The entertainment industry is huge, and as a result is filled with legal obligations and regulations which must be followed. Whether it’s artist representation or song licencing, catering contracts for a production or distribution negotiations, entertainment law can help parties navigate the rules of this unique industry. Read on to find out more about entertainment law, what entertainment lawyers do and how you could also work in the industry.
By Grant Longstaff. Published 14 August 2024.
Definition of entertainment law
Entertainment law is an area of legal practice focusing on the entertainment industry, which includes areas such as film, TV, music, theatre, publishing, sports, gaming and digital media. Legal work in this area could cover many areas, including things such as employment law, financial law, intellectual property (IP) law and corporate law, which offers those working in the sector a broad range of opportunities.
Those working in entertainment law will use their in depth knowledge of both the legal and entertainment industries to help manage the complex relationships between artists, entertainers, producers, studios, distributors, and beyond.
What do entertainment lawyers do?
Entertainment lawyers provide legal advice and guidance to both individuals and businesses within the entertainment industry. Legal work in this sector can vary significantly depending on the area of law you work in, however there are some common tasks you’ll likely face if you work within entertainment. These include but aren’t limited to things such as contract negotiations, licencing, protecting IP, compliance and dispute resolution. There is also the possibility of having to address legal issues in entertainment such as piracy and breaches of contract.
How to become an entertainment lawyer
There isn’t a specialised route into becoming an entertainment lawyer or solicitor. If you’re looking to work in the field you’ll first need to qualify as a solicitor and then look for work in the entertainment sector. Our guide to becoming a solicitor is a useful place to start planning your next steps. Once qualified you can then look for a role with a firm which specialises in entertainment law or an in house position with a company or organisation within the sector.
If you’re passionate about working within the field it could also help to look for work experience or an internship with a law firm specialising in entertainment law, or even approaching companies within the sector – such as production companies – and ask to support in their legal department. Gaining a little insight into the field, and the kind of work undertaken, will strengthen your future applications.
What degree is best to become an entertainment lawyer?
As we’ve discussed above there isn’t a specific degree for becoming an entertainment lawyer. Your legal expertise come first, and you’ll find the legal nuances of the entertainment industry will come once you’re employed.
That said, there are many courses available which could help provide you with further skills and industry knowledge. For instance we offer an LLM in Media Law, Privacy and Defamation and an LLM in Data Protection and Intellectual Property, both of which could help deepen your understanding of legal subjects present in the entertainment industry.
Key areas of entertainment law
Entertainment law covers several key areas and understanding these is essential for anyone looking to pursue a career in the field.
Contracts and Agreements
Contracts are a cornerstone of the entertainment industry. They lay out the rights and responsibilities of all the parties involved. You could be responsible for drafting, reviewing and negotiating the terms of a contract to ensure the protection of your client, whether it’s legal representation for artists or an organisation.
Contracts can be extremely varied and cover a broad range of topics. It could be a contract defining the use of a song in a film, an artist management deal, or a distribution agreement with a streaming service – it ultimately depends on who your employer is and what they do.
Intellectual property rights
Intellectual property forms another huge part of the entertainment industry. IP law is there to help protect what an artist creates and could include music and songs, films and television shows, individual characters, and written works. Ultimately, IP law helps protect an artist’s work, can define how that work is used and what compensation is received for its use. Given the global nature of the entertainment industry you’ll likely have to develop a keen awareness of international IP laws too.
Media and broadcasting rights
Media and broadcasting rights involve how work is distributed. This could be through traditional broadcasting mediums such as TV and radio, or digitally, through streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify. It’s likely that behind many of the films you’re able to stream or TV shows you watch there’s a detailed contract which defines exactly how the film is used.
Work in this area could involve the acquisition or licensing of work for broadcast, negotiating deals with streaming services, and managing the digital rights of your clients work or output. You may also have to challenge illegal activity such as piracy.
Entertainment law is an exciting and diverse field with plenty of opportunity for those looking to work within the industry. To gain a better insight into what a career in entertainment law might look like you can read the stories of some of our Alumni who work within the sector. Amelia Maher worked for Sony Music before moving to Aardman, the production company behind Wallace and Gromit, and Craig Curran is Senior Legal and Business Affairs Manager at ITV Sport.
Now you’ve discovered the basics of entertainment law consider one of our undergraduate law degrees and kickstart your career.
