Does anyone have any recommendations for a lawyer preferably in southern California that has experience with contracts mostly in the electronic music scene?

Or does anyone know of a cheaper way? Maybe some database I can research?

mhhh, not sure what you need it for but maybe you're looking for something like this

if i got issiues regarding release, copyright or something like that i call a lawyer for media law. im conviced there are no lawyers specifically for electronic music or 'trance lawyers'

Except for armin van buuren. He got his law degree :P

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adam, copyright issues are very common practice with most attorney's you won't need a specific 'music attorney'... if you want my attorney's number, he's in san diego just pm me

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Originally posted by Adambomb337 Does anyone have any recommendations for a lawyer preferably in southern California that has experience with contracts mostly in the electronic music scene? Or does anyone know of a cheaper way? Maybe some database I can research?

Dude, unless you're a total baller and have tons of money at stake, getting an attorney is going to get you nowhere. The cost of an attorney versus the value that attorney provides makes it not worth it.

What type of contract are you looking for? If it is for a recurring gig at a club or something, you can find a ton of contracts that full-time mobile DJ's use with a quick google search. Many of them have their contracts right on their web site so their customers can see them. Take one of those and adjust it as you see fit for your particular needs. If it's for tracks that you produced, don't bother IMO -- there's not enough money in this industry to make it worth your while.

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Thanks you guys. The reason I need advice from a lawyer is because I did a remix for a trance artist who used a movie sample which has not been cleared or given permission to use. I'm wondering if I can get some kind of contract that can be signed which will keep me from being liable for the samples that were given to me by the artist. I used those samples in my remix as well so I'm liable and a label currently wants to sign it.

DJ, does your attorney have an e-mail that I can contact him/her with? Otherwise, that would be great if you could give me the number to call. Thanks for your help!

DJChrisB, that makes a lot of sense. I was hoping maybe I could get a discounted rate or work something out though. Maybe since I'm new, they will offer cheap advice at first hoping I will come back for future needs?

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Originally posted by Adambomb337 The reason I need advice from a lawyer is because I did a remix for a trance artist who used a movie sample which has not been cleared or given permission to use.

Don't worry about it. (IMO) This market is so small that all sorts of things get sampled and no one cares. In fact, there are sooooo many white-label bootleg remixes that are pressed and sold where the original artist did not give any permission it's not even funny.

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Originally posted by Adambomb337 DJChrisB, that makes a lot of sense. I was hoping maybe I could get a discounted rate or work something out though. Maybe since I'm new, they will offer cheap advice at first hoping I will come back for future needs?

Generally, no. (My wife is a lawyer and, even though she works on the non-profit side, I know how all of her contract and intellectual property law buddies and how they operate.)

However, if you are a college student, many universities have attorneys who come by on a weekly basis and do pro bono work for students. When I was in school, I got free help filing articles of incorporation for my mobile DJ company and the dude made revisions to the contract I drafted. You might want to try that route if possible.

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I'm no lawyer, but this seems a common sense issue. Since a remix is an original work, and does not authorize you to use copyrighted material, no contract is going to free you from liability. Have you asked the label about this matter? They should be the ones handling this.

What movie is it BTW? If it's an old B movie that's not well known, there's less chance of legal action. Rob Zombie admitted that on his latest album, he used some samples from an old B movie, and never got clearance to use them. I thought that was kind of strange, but he didn't seem worried about it. He didn't say what Movie it was either.

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Last edited by zodiac9 on Aug-24-2007 at 01:23

DJChrisB, thanks, I'll see if my college has any generous attorneys like that who come by.


zodiac9, Yes, I have talked to the label and they still don't mind releasing it. The sample comes from the movie "Elektra" (2005). But, I don't think it matters how well the movie did, they can still sue you for using their work without permission.

Were you asked to do this remix by the original artist, the artist's label, another label or did you decide to do this on your own? Furthermore, who owns the copyright on the original track?

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thoughtlessjex, Yes, the original artist let me be a part of this project and gave me the individual samples to remix his song. The original song has already been copyrighted in Sweden and I'm pretty sure the artist owns the original copyright.