Overview
The Intellectual Property (IP) and Entertainment Law Practice Group of Hall, Booth, Smith & Slover, P.C. works with creative minds and creative businesses to help preserve, protect and actualize their intellectual, entertainment, and technological property. Based in the Nashville and Atlanta offices, our IP and Entertainment Law practice group represents artists, songwriters, producers, executives, record labels, managers, music and book publishers, filmmakers, film and television production companies/producers and on-air personalities in their business planning and litigation matters.

The IP and Entertainment Law Practice Group is divided into a Transactional and Litigation Section. What makes our practice group unique from other firms around the country, is that our two sections and our lawyers within each section are constantly working together seamlessly to handle our clients’ intellectual property, entertainment and technology matters. We provide a complete array of services to our clients for all their IP and Entertainment Law needs including:
 
Copyright
Trademark
Entertainment (including music, film, television, book, advertising and performing arts)
Technology
Assistance with Patent Prosecution and Litigation

The practice group has closed thousands of deals for intellectual property, technology and entertainment related businesses as well as litigated many "cutting edge" issues of IP law. The IP and Entertainment Law Practice Group members regularly speak on industry panels and contribute as writers to various publications. Many are active members of the various industry societies (including NARAS, CMA, etc.) and others serve on boards of industry non-profit organizations.

Focus Areas
Copyright (Music, Film, Software, Books, Graphic, Visual and Performing Arts)
· Legal evaluation of “substantially similar” works
· Litigation related to “sampled” works
· Copyright filings
· Recordation of assignments of copyright for catalog and asset purchases
· Licensing and distribution agreements

Trademark
· Trademark search opinion letters
· Trademark filings
· Concurrent use agreements
· Trademark litigation, including state actions of dilution

Entertainment
· Draft and negotiate:
· major label recording agreements
· movie and specialty productions
· the sale of sound recording and music publishing catalogs
· special events contracts
· national syndication contracts
· synchronization licenses
· book publishing agreements and book agent agreements
· publishing, co-publishing, and administration agreements
· music producer contracts
· artist development and speculation production agreements for artists, producers,   managers and labels
· Strategize national tours
· Assist and oversee 01 visa and green card filings for resident alien entertainers
· Form music and movie production companies
· Form, merge and sell C-corps, S-corps and LLC's related to entertainment clientele
· Formulate Litigation on behalf of companies and executive clients within the   entertainment business
· Advice on purchases of master recordings and song catalogs out of bankruptcy and   otherwise
· Handle complex litigation matters related to all issues of copyright and trademark   infringement, breach of contract, and other related issues in state and federal court   around the country

Technology
· Draft and negotiate:
· business plans for e-commerce start-ups
· joint ventures and co-branding agreements
· content development and licensing agreements
· website service and hosting agreements
· software development and licensing agreements
· key employee or key-coder option and severance agreements
· Internet advertising and linking agreements
· downloadable music sites and companies
· Internet contest rules and on-line auction and buying rules across state lines
· Develop funding spreadsheets and projections
· Create corporate entities
· Prepare site maps and privacy disclosures and legal disclaimers
· Develop marketing pitches to VC’s
· Market research and plan execution

Patents
· Assist with litigation
· Draft and negotiate licensing agreements
· Assist with prosecution of patents