Joy R. Butler, Esq. Discusses
Intellectual Property Law - Show #107

Joy R. Butler is a business attorney whose areas of expertise include copyright, trademark, and entertainment law.

In her entertainment practice, she works with clients developing projects in film, television, music, book publishing and new media. She has helped authors and producers with licensing issues, business entity formation, collaboration arrangements, and contract negotiation.

A frequent speaker and writer on business and media issues, Ms. Butler is the author of The Permission Seeker’s Guide Through the Legal Jungle: Clearing Copyrights, Trademarks and Other Rights for Entertainment and Media Productions.

She is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School. You can find more information on her law firm practice at (www.joybutler.com).

Joy answered the following questions:

What are some of the most important legal issues for a fitness professional who wants to produce an informational product such as a book or DVD?

The subtitle of your book is “clearing copyrights, trademarks and other rights for entertainment and media productions”. What does it mean to “clear rights”?

How can fitness professionals obtain copyright protection for their books, videos, and DVD’s?

What steps does a producer need to take before using music in a DVD or video production?

The process of music licensing sounds complicated. Are there any easy methods for a video producer to obtain good music at an affordable price?

When does a DVD producer need a location release?

Should a fitness professional use a contract when retaining a ghostwriter, co-producer, or other collaborator for development of an informational product?

Let’s say a fitness professional wants to use case studies, personal stories, or images of clients in a book or DVD about diet or personal training. Does the fitness professional need to get the clients’ permission?

Are there other situations in which a fitness professional needs to get a release from people involved with the information product?

What other steps can a fitness professional take to reduce the risk of legal problems with an informational product?

To listen now click here: Fitness Business Radio (35:16 minutes 8.07 MB)