Creative Law Network attorney Dave Ratner will be a member of the Denver Post Underground Music Showcase Panel: How to Be a Rockstar in 365 Days. Dave Ratner is the entertainment law and music attorney chosen to be on the panel with artists, educators, and other music industry professionals. Come see what it's all about this Saturday July 21 at 3:00pm at South Broadway Christian Church at 23 Lincoln Street in Denver. Read More >
I explain the importance of trademark registration to all my clients, whether they are in music, film, or any other industry. My friends James Trigg and Ashford Tucker (both experienced entertainment and intellectual property attorneys) explain it well in this interview/article. Check it out! Read more>
The music industry is full of legal myths. As entertainment lawyers we try to debunk these myths for our clients. This blog post tells the truth about some myths in copyright law and music law. Read More >
Fair use is an exception to the rule that you cannot use or exploit another's copyrighted work. Many artist's rely on fair use to reuse, comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work. In Cariou v. Prince, Richard Prince had made artwork by painting over some of Patrick Cariou's published photographs. Years of litigation followed and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals recently handed down its decision. Read More >
The Imagine 2020 project is a survey and development effort designed to give Denver a renewed sense of direction in the promotion of arts, culture and creativity. It is a collaborative effort that seeks to engage all citizens. By documenting the thoughts and input of Denverites, Imagine 2020 will inform an effort to provide resources and collaborative efforts to support arts and culture in our city. A six-month study period will be followed by an evolving, multiyear program to engage citizens, build creative economies and provide an appreciation for the creative works around us.
You can contribute! Take the survey HERE
Want to sell that old book or CD you have lying around? If you bought it (or even if it was manufactured) overseas, a recent court case could have made that illegal. The Supreme Court ruled that you can resell a copyrighted work and that has important implications.. Read More >
Music sampling is not a sport for amateurs. There are a lot of myths out there and a lot of legal pitfalls. This blog post lays it out fairly simply. There's a lot more to it but here's a start: Read More >
Copyright protects songs and poems and paintings and books and… don't forget sculptures! Even iconic images like the Oscar statue can be protected by copyright. If it's protected by copyright, you can't make a reproduction of it. One company throwing Oscar parties learned this the hard way. Read More >
Sometimes a band's name makes all the difference. A band name is also a brand and is also a trademark. Naming a band takes serious consideration - it must be a great name but also can't be similar to any other name. Trademark law is very important when considering a band name. Here's a blog post that lays it out in layman's terms: Read More >
Reselling recorded music is as old as recorded music. We still have used CD stores and flea markets always have a good selection of old vinyl. But what about reselling mp3s and other digital files? Whether reselling digital files is legal (and, if so, to what extent) isn't clear at the moment. But ReDigi is going to give it a shot. Read More >