensing, and creative and business cont

racts. Whether you’re launching a brand, releasing original work, or navigating a licensing opportunity, we help make sure your rights are protected and your future stays in your control. The firm is led by Shreepal “Shreeps” J. Zala, an intellectual property attorney with a deep, real world understanding of the creative process. Before practicing law, Shreeps spent over a decade working in the creative and entertainment industries as a musician, producer, and entrepreneur. That background allows him to understand not just the legal side of IP, but the human side, how ideas are created, shared, and turned into something meaningful. Our approach is personal, thoughtful, and strategic. Clients work directly with their attorney, receive clear explanations, and are guided through decisions with empathy and transparency. We understand that legal questions often come at important and sometimes stressful moments, and we take pride in creating a space where clients feel heard, supported, and respected. What sets Zala IP Law apart is the balance between legal precision and real world insight. We don’t believe in one size fits all solutions. Every client, every project, and every creative work is treated with care and attention, so protection aligns with how your work is actually used and where you want to take it next. If you’re building something meaningful and want to protect it the right way, we’re here to help. Reach out to start a conversation and see how we can support you.

06/05/2026

Brand Deal Tip #8: Record everything!

Make sure you have documentation of every conversation. If a deal, promise, or key decision happens out loud, follow up with a message or email to get something in writing.

Memories fade and stories change. Documentation doesn't.

Unsure about a contract you're about to sign or want to make sure your IP is protected? Reach out through our website or call today.

06/04/2026

New York just introduced rules for the use of synthetic AI models starting June 9th, and most brands have no idea.

If you use an AI-generated model or a synthetic likeness in your ads, you now have to disclose it clearly.

Skip the disclosure and you're exposed to penalties, not just a slap on the wrist. We're talking real fines and liability that can stack up fast across a campaign.

IP law is moving faster than most businesses can keep up with. If you're not sure where your brand stands, reach out today via the website or call the number in the bio.

06/03/2026

Influencer brand deal tip number seven, get detailed with your payment terms.

This is one of the most overlooked but essential parts of any brand agreement, and getting it right can save you from major headaches later on.

You probably already include some payment language in your contracts, but do not be afraid to take it a step further.

Spell out the schedule of installments, the actual numbers and figures you are relying on, and the timeline for when each payment is due.

Even more importantly, clearly define how long a payment can be late before it is considered delinquent and counts as a breach of contract.

That detail is powerful. Once a payment is officially late, you have the right to pause your work and stop performing until you have been paid.

Depending on your leverage as an influencer, you can hold the brand accountable to that timeline. The more clearly your payment terms are written, the easier it is to enforce them if a dispute arises.

If you are building rapport with a new brand, you might give a little more flexibility, but flexibility should never replace clarity.

Strong contracts protect your time, your work, and your income. They also set the tone for how seriously a brand should take their partnership with you.

If you are ready to make sure your brand deals are working in your favor, reach out today and let us help you build agreements that protect everything you have created.

The creator economy in 2026 isn't slowing down. As one commentator put it: creating IS our culture.What most influencers...
06/02/2026

The creator economy in 2026 isn't slowing down. As one commentator put it: creating IS our culture.

What most influencers miss is that your brand deals are personal services talent agreements. Your talent is turning content into follower currency. And a poorly negotiated contract costs you in both money and goodwill.

As an IP and entertainment lawyer, I review brand deals weekly, sometimes daily. Here are 10 battle-tested tips to negotiate stronger agreements and protect your brand.

Questions about your contract? Reach out today.

You choose the game, we'll find the strategy.
06/01/2026

You choose the game, we'll find the strategy.

A new post on 10 Essential Influencer Contract Tips: Smart Advice for Influencer and Professional Creators!I really trie...
05/30/2026

A new post on 10 Essential Influencer Contract Tips: Smart Advice for Influencer and Professional Creators!

I really tried to dig deep so there's something of value for every reader to take and implement into the contracting process.

05/28/2026

Fast fashion just did it again, and this time, they knocked off one of my own designs.

You all sent me a screenshot of Shein blatantly copying my tie front silk slip dress, and unfortunately, this is becoming far too common.

Retailers like Shein, Temu, and AliExpress are deliberately infringing on the intellectual property of independent designers. They use AI to track the most popular pieces in the marketplace, then move quickly to replicate them.

Many people call this kind of infringement part of Shein's organizational DNA, and the scale of it is staggering.

There are lawsuits pending, but very little has actually moved the needle. One case even tried to charge them under the RICO Act, arguing that the copyright infringement was large enough to qualify as racketeering.

These pieces are not exact counterfeits. They are knockoffs made with cheaper materials and cut corners, which makes them harder to fight legally.

The challenge is that fashion IP law is incredibly thin in the United States. Not every design is automatically protected, and many original creators are left without strong legal options.

In a case like this, certain elements such as a unique lace design may be trademarkable, but protection is never guaranteed.

That is why education is everything. As a designer, knowing the IP protections available to you and building distinctive trademark elements or original artwork into your designs from the very beginning can make all the difference.

If you are a designer or creator looking to protect your work, reach out today and let us help you build the legal foundation your brand deserves.

05/27/2026

Imagine naming your daughter Taylor Swift. She grows up, becomes a musician, and wants to release music under her own name. Can she do it?

The answer is likely no, and the reason comes down to trademark law.

There is something called the "own name defense" in trademark law. It allows a person to use their legal birth name commercially, as long as it was given in good faith and there is a low likelihood of consumer confusion.

But when a name is tied to a particularly strong or incontestable trademark, like Taylor Swift, that defense usually does not hold up in court.
Why? Because the mark is so widely recognized that any commercial use under the same name would likely create confusion in the marketplace.

The further you move down the fame continuum, the stronger the own name defense becomes. If you are in a different region, a different genre, or willing to use a middle initial to differentiate yourself, the defense has more room to stand.

But at the top of that continuum, where household names live, the strength of the trademark often outweighs the right to use your own birth name commercially.

This is one of the many reasons why protecting your name, your brand, and your creative work matters so much.

If you are building a brand and want to protect it the right way, reach out today and let us help you safeguard what is uniquely yours.

05/26/2026

Dua Lipa is suing Samsung, and her case is stronger than you might think.

She is filing for copyright infringement and false endorsement under the Trademark Act. Under US law, you cannot use someone's image to suggest affiliation, sponsorship, or endorsement without their consent.

Samsung used Dua's image on television packaging without permission and reportedly ignored cease and desist letters along the way.

Dua already holds a copyright registration for the image, which was captured during an Austin City Limits performance. That alone gives her a powerful legal foundation.

She has also clearly established the strength of her personal brand. There is anecdotal evidence in the complaint of consumers buying TVs simply because they saw her face on the box, with no original intention to purchase a television at all.

Samsung claims they relied on a content partner who assured them the image was cleared, but they did not deny the infringement. Instead, they tried to shift the blame to a third party.

That kind of defense rarely holds up, and a settlement is likely. While it may not reach the full 15 million dollars she is seeking, even a few million is a small price for a one trillion dollar company.

This case is a powerful reminder that using a celebrity's likeness for commercial purposes without consent or proper licensing carries real legal risk.

Your image, your name, and your brand are your property. If you are a creator, public figure, or business owner, knowing how to protect what is yours matters more than ever.

If you have questions about protecting your brand or intellectual property, reach out to our team today and let us help you safeguard what you have built.

05/22/2026

Here's what a trademark application actually costs, broken down simply.

The USPTO charges $350 per class of goods or services. Most applications cover one to three classes, so filing fees alone can range from $350 to $1,050.

Then come attorney fees, and those are where the bigger investment comes in.

Most attorneys charge between $2,500 and $5,000 or more for a full trademark application. That covers the preparation, the clearance search, reviewing competing marks, and handling anything that comes up during the process.

A clearance search alone is critical. It's what tells you whether your mark is safe to file before you spend the time and money going through the full process.

If you want to lower the upfront cost, some attorneys will exclude office action responses and charge for those separately if they come up.

Either way, budget somewhere between $2,000 and $4,000 or more for a complete trademark filing, depending on your situation.

Protecting your brand is an investment worth making early.

Your mind is your property. Follow for more trademark FAQs and know exactly what you're getting into before you file.

Address

112 W 34th Street
New York, NY
10120

Telephone

+14043131701

Website

https://linktr.ee/zalaiplaw

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