ENTERTAINMENT | BUSINESS
About m.e.t.a.l.® IP
For more than 20 years, m.e.t.a.l.® IP has represented innovative media, entertainment, tech, action sports, lifestyle brands, companies, collaborations, and stand-alone projects. Examples of our clientele include:
- Media Production Companies - We represent documentaries, independent films, unscripted productions, and other content creators. See IMDb
- Intellectual Property Rights Holders - We represent music libraries, sound design creators, music catalog/royalty stream sellers, legacy songwriters in copyright termination matters, and celebrity estates.
- Collaborations and Joint Ventures - We represent single-purpose entities set up to hold joint venture rights for collaborations and co-productions. Examples include music, film, TV, and content projects; brand ambassador, endorsement, and sponsorship relationships; co-branded products; promotion and marketing campaigns; and merchandising licenses.
- Micro Talent Agencies - We represent talent agencies that advocate for social media influencers, eSports commentators, and college athletes (NIL).
- Lifestyle Brands - we represent apparel companies, accessories, and other lifestyle brands.
Our attorneys stay current on cutting-edge legal issues by continuously interacting with policymakers, guilds, and other leading organizations, including SAG-AFTRA, WGA, ASCAP, BMI, the United States Copyright Office (USCO), and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and we incorporate this knowledge into our daily practice.
Our professional affiliations include:
- California Lawyers Association-IP and Business Sections
- Beverly Hills Bar Association
- Los Angeles County Bar Association
- Los Angeles IP Law Association
- Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP)
- The Recording Academy/(The Grammys)Emmys
Entertainment | Business Services
Brand Protection
We protect brands:
- Register trademarks for all types of goods and services
- Register copyrights for unique logos and designs
- Support re-branding efforts
- Provide legal and business adviceIP Sales, Purchases, and Licensing
We represent buyers, sellers, licensors, and licensees in negotiations to sell, purchase, or license intellectual property. For purchases, we handle preliminary matters, such as non-disclosures and letters of interest, facilitate due diligence, negotiate definitive agreements, and provide ongoing legal advice.
- Music Catalogs/Royalty Stream purchases
- Motion Picture acquisitions
- Synchronization licensing
- Name/Image/Likeness (NIL) and Trademark licensing
- Business Asset PurchasesProduction Counsel
We represent independent films, documentaries, unscripted projects, and other content productions.
- Entity Formation
- Production Agreements
- Production Counsel Services
- IP Protection
- Music Counsel Services
See some of our credited work at IMDbView more details...Company Counsel
We represent companies in the media, entertainment, tech, action sports, and lifestyle brand industries, including music, film, television, apparel, gaming, influencer, and digital platforms.
- Entity Formation
- Virtual Company Counsel
- Draft, review, and negotiate agreements
- IP ProtectionView more details...Some Notable Client Deals
Notable Firm Successes
5,000+
We have prosecuted and maintained over 5,000 federal copyright and trademark registrations and consistently license our client's IP (music, screenplays, content, and other property rights) to major studios, networks, platforms, and other companies.
We have represented companies owned by Emmys®, Grammys®, and Oscars® nominees and winners, professional athletes, and other High Net Worth entrepreneurs in ventures involving their innovative lifestyle brands.
2,000+
We have served as production counsel for over 2,000 film, television, SVOD, digital content, and emerging tech projects.
We have negotiated international deals for clients with companies in Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Vietnam.
2,000+
We have structured over 2,000 special-purpose vehicles and legal entities to facilitate our client's co-brands, collaborations, coproductions, and other joint ventures.
We have implemented many deal structures and established the proper legal relationship to protect our client's best interests, including partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies, and corporations.
500+
We have successfully defended or settled over 500 Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) opposition or cancelation proceedings.
We have conducted seminars on the evolving new frontiers of law, including IP/Brand Protection and Business and Legal Affairs.
Speaking Engagements | Press | Media
- American Film Convention LA 2024 [Speaker/Panel Moderator]
- Imagination Lunchbox International Film Festival 2024 [Ask A Lawyer Session]
- Los Angeles Post Production Group - Fair Use [Presenter]
- MIQ Magazine - Interview with Attorney Richard B. Jefferson
- Amalgamation - Copyright Termination Right [Published]
- Billboard - Trademark Dispute [Quoted]
- Fair Claims Mediation [Announcement]
- A&R Registry regarding California's AB5 "gig economy" law for 2020 [Quoted]
- South by Southwest (SXSW) 2018 [Mentor Participant]
- National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) - Miami 2015 [Presenter]
- Four Agreements Your Brand Needs Before Working with a Social Media Influencer [Featured article published in Music Industry Quarterly]
- Black Enterprise - Roundtable Spotlight on Negotiating a Deal [Interview]
- Uplifting Minds II Entertainment Conference [Panelist]
- USA Today - How Prince reinvented the music industry [Quoted]
- California Lawyers for the Arts - Trademark Law and Branding for Musicians [Workshop]
Fee Schedule
Click to see our Fee Schedule or SCAN the QR Code below for our representation packages, and flat fee services.
"I highly recommend m.e.t.a.l. to anyone seeking professional, competent, and seasoned entertainment, trademark, and business attorneys. Simply put, their representation added value to my company by providing valuable insight, perspective, and strategy that proved to be extremely effective."
- Media/Entertainment Client
"m.e.t.a.l. is a great law firm. My attorney was always personable and really went the extra mile to make sure that we were aware of what was going on with our matter and what our options were. Plus we successfully settled!"
-Client With A Dispute
"m.e.t.a.l. helped form my LLC and ran me through the trademark process. He also created contracts for my company. I am happy with the results!"
-Social Media Influencer
"Attorney Jefferson was easy to work with, an absolutely brilliant Attorney, able to contribute creative ideas when needed. He instinctively knew what to say, & how to say it, in an eloquent, professional manner."
-Entrepreneur Client
"We hired m.e.t.a.l. and received wonderful advice and fast service on some contracts we needed for a theatrical feature-length motion picture. Not only did we feel safe, but also learned a lot about the business from the way he explained everything to us..."
- Film Producer Client
"Nothing more important than having legal counsel that you can TRUST, follows through in detail, is insightful and saves you time and money (long-term)..."
- Entrepreneur Client
Referral Firm
New York
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