Entertainment law is not well developed in Nigeria but other legislations such as the Patents & Designs Act, Cap P2, Laws of the Federation, 2004 that give force to the entertainment industry regulation. Our attorneys help our clients to understand legal agreements, ensuring that the terms are in their best interests. We work with Recording Groups, Record Producers, Songwriters, Music Publishers, Record Label Executives, Music Producers, and Composers. We negotiate recording, merchandising, touring and publishing contracts, as well as producer agreements.
Although parties are free to enter into general contracts, it is important for them to know the legislation and customs regulating each entertainment activity in order to prevent them from making a void or unenforceable contract. The principles of contract, employment and labor law come in handy to spell out the obligations of each party to the contract and bind them.
Greystone solicitors advocate and guide those who want fame and fortune and everything that goes with it, without the pain of disillusionment and legal hassles later.
Recording contracts are legally binding agreements, enabling record companies to exploit an artist's performance in a sound recording, in return for royalty payments.The contract will define a record to include audio-visual devices as well. So 'Dualdisc', DVD and other new technologies will be caught by this definition.
The recording contract will usually require the artist to sign to the label exclusively.
Major labels will normally sign the artist to a worldwide deal Split-territory deals are less likely with major record labels, but independents may be more willing to agree to such an arrangement.
At Greystone Solicitors, we negotiate a 'long-stop' provision, so that the overall duration of contracts don't exceed six or seven years maximum.
An assignment is a transfer of ownership for the full life of copyright. In the case of sound recordings this will be 50 years from release.
Personal service agreements are often governed by statutes and are often the subject of litigation because they restrict the rights of artists to perform or create for any entity except for the company with whom they have contracted. Litigation over personal service agreements is common in the entertainment industry and Greystone Solicitors are experienced and prepared if such conflicts end up in court.