(Existing) Music in Productions – The Unsung Hero
(Existing) Music in Productions – Introduction Music may be the unsung hero (pardon the pun) of film and television productions. From short films to full length pictures, from web series to TV series, and everything in between; music more often than not plays a vital role. For a producer seeking to obtain music for use […]
10 Software Services Agreement Tips
10 Software Services Agreement Tips – Introduction If your team creates software solutions, the following service agreement tips should provide some of the key issues to cover in your initial discussions with a potential client. Statement of Work The agreement should include a statement of work, which identifies the project’s scope and the respective responsibilities […]
Moral Rights in (Canadian) Copyright Law – What You Need to Know
Moral Rights in (Canadian) Copyright Law – Introduction Moral rights in a copyright work are entirely separate from the legal or economic rights. They can not be sold or transferred, and they can only be waived, which they frequently are in entertainment law agreements. What exactly are moral rights? What are authors giving up when […]
Collaborating with Artists and Other Writers: Publishing Law
Collaborating with Artists and Other Writers – Introduction One may picture that a book is created by one person, sitting alone at a computer, passionately typing out their manuscript. Many times, this is not the case. A book (or really any written work) may have two, three or more authors. Authors may also collaborate with […]
COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit – Ontario
Introduction On April 29, 2021, the Ontario COVID-19 Putting Workers First Act, 2021 came into effect. The Act amends the Employment Standards Act by introducing the COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit. The new Benefit is another effort by the provincial government to alleviate the ongoing effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Ontario’s workforce by requiring […]
NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens): An Intro into Relevant Legal Considerations
NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) – Introduction By this point, I am sure that you have heard the term NFT passed around in casual discussion. It is one of the most hot-button topics of current conversation and debate. You may have heard of individuals investing in or purchasing NFTs, perhaps others stating that they have made huge […]
Comic Book Law: The Basics
Comic Book Law – Introduction Comic books have long been a staple of our pop culture. Characters like Superman and Wonder Woman, Spider-Man and Black Panther have been around longer than many people who will read this blog have been alive. Comics may have had a renaissance in recent years with the incredible popularity of […]
The Working for Workers Act, 2021, within the Entertainment Industry
The Working for Workers Act 2021 – Introduction On December 2, 2021, Ontario Bill 27: Working for Workers Act, 2021, received Royal Assent and was passed into law. Bill 27 introduces new measures to improve employment standards for workers across the province. Most significantly, Bill 27 prohibits non-compete agreements between employers and employees, except in […]
What is a Sunset Clause and why you should care?
What is a Sunset Clause – Introduction Have you ever watched the sun go down on the beach? I bet you could actually see it wane into a tiny disc on the horizon, like a golden coin, and then evaporate in a whisper. The sun has officially “set”. Yet, it is not immediately dark. The afterglow […]
Five Submission Release Tips – Ask An Entertainment Lawyer
Five Submission Release Tips – Introduction A submission release is a contract that “releases” a person who receives information from obligations to the person who shared that information. Television and film writers often encounter submission releases when pitching materials. By way of example, let’s say you have an awesome idea for a new kids TV […]
