LEGAL AMMO
BOOKS
The Musician's Guide Through the Legal Jungle: Answers to Frequently
Asked Questions About Music Law
by Joy R. Butler
For those of you who hate reading (and everyone
else too!), this is a gift because it's on a cassette. This is the easiest
way to learn the basics of the legal aspects of the biz. The narrator
is clear and easy to listen to. Attorney Joy R. Butler has made some
complicated topics very easy to learn. There's a written booklet that
comes with it for those who want the info in writing too.
What
They'll Never Tell You About the Music Business: The Myths, Secrets,
Lies (& a Few Truths)
by Peter M. Thall
This book reveals stuff that industry insiders don't want you to know.
It discloses the real deal about the deals and promises made by major
corporations and cover almost every aspect of the music industry, including
recording agreements, record royalties, artistic management, music publishing,
music marketing and promotion, merchandising, copyright infringement,
and the international music business scene. It's all explained clearly
and concisely with no legal jargon. If you want more reasons to remain
indie, at least till you get some bargaining power with a big buzz, read
this book.
The Complete Music Business Office: Survival Skills for a Rough
Trade
(Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation) by Greg Forest
has templates for contracts. If you can't afford to pay a lawyer for
every contract, this book can help you. But be careful when using generic
contracts. If you prepare your own contract, for your own safety, pay
an attorney to look it over before you use it.
LEGAL SITES
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's: http://www.uspto.gov
U.S. Copyright Office: It has forms and instructions.
http://www.loc.gov/copyright
NOLO: NOLO is an online legal resource with many of
the legal basics in plain English.
http://www.nolo.com
Music Law Advice is an independent music law site
for musicians in the U.K. providing legal info on the music business,
including articles on subjects such as copyrights and contracts.
http://www.musiclawadvice.co.uk
The Arts Law Centre of Australia is a legal resource for the music industry
in Australia. http://www.artslaw.com.au
Wallace Collins Esq., a top music attorney, has a
wealth of articles on legal topics on his site for your perusal. http://wallacecollins.com
ORGANIZATIONS TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS
There are organizations all over the country that provide free or low-cost
legal assistance for people involved in the arts. They vary in their
fees and their criteria to be eligible for their services. Some offer
seminars or have publications available. All are dedicated to providing
help with legal matters. Call the one nearest you for more information.
California
CALIFORNIA LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS
http://www.calawyersforthearts.org
Oakland
oakla@there.net
(510) 444-6351
Sacramento
clasacto@aol.com
(916) 442-6210
San Francisco
cla@calawyersforthearts.org
(415) 775-7200
Santa Monica
UserCLA@aol.com
(310) 998-5590 Colorado
Denver
COLORADO LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS
info@coloradoartslawyers.org
(303) 722 7994
Connecticut
Hartford
CONNECTICUT VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS
Connecticut Commission on the
Arts
artsvla@ctarts.org
http://www.ctarts.org/vla.htm
(860) 256-2800
District of Columbia
WASHINGTON AREA LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS
http://www.www.thewala.com
(202) 393-2826
Florida
Ft. Lauderdale
ARTSERVE, INC./ VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS
vla@artserve.org
(954) 462-9191
Clearwater
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of Pinnellas County
bkotchey@co.pinellas.fl.us
http://pinellasarts.org/smart_law.htm
(727) 453-7860
Georgia
Atlanta
GEORGIA LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS
http://www.glarts.org
gla@glarts.org
(404) 873-3911
Illinois
Chicago
LAWYERS FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS
http://www.Law-arts.org
(312) 649-4111
Kansas
Lindsborg
Mid-America Arts Resources
swhitfield@ks-usa.net
c/o Susan J. Whitfield-Lungren
(913) 227-2321
Louisiana
New Orleans
LOUISIANA VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS
C/O Arts Council of New Orleans
http://www.artscouncilofneworleans.org
(504) 523-1465
Maine
Portland
MAINE VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS
(207) 871 7033
tcloutier@lambertcoffin.com
Massachusetts
Boston
VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS OF MASSACHUSETTS,
INC.
http://www.vlama.org
(617) 350-7600
Michigan
Southfield
ArtServe Michigan
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts & Culture
http://www.artservemichigan.org
kdabbs@artservemichigan.org
(248) 557-8288 x14
Minnesota
St. Paul
Springboard for the Arts
Resources and Counseling for the Arts
http://www.springboardforthearts.org
info@RC4Arts.org
(651) 292-4381
Missouri
St. Louis
ST. LOUIS VOLUNTEER LAWYERS AND ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE ARTS
http://www.vlaa.org
(314) 863-6930 St.
Montana
Helena
MONTANA ARTS COUNCIL
mac@state.mt.us
(406) 444-6430
New Hampshire
Concord
LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS/NEW HAMPSHIRE
http://www.nhbca.com/lawyersforarts.php
arts@nhbca.com
(603) 224-8300
New York
New York
VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS
http://www.vlany.org
vlany@vlany.org
(212) 319-2787
Albany
ALBANY/SCHENECTADY LEAGUE OF ARTS INC.
http://www.artsleague.org
aslainfo@aol.com
(518) 449-5380
North Carolina
Raleigh
NORTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS
http://www.ncvla.org
info@ncvla.org
(919) 95-NCVLA
Ohio
Cleveland
VOLUNTEER LAWYERS AND ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE ARTS-CLEVELAND
c/o The Cleveland
Bar Association (lawyer referral service)
(216) 696-3525
Toledo
TOLEDO VOLUNTEER LAWYERS AND ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE ARTS
c/o Arnold Gottlieb,
Esq.
(419) 255-3344
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts
c/o Eric King, Gable & Gotwals
eking@gablelaw.com
(405) 235-5500
Oregon
Portand
Oregon Lawyers for the Arts / Northwest Lawyers for the Arts
artcop@aol.com
c/o Kohel Haver, Haver & Associates
(503) 295 2787
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS
http://www.Pvla.org
info@pvla.org
(215) 545-3385
Rhode Island
Saunderstown
OCEAN STATE LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS
http://www.artslaw.org
dspatt@artslaw.org
(401) 789-5686
Texas
Houston
TEXAS ACCOUNTANTS AND LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS
http://www.talarts.org
info@talarts.org
(713) 526-4876 (800) 526-8252
Utah
Salt Lake City
UTAH LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS
Contact: Andrew Deiss
adeiss@joneswaldo.com
(801) 482-5373
Washington
Seattle
WASHINGTON LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS
http:// www.wa-artlaw.org
director@wa-artlaw.org
(206) 328-7053
Canada
Ottawa
CARFAC - Canadian Artists' Representation
http://www.carfac.ca/english/eng_regions.html
(list of regional CARFAC contacts & affiliates)
carfac@carfac.ca
Australia
Sydney
Arts Law Centre of Australia
http://www.artslaw.com.au/
artslaw@artslaw.com.au
(02) 9356 2566
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