Creative Law Network

Updates

How can I get paid when someone creates a cover of my song?


Songwriters! You probably know this—getting paid mechanical royalties when someone covers your song is one of the possible income streams from your music. Dave shares two ways you can collect income when others create a cover of your song.

P.S. We’ll talk about how you can earn from streams of your songs in the next video. Follow us on YouTube so you don’t miss it!

Dave Ratnermusic, music business, mechanical licensing
Client Spotlight: Cyanelle Studios

Graphic design and illustration? Lauren's got you ✨

This week's Client Spotlight is on Cyanelle Studios by Lauren Jefferson. Lauren is an experienced graphic designer and illustrator offering a wide range of design services. (Swipe to see some of her awesome work!)

Beyond design and illustration, Lauren is an all-around creative:

  • a jack-of-all-fiber-arts (but an expert at knitting),

  • a live-on-stage storyteller,

  • who loves photography, weaving, cooking, video editing, and stamp carving!

Would you love to try these creative pursuits too?

Follow Lauren's art adventures and take a closer look at her creative projects on Instagram: @cyanellestudios




client spotlightDave Ratnerclient spotlight
Dave Ratner joins panel at CBA-CLE's Solo-Small Firm Institute

Michael Jackson as a witness in a copyright suit—that's just one of several things this panel will talk about on Friday September 20!


Dave Ratner will join the Honorable Richard Gabriel and Tom Werge to provide:

  • a history of music law in Colorado, and

  • an introduction to copyright in music and copyright litigation.

The panel discussion on "Colorado’s Place in the Music Industry" is part of this year's Solo-Small Firm Institute, a unique opportunity from the CBA-CLE to learn, laugh, and build your network! Save your seat here: https://cle.cobar.org/Seminars/Event-Info/sessionaltcd/SS091924L

#musiclawyer #musichistory #ColoradoMusic #musiclaw #copyright


Dave Ratner
A “very demure” trademark story

Very mindful, very smart

...that's what you are when you protect your trademarks early.

Very demure Very mindful Very cutesy

Jools Lebron's story highlights the value of identifying your trademarks and protecting them. 

What exactly is the best way to do that? Federal trademark registration is the best protection. It can get complicated though, so it should be handled by an experienced trademark attorney to give you the best chance of securing your registration!

Got a question about trademarks? Send us a message to get in touch with our expert attorneys!

Dave Ratner
When the band breaks up...


What are the biggest band breakups of all time?

Never, ever, getting back together?

Music history is filled with messy band breakup stories, but it doesn't have to be that way. Our client's story is living proof.

He was a dedicated member of a respected band with no less than a Grammy® award-winning leader! Aiming for an amicable parting, he asked for our legal support in discussing the terms with the band, represented by a premier Nashville law firm.

The outcome—our client parted ways with the band:

  • holding onto his copyrights

  • getting paid what he was due, and

  • continuing to receive revenue from his prior work.

Breakups can be tricky. But by recognizing and valuing the relationships involved and treating the process with care, they can all end on a good note.


client storiesDave Ratnermusic business, copyrightComment