Sound Advice is regarded as one of the very best arts and entertainment law firms in the Pacific Northwest.
We pride ourselves on providing creative legal advice for creative businesses and individuals. We provide our diverse clients with professional advice and years of practical experience in an informal, yet highly professional environment.
Our mission is to advise clients on legal matters, thereby freeing them to pursue their creative businesses with security and understanding. We strive to simplify complex matters and help our clients eliminate confusion and uncertainty in their business dealings.
Our staff has a deep knowledge, appreciation and understanding of creative individuals and the creative process. We work hard to develop long-term, integral relationships with our clients and many of our clients view us as crucial members of their organizations and creative teams. Our firm also has a strong focus on community building and education and we have extensive experience with non-profit music and arts-related organizations.
Sound Advice has solid experience in providing legal services in all of our primary practice areas:
MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT
Sound Advice works with artists in all music styles and genres. Clients include many local, national and international recording and performing artists, songwriters, record companies, managers, producers, engineers, recording studios, licensing and merchandise companies, promoters, music venues and bars, publicity and booking agencies, and ticket agencies.
Services related to the entertainment industry include contract drafting, contract review and negotiation, corporate formation (including LLC’s and non-profit organizations), trademark and copyright registrations, domain name or trademark disputes, wills and estates, licensing, and dispute resolution.
We negotiate and draft a wide variety of contracts and licenses, including all manner of entertainment and music agreements, band partnership agreements, business organization, publishing and composer deals, master use and synchronization deals, management and producer agreements, sideperson agreements, artwork and design agreements, copyright transfers and licensing, music estates and will issues involving intellectual property assets, option agreements, copyright research for archival and commercial purposes.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Sound Advice provides comprehensive Services geared toward identifying, protecting and maximizing the value of our clients’ intellectual property, including, registrations applications, infringement enforcement, licensing, asset transfers, estate matters, etc., in the following areas:
Copyrights:
Copyright applications
Creative collaboration and employment agreements
Licensing and litigation
Trademarks:
Trademarks and service mark evaluation and applications Infringement actions
Unfair competition claims
Trade dress issues
Licensing and litigation
Trade Secrets:
Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreements
Employee handbooks and employment agreements
Licensing and litigation
Art (design, visual art, illustration, photography)
Payment disputes
Infringements
Commission agreements
Consignment Agreements and enforcement
Employment and collaboration agreements
Licensing and litigation
Computer and Internet:
Digital Millennium Copyright Act notices (DMCA).
E-commerce regulation
Cyber Libel Defamation and First Amendment matters
Domain name disputes
Publishing (books, digital, magazines, etc.)
Film and Video
GENERAL BUSINESS
Corporate Entity Creation, Partnerships, LLC’s, S and C Corporations, Non-Profit Organizations
General business employment and transactional matters and contracts of all kinds
Consumer matters and general dispute resolution
REAL ESTATE
Commercial and Residential Leasing
Landlord / Tenant matters
WILLS
LITIGATION AND MEDIATION
PRESENTATIONS
Attorney Peter Vaughan Shaver is a frequent speaker on copyrights, contracts, and other important issues for creative professionals and the creative community. Speaking engagements, including lectures and workshops, are available for music or art-related groups. See Attorney Info for more information, or contact Sound Advice about speaking engagements for your organization.