The Law Office of Justin M. Jacobson, Esq. assists and provides legal services for talent agents, sports agents, sports and talent marketing managers and agents, music managers and agents, influencer managers and agents, content creator agent and managers, and all entertainment, music, modelling, fashion, esports, gaming, lifestyle talent and management companies. This includes provides assistance to the talent agents and managers operating agencies and management companies including assisting in brand protection and securing through intellectual property protections such as trademarks and copyright protection for musicians, athletes, influencers, professional gamers, streamers, content creators, VTubers, cosplayers, coaches, casters, and any other talent agency or management company operating in the entertainment, music, fashion, content creation, influencer, esports and video game space.
The firm also provides extensive licensing and contract drafting, review, and negotiation of all talent agency and management agreements on behalf of music managers, sports agents, content creator professionals, and influencer agencies and managers. This includes assisting in any commission disputes and in negotiating any sponsorship and endorsement agreements, brand deals, recording and music publishing deals, personal appearance agreements, merchandise and licensing agreements, right of publicity, and business formation and joint venture matters. We also assist in proper commission and fee protection including helping talent managers, agents, sports representatives, creator-economy companies, and entertainment entrepreneurs negotiate deals, protect commissions, secure intellectual property rights, and build scalable representation businesses.
More information on protections for talent agents and managers and their talent is below.
- 4 Legal Tips for Talent Managers and Agents on Exclusivity Clauses in Brand Sponsorship and Endorsement Deals
- 5 Legal Considerations For Content Creators and Streamers
- Protect Your Gamer-Tag: Proper Due Diligence and Brand Protection Techniques for Professional Gamers, Streamers, and Content Creators in the US
- What is a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)?
Why a talent management or representation agreement?
A talent agent or manager should utilize a written agreement when working with any content creator, influencer, entertainer, athlete, or other talent. The parties should create a talent representation or management agreement outlining the parties’ responsibilities, duties, and obligations.
How can an attorney assist a talent agent or manager in a fee dispute?
While each situation, if a talent agent or manager is owed compensation or other payment from a signed talent or from a third-party such as a sponsor, company, record label, or other entertainment entity, an attorney could be retained to assist in securing the funds. This assistance might include negotiating and securing a settlement that provides appropriate payment to the parties.
Why are trademarks important for talent, content creators, influencers, athletes, and entertainers?
Trademarks are important as the existence of a valid registration in a talent, content creator, streamer, entertainer, athlete name provides the owner with the ability to actively police and prevent other individuals and businesses from “stealing” or otherwise impersonating them. A trademark registration also allows the filing of an infringement claim with various social media platforms to retrieve or block an infringing account, including Facebook, X.com/Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, twitch, and YouTube. A trademark owner may also utilize a valid registration as a basis for filing an anti-cybersquatting claim with ICANN to retrieve an infringing website domain name.
Furthermore, an existing trademark registration permits the owner to contact the U.S. Customs Department and Border Patrol to prevent the importation of any infringing or counterfeit goods bearing the protected trademark as well as used to prohibit the distribution and sale of any goods that are confusingly similar to and contain the registered trademark. There is also the ability to receive protection at a state, national, and an international level through the Madrid Protocol.