Blaney McMurtry’s Entertainment Law Group has helped its clients understand, appreciate and manage the complexities of developing, producing, and exploiting their creative works as well as protecting their intellectual property rights. We have assisted clients through the various stages of development and commercialization of artistic, choreographic, cinematographic, dramatic, literary or musical works. Our group also has the benefit of drawing upon the expertise of our firm’s other specialty groups in areas such as immigration, tax, financing, labour and employment, construction law, litigation and securities law.

Film, Television and Media

Advising on all matters pertaining to the development, production and exploitation of feature films, television series, digital series and other audio-visual productions, including:

• Incorporation and corporate structuring
• Chain of Title
• Option and Purchase Agreements
• Cast and Crew Deal Memos
• Script review and clearance
• Release package
• Financing and Interim Financing Agreements
• Music licensing
• Tax Credits
• Errors and Omissions insurance
• Broadcast Licences and Distribution Agreements
• Obscenity and defamation matters and other limitations to freedom of expression on behalf of social media and internet providers

Intellectual property rights services in connection with the entertainment industry on the following issues:

• Clearance, registration and enforcement of rights
• Copyright, and moral rights, trademarks, industrial designs and patents
• Valuation of intellectual property rights
• Anti-bootlegging and anti-piracy strategies
• Copyright Board representation with respect to rates proposed by collectives related to rights of composers, authors, publishers, performers and photographers
• Merchandise license agreements
• Policy submissions to the federal government
• Representation before the Copyright Board, Federal Court and Supreme Court of Canada

Music

Advising as to intellectual property rights, including:

• Copyright and moral rights, trademarks and domain names
• Performers’ rights and neighbouring rights
• Rights acquisition and management
• Music licensing and incorporation of third party works

Representation of artists, bands, publishers, record labels, managers and agents to assist on the following:

• Establishment of optimal corporate structure
• Management Agreements
• Agency Agreements
• Publishing Agreements
• Label Licence Agreements
• Master Use Synchronization Licence Agreements
• Producer Agreements
• Navigating intellectual property rights ownership as well as music exploitation and distribution complications

Social Media Law

Representation of both influencers and brands in connection with the negotiation and drafting of influencer service agreements for various social media platforms. We also provide general legal advice to protect and/or enforce intellectual property rights ownership.

Publishing

Advising as to copyright, including:

• Copyright, trademarks and moral rights
• Co-authorship
• Rights acquisition
• Rights management
• Licensing and incorporation of third party works

Negotiation of the first digital rights licence for the use of literary works throughout the Ontario public service.

Gaming Law

Advising on gaming laws in Canada, including laws regulating:

• Land-based casinos
• Charity casinos
• Internet gambling
• Lotteries
• Video lottery terminals and slot machines
• Sports and race wagering
• Tax related issues