We could use your help. It's always a pleasure to present at Denver Startup Week and we have an informative workshop on #licensing planned for this year if you'll show your support.
Join us for a lunchtime discussion with Dave and the Colorado Film and Video Association (CFVA) as they discuss all the contracts you need for your film or vide production. Bring your questions for Dave to answer. See you there!
When: Wednesday, March 9, 2022 12pm - 1pm MST
Where: Online! Click Here to Register!
We are excited to announce that Dave Ratner has been named a 2022 Top Lawyer by 5280 Magazine!
Dave has been recognized as a 5280 Top Lawyer since the list was created!
Congratulations, Dave!
From our family to yours, Creative Law Network would like to wish you a happy and safe holiday season!
Please note that our office will be closed on Friday, December 24th. We will reopen on Monday, December 27th. Our office will close again on Friday, December 31st and reopen on Monday, January 3, 2022.
Happy holidays and see you soon!
Today is Colorado Gives Day!
Colorado Gives Day was founded in 2007 as a way to show support for our state’s non-profit organizations. ColoradoGives provides donors with a safe and trusted way to support nonprofits, and each organization's online profile is screened by Community First Foundation to ensure specific standards of transparency. Join us in helping our local non-profits grow and “Give Where You Live”!
Dave joined Michael Brandvold and Jay Gilbert on their podcast Music Biz Weekly to talk about all things contracts!
“David Ratner joins us to talk about recording contracts and what has changed in contracts and how COVID is changing performance contracts. Dave channeled his passion for music – and all creative arts – into Creative Law Network, a law firm built specifically for creative professionals. And he built a team at Creative Law Network that is passionate about the arts, ensuring creative work is protected, and helping creatives leverage the law to maximize the value of their work.”
Catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Youtube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts!
Unfortunately, not quite. But that doesn’t mean they have to be a mystery.
You may have seen the term “NFT” floating around recently. It’s just about everywhere, from Saturday Night Live skits, memes, and social media, all the way to Wall Street and the global tech giants. So what exactly is an NFT? While an explanation of NFTs can often sound like a mess of jargon and confusing principles, NFTs can be broken down to some reasonable basics.
What does NFT stand for?
NFT is short for “non-fungible token.” Clear as mud, we know, but bear with us. Non-fungible is another way of saying that something is unique and can’t be replaced with something else. Something that is fungible is anything that is interchangeable because they are identical, like money. With money, you can swap a $20 bill for two $10 bills and have the same value. A non-fungible item however is something that is one of a kind. A non-fungible item has unique qualities that cannot be interchanged with something else. NFTs are unique digital assets that can be bought and sold like any other piece of property, but have no tangible form of their own. So, an NFT is a unique digital token, the value of which lies in its unique nature. The digital token can be thought of as a certificate of ownership for virtual or physical assets.
How do they work?
From the 10,000 foot view, NFTs are part of a cryptocurrency blockchain. A blockchain is a digital ledger of transactions across a network of computer systems. NFTs are recorded in a digital ledger in the same way as cryptocurrency, so there is a listing of who owns each NFT. What makes an NFT unique is the digital asset it is connected to. This can be any non-fungible digital work such as an image, artwork, a meme, a song, sports memorabilia, and much more, that is uploaded to an NFT marketplace where the NFT is sold. These works can be uploaded to the marketplace and sold as NFTs, and the purchaser of the NFT will be added to the blockchain ledger as the owner of the NFT.
Does this mean the purchaser owns the image, art, meme, or song connected to the NFT?
No it doesn’t. This concept can be very strange, but the person who buys the NFT doesn’t own the actual asset on which the NFT is based. The purchaser of an NFT owns the token, but the creator of the original work retains the intellectual and creative rights. The purchaser has a record, hash code, and metadata in the blockchain showing ownership of the unique token associated with the original work. But this is digital art; can’t it be replicated and distributed infinitely? Of course, but we can look at it like art prints. There are hundreds of thousands of prints and reproduction of Van Gogh’s Starry Night, but since they are not the original, they are far less valued. The same principle applies to NFTs, you can copy and paste an image but only the original, together with the hash code and metadata, digitally signed by the artist, holds value. The buyer is purchasing the NFT which contains the digital work as well as the indelible signature of artist and all transactions associated with the artwork as digital proof of authenticity and uniqueness.
So how can you take advantage of NFTs?
As an artist you might be interested in NFTs because they are a new way to sell digital versions of your work, while retaining your ownership rights. This type of sale creates an easily trackable ledger where you can follow the ownership of these NFTs. Also, you can keep some control as to resale of the NFTs, including a percentage of each resale of the NFT on the blockchain. While there are fees involved for an artist, including fees required to make and sell the NFT through the specific marketplaces, savvy digital artists can find a great market for their work as NFTs grow in popularity.
As for buyers, NFTs present a unique opportunity to own a piece of art or pop culture history. The NFT serves as contracted proof of ownership that lives on an easily traceable digital ledger. NFTs offer a blockchain-created certificate of authenticity for the digital asset and tracks the ownership. This proof can be very valuable to buyers and collectors alike.
NFTs are a new and exciting market for creatives, but can initially be tricky to navigate. We at Creative Law Network are always ready and able to help if you have any questions, or are hoping to dive into the world of NFTs and are looking for protection and a knowledgeable guide!
Join Creative Law Network’s Dave Ratner along with Colorado Attorneys for the Arts on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 from 2-3:30 pm online for “Can I Post This? Putting Creative Content Online”
We operate in a virtual marketplace of video and design where creative content reigns. Especially since 2020, we've seen an explosion of online content in all sectors. When creating online media using third-party content, you have to ask yourself: Can I post this? Do I have the rights to use this music in my promo video? Can I use this photo on my webpage? Do I have permission to share this [video, song, image] on my [website, social media, blog]? And, how do I protect my own creative content when it’s shared online? This presentation will explain the law and concepts that underlie the answers to these questions. The interactive conversation will provide general guidance on integrating and distributing content on digital platforms as well as basic copyright and licensing concepts.
What is Music Law?
If you’re in the music business, you may be involved in recording, publishing, licensing, performing, concert promotion, merchandising, and/or talent management. Music law applies to the creation, production, distribution, sale, and marketing of music. If you have a music-related contract you need reviewed or written, have a band or record label, represent talent, or are an independent artist, promoter, producer, or songwriter, you might want to contact a music lawyer at Creative Law Network. Check out our Musician Legal Checklist for a list of things to consider and ways we can help.
What a Music Lawyer do for you?
As music lawyers, we help our clients with contracts, protect their work, name, and other rights, and can help navigate the music business. This includes drafting, negotiating, and reviewing all sorts of contracts like recording agreements, management agreements, producer agreements, songwriter agreements, publishing agreements, performance agreement, and licensing. It includes protecting copyrights of songs, recordings, and videos, and trademark protection of names and logos. It means maximizing our clients’ rights and revenue. And it means answering questions about the ins and outs of the music business. Essentially, we are here to handle the business and legal stuff so you can be free to work on the music you love! Please reach out to us at Creative Law Network if you have any questions. We’re here to help!
Law and Social Media
Influencers have changed the way we interact on the Internet, how we find and purchase new products and services, and how we consume media. Influencers can sway opinion and have a lot of cultural impact and especially through social media. However, to be a successful influencer, it takes far more than just a social media handle and a sparkling personality. There are a litany of legal rights and agreements that can be crucial in an influencer’s career. These can include copyrights, trademarks, service agreements, sponsorship and endorsement deals, music rights, and federally mandated disclosure requirements. The experienced lawyers at Creative Law Network are experts in this field! Check out our Influencer Legal Checklist for a list of things to consider and ways we can help.
What Can a Lawyer do For You?
As lawyers specializing in the issues influencers face every day, we help our clients with contracts, protecting their work, name, and rights, sponsorships and endorsements, general business law, and making sure proper disclosures are present to stay on the right side of the law. This includes drafting, negotiating, and reviewing all sorts of contracts like services agreements, work for hire agreements, commission agreements, sponsorship and endorsement agreements, and licensing agreements. It includes protecting copyrights of photographs, videos, music, and blogs, and trademark protection of names and logos. It means maximizing our clients’ rights and revenue. And it means providing guidance on the ins and outs of successfully growing your influencer business and outreach. Essentially, we are here to handle the business and legal stuff so you can connect with the masses! Please reach out to us at Creative Law Network if you have any questions. We’re here to help!