A. Raymond Hamrick Entertainment Law Blog on Lawyers.com

Sports and Entertainment Contracts

In the simplest terms, a contract is a legally enforceable agreement that involves an exchange of promises—whether it involves money, services, or rights. Sports and entertainment contracts are no different. The Los Angeles Hamrick & Evans, LLP Attorneys at Law point out several important things to consider when signing a sports or entertainment contract.

Sports Contracts

Depending on your role in sports, there are many types of sports contracts. If you are an athlete, for example, an attorney must be trained in the fundamentals of your type of sport contract.

Your sports lawyer must also be familiar with your current market value relative to other athletes in your sport. A Los Angeles sports lawyer may serve a key role in preparing and negotiating your contract. Here are two examples of sports-related contracts:

• Standard Representation Contract: Your relationship with your sports lawyer (or agent) will be enforced by a Standard Representation Contract. This contract will define the responsibilities of your lawyer and how he/she will be compensated.
• Personal Service Contract: This contract will specify how much you will be paid for your services. Since you have unique talents, abilities, and skills, your contract will be categorized as a Personal Service Contract.

Entertainment Contracts

If you work in the entertainment industry, a Los Angeles entertainment lawyer must be skilled in the intricacies of preparing and negotiating your contract regardless of the entertainment sub-category. You may be a film, television, music, or print industry professional—or specifically an actor, director, screenwriter, producer, distributor, musician, digital artist, or a recording artist.

Unlike the sports industry, the entertainment industry is regulated by some rather unique laws. It’s imperative that your entertainment attorney in Los Angeles has a full understanding of these laws.

Types of Entertainment Contracts

The process of an entertainment contract begins with finding the right opportunity and preparing a proposal to negotiating and finalizing the contract. Los Angeles sports lawyers must be skilled at preparing and negotiating the following types of contracts for their clients in the entertainment industry:

• Production contracts
• Recording contracts
• Screenwriter contracts
• Publishing contracts
• Development contracts
• Media distribution contracts
• Entertainment representation agreements
• Royalty, licensing and publishing agreements
• Copyright and trademark registration
• Protection of intellectual property
• Financing agreements

Why are entertainment and sports contracts so important?

It’s your career, and signing the right contract is the best way to protect your interests and your successful future. A Los Angeles entertainment and/or sports law firm can protect your rights and ensure that you are properly compensated.

If you work in, or are just entering, the sports or entertainment industries, call an entertainment law attorney in los angeles at 818.763.5292 or contact us via our web form.