Television Lawyer: When and Why Do You Need One?

If you are involved in the television or entertainment industry, you may need legal assistance at some point in your career. With the help of a lawyer, you can protect your intellectual property and ensure that no one else uses it without your express permission. In addition to helping you protect your intellectual property, an entertainment lawyer can also help you negotiate the contracts and agreements that you enter to advance your career. Continue reading to understand how a television lawyer can help you. This guide will provide the basis about television lawyers and help you know when it is important to hire one. 

Why do you need an experienced entertainment lawyer?

One of the most common concerns in the entertainment industry is someone stealing your idea. If you do not take the proper precautions, it can be challenging or impossible for you to fight back if someone infringes upon your intellectual property. And without the necessary precautions, it will be difficult for you to survive in this industry. Protecting your work before submitting it to any production house or a creative agency is essential if you want to retain your rights. 

Your intellectual property can hold significant value. Therefore, it is important to seek appropriate protection for your work. Your lawyer can guide you through the process of registering a trademark for your original works, with allows you to preserve the right to defend against infringers down the line. 

Here are some of the most important ways that entertainment and television lawyers can benefit you:

1. Protecting your intellectual property. If you have written a script, a screenplay, song lyrics, or a book, it is important to secure proper protection for your hard work. If you fail to secure a copyright registration for your content, others could use it without your permission without penalty. If you register your work, you can sue anyone who uses it without your permission. After you secure copyright registration, anyone who would like to use your original work would only be able to do so with your express permission and under license. Otherwise, it would violate copyright law. 

2. Drafting and negotiating contracts and agreements. Having well-written contracts can protect you in the long run. Your attorney will listen to all of your concerns, requested terms, and non-negotiable conditions and be sure to represent your best interests in the agreements they craft. Contracts are legally binding documents, so it is important to understand the terms to which you are agreeing. Your lawyer will help you understand the conditions of any agreement you are signing, as well as connect you with other professionals in the industry. While some artist only seek representation from a manager or an agent, lawyers provide the benefit of extensive knowledge of laws and regulations in the industry.

3. Serving as a trusted adviser. If you are just starting out in the entertainment industry, an experienced lawyer can provide invaluable advice with regard to crafting a viable career. They can guide you on understanding the industry norms and explain other peculiarities of the industry. Whether you have questions about payments, joining unions or other professional associations, or the laws that govern the entertainment business, your lawyer can provide guidance on everything associated with the industry. 

When do you need a lawyer?

It would be ideal to get in touch with a lawyer as soon as you enter the industry to avoid any unnecessary hassles or confusion. Before you begin your career in the television industry, you should prepare yourself with a lawyer’s help. A lawyer will help you understand the laws, guide you on industry best practices, and provide advice on how you can connect with the experts who can advance your career. You will learn so much when you have a legal professional by your side. 

If you have any questions or concerns relating to the industry, you can speak to with the legal professionals at The Hollywood Lawyer. Our team of entertainment lawyers in Los Angeles can help you create a path in this industry. From guidance to negotiation and protecting your rights to representing you in court, our lawyers have deep experience across the entire spectrum of entertainment industry services. Schedule a free consultation to learn more about how our lawyers can help you.