Media & Entertainment

• Project development, finance and production
• Distribution rights to IP protection, monetization and infringement
• Media and entertainment company mergers, acquisitions and divestitures

Well versed in both the technology and entertainment industries, we are adept at handling matters that arise regarding interactive media and technology, including the use of social media platforms and emerging technologies.

Backed by decades of experience representing major industry players, we have gained a deep understanding of Media & Entertainment clients’ unique business realities and perspectives, and we are well prepared to assist them in all manner of legal need.

Our services include counseling and assisting clients regarding:

• Film, Television & Music Production/Distribution
  • Pillsbury regularly handles acquisitions of music, film and programming rights and the purchase and sale of libraries. We have negotiated television distribution agreements with cable operators, film distribution agreements, co-production and joint venture agreements, television sports acquisition agreements, operating agreements, and purchase and sale agreements. Our team also advises on rights of publicity and privacy issues, and provides counsel on idea submissions, content licensing for television, movies, movie trailers and documentaries, and related IP right enforcement. Of note, we are one of only a few firms with hands-on experience in negotiating terms of statutory licenses for digital music transmissions.
• Live Entertainment and Touring
  • Pillsbury lawyers advise producers and promoters of blockbuster artists on both national and international tours, long-term residency engagements, festival performances and other live entertainment events. We assist with everything from performance agreements, production agreements, finance agreements, sponsorship agreements and venue license agreements to branding, estate and financial planning, and tax matters. We also have significant experience in negotiating and preparing agreements of all types associated with museum touring exhibitions.
• Interactive Entertainment
  • Pillsbury lawyers provide cutting-edge guidance on emerging business and legal issues relating to virtual worlds, goods and currency; virtual and augmented reality; and interactive gaming. We regularly consult on digital media issues impacting the dissemination of content over the internet and help clients obtain, license, enforce and defend their rights to information, fiction, nonfiction, advertising, copyrights, trademarks, domain names, logos, music, photographs, videos, film, animation, graphics and other forms of content. We regularly assert and defend IP-related claims in and out of court and are experienced in ICANN’s Uniform Dispute Resolution procedures.
• Internet & Social Media
  • Pillsbury provides strategic guidance on the latest social media trends, helping clients establish and maintain an online presence, optimize business opportunities, overcome hurdles and mitigate risk in a developing landscape. Bringing together intellectual property, corporate, technology, and regulatory and litigation lawyers, we work at the forefront of emerging internet and social media issues, advising on a wide range of business matters, including intellectual property protection and enforcement and defamation and privacy rights issues.
• Communications/Multimedia/Mass Media
  • Pillsbury is fully immersed in the media sector, representing clients engaged in every type of traditional, digital and emerging means of communications. We represent hundreds of broadcast stations throughout the U.S., as well as media investors and lenders, and the umbrella organization of the 50 state broadcasters' associations. In addition to guiding these clients through the distinct legal and business complexities that arise in creating, aggregating, distributing and licensing content, we assist them in acquiring, securing and leveraging copyrights and trademarks, and we address issues that arise regarding advertising, promotions, defamation claims and privacy rights.
• Transactional Matters
  • In connection with music, video, photography, multimedia and other entertainment projects, we are frequently called on to structure and negotiate music and video licensing arrangements, software and other technology licensing agreements, publishing and production agreements, permissions agreements and artwork purchase agreements, as well as to advise on e-commerce transactions for entertainment companies and sports teams, performer clearances, and rights of publicity and privacy issues. We also have extensive experience enforcing rights to entertainment-related intellectual property and handle various business transactions within the sector, including mergers, acquisitions, merchandising deals, and asset sales and transfers.
• Executive Employment
  • Pillsbury entertainment lawyers represent numerous executives in the film, television and music industries in negotiating employment agreements with major entertainment companies. We counsel clients on issues unique to the industry, such as editorial and related First Amendment freedoms in the context of hiring, firing and benefits. We also advise on the taxation of profits interests and other forms of compensation, as well as estate planning issues.
• Professional Sports
  • The firm provides professional sports leagues and teams, as well as a collegiate athletic associations, with wide-ranging counsel spanning public and private financing and partnerships; intellectual property issues such as trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets; patents, mergers and acquisitions; real estate and project development; risk management; and regulatory issues. We also represent these clients as they negotiate and structure management, e-commerce, agent and license agreements.
• Advertising and Promotions
  • Pillsbury’s Media & Entertainment group advises clients around the world on their advertising and promotional activities, whether through digital, social media or more traditional channels. We also help advertising agencies around the world to negotiate, document, secure and, when necessary, litigate publication rights and association agreements with Hollywood talent and sports figures.
• Publishing
  • Pillsbury has extensive experience advising on publishing issues as they relate to printed and digital books and magazines, online publications, social media content and mobile apps. The firm has handled significant transactions in this area as well as matters involving claims of rights made against content publishers. Our deep experience also includes unique issues pertaining to the convergence of copyright law and First Amendment law, generally arising out of fair use issues.
• Dispute Resolution
  • From alleged intellectual property infringement to complex commercial, business contract and real estate disputes to defamation and breach of privacy claims, our lawyers represent Media & Entertainment clients in virtually every type of litigation. We have asserted and defended copyright and trademark infringement actions for some of the world’s most important media companies and entertainment personalities — including numerous actions that established new law — and frequently prosecute actions under ICANN’s Uniform Dispute Resolution procedures. We have litigated matters for clients that include live entertainment promoters, motion picture and television producers, a major motion picture studio and a television satellite platform.