MyMusicLawFirm.Com is not your ordinary law firm.*Twitter: MyMusicLawFirm.ComWe believe in the independent artist.

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Thank you for visiting our space. Please review all information on this page and our blog comments for facts, articles and stories that we are sure you will find interesting. We will update from time to time, so please make sure to check back or subscribe the blog. This is free information that is shared by either our members or information that can be found on the internet. We can also send you free information on our firm by e-mail at your request. *****The music world has changed forever! As each year passes, the more apparent this becomes. We all are aware that the traditional money making aspects of the record business is not what is was 5 years ago. The revenue from physical CD's have been replaced with digital downloads, ring tones, publishing, etc. Traditional agreements have been replaced with 360 contracts that cover revenue streams across the board. Major labels have been replaced in part by indie company's. Many artists have turned to self management by stepping away from labels and running the business by themselves, thru a manager, investors, an agent or attorney. Artists are also licensing music to be used in TV commercial and/or movies. Why is this happening? Simple answer: the Major record companies are not producing the kind of revenues they have in the past. The days of making money off large mark ups on vinyl, 8 track, cassette and CD's are long gone. Digital distribution has allowed any artist to sell music so that the public is not limited to those chosen by the few companies that have controlled the market for so long. This makes it extremely difficult for an artist to get its music in front of a label that is willing to roll the dice and invest money in its work. Executive cut backs have been extreme across the board for the world's recording companies. In addition, every artist has equal access to distribution and fans across the globe. If you want your music out there for download and sale, there are may options on the table. In todays world, the question is not, "how do I get it out there for sale?".. it is now.. "How do they find me and how can I get them to buy my music"? This is your challenge as an artist. How do you represent yourself or find others to represent you in order to be the one found or chosen. We refer to this as the "complex issues" of the new business world of music. Accordingly, an artist needs to understand both the simple and complex issues involved in writing, recording and performing. Our teams of lawyers are ALL musicians, songwriters and/or recording artists. We choose our clients based on 3 criteria: (1) Talent (2) Personality and (3) Commitment. If we believe in you, we will invest OUR TIME and KNOWLEDGE to represent you. Be forewarned, this is not a "magic carpet" ride.. so if you want represntation from us, you must be willing to work as hard as you possibly can. If you are successful, we will be successful... plain and simple. We combine legal representation, consultation and promotion with support and guidance to help you help yourself accomplish set goals. We believe in the independant artist and stongly feel that the music business today suits such independance. As a musician, it is very important for you to understand your legal rights. This includes the basics of Copyright, Trademark of your band’s name and structuring agreements between band members, your record label (if you have one), publishing, Distribution, radio, management, promoters, etc. We can help you with all aspects of the music business. We can advise and direct you in your journey. Everyday, we all read about legal nightmares in the music business. Without the proper protection, you can wind up in these types of legal battles and lose all that you are entitled to. Again, please read our “Blog” comments and follow the links to “real life” interesting stories involving bands and actual cases involving litigation. Here are just some basic issues you need to be aware of:

What Is a Trademark or Servicemark?

A trademark is a word, name, symbol or device which is used in trade with goods to indicate the source of the goods and to distinguish them from the goods of others. A servicemark is the same as a trademark except that it identifies and distinguishes the source of a service rather than a product. The terms .."trademark.." and .."mark.." are commonly used to refer to both trademarks and servicemarks. Trademark rights may be used to prevent others from using a confusingly similar mark, but not to prevent others from making the same goods or from selling the same goods or services under a clearly different mark. Trademarks which are used in interstate or foreign commerce may be registered with the “Patent and Trademark Office”.*

What Is a Copyright?

Copyright is a form of protection provided to the authors of “original works of authorship” including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works, both published and unpublished. The 1976 Copyright Act generally gives the owner of copyright the exclusive right to reproduce the copyrighted work, to prepare derivative works, to distribute copies or phonorecords of the copyrighted work, to perform the copyrighted work publicly, or to display the copyrighted work publicly. The copyright protects the form of expression rather than the subject matter of the writing. For example, a description of a machine could be copyrighted, but this would only prevent others from copying the description; it would not prevent others from writing a description of their own or from making and using the machine. Copyrights are registered by the “Copyright Office of the Library of Congress”.*

Band Agreements:

At the very least, band members should come to an agreement to cover issues as: Merchandising, touring, royalties, dissolution rights and many more. This can be accomplished by forming a corporation, LLC or partnership organization. This can also be done by simple agreement. ..< h2>Again, we are musicians first... we understand what is needed to protect your work. Please feel free to be-friend us and send us messages or comments regarding your needs. We are here to help you and our fees are the lowest in the industry. If you find lower fees offered by another law firm, we will beat it- guaranteed. Contact us and we will set up a time for a free phone consultation. • Start Up and Business Model • Contract Drafting & Negotiation • Partnership, LLC & Corporation Formation • Copyright, Trademark Registrations - Dispute Resolution With Third Parties
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*Information obtained from the Patent and Trademark Office of the United States.

*Information obtained from the Copyright office of the United States.

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