Perkins Coie’s lawyers serve as art collection counsel for corporations, represent individual art collectors in the purchase and sale of art (both through auction houses and privately), assist with the commissioning of new original works, and counsel clients through the processes of loans and gifts to museums and other institutions. We work with collectors on the development of collections management policies, including acquisition strategies, deaccession protocols, and copyright licensing programs. We also help brick-and-mortar and online art galleries as they work with artists and sell artwork.  

We provide guidance to artists, illustrators, and cartoonists on the publication, distribution, and merchandising of their work, as well as fair use issues and infringement matters. Our experience includes helping museums with complex copyright clearance projects and advising clients on public artists calls and the selection of artwork for public and government-owned spaces.

Experienced with a full range of published materials and platforms, we counsel authors, playwrights, cartoonists, and book and magazine publishers on digital media rights, royalty terms, audit provisions, and copyright and contract negotiations and disputes. We draft and negotiate publishing agreements, literary option agreements, life story agreements, literary agency agreements, screenwriting agreements, ghostwriting agreements, and other critical contacts. Authors rely on our negotiation strengths to maximize their rights and returns related to book tours, merchandise, licensing, and other ventures.  

We work with clients to efficiently and strategically license music properties and have cleared music rights for a wide range of uses, including video games, political campaigns, dance videos, museums, commercials, television, and movies. Additionally, we have assisted with the launch and ongoing operations of major digital music distribution platforms. 

Our clients range from major corporations to small, cutting-edge startups to individual bands and musicians. Whether negotiating traditional music contracts, such as recording contracts, publishing agreements, and producer agreements, or helping clients navigate the new technology-centric aspects of the music business, such as NFTs and digital distribution, our music counsel is broad and innovative. 

Our lawyers assist clients with a wide range of events, from concerts and fundraisers to political conventions and corporate events. Our counsel includes obtaining music licenses and negotiating the agreements necessary to carry out such events, such as venue agreements, merchandising agreements, and performer agreements. 

We represent a variety of arts organizations from small, local music and theater groups to large production companies. We represent dance troupes, dance companies, music organizations, and theatre companies, negotiating choreography agreements, composer agreements, artistic commission agreements, and other protections. Our lawyers extend their commitment to the arts through positions on the boards of directors of performance arts groups, including the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Rep, Seattle Children’s Theater, and Seattle Shakespeare Company. 

We represent brands and personalities in a range of talent-driven arrangements, including appearance, sponsorship, endorsement, merchandising, naming-rights, promotional partnership, and influencer marketing agreements. We help our clients enhance their brands by expanding into new markets and product lines and ensuring regulatory compliance. We also counsel them on how to best protect and license their publicity rights today and for their future heirs. 

We represent photographers and consumers alike in licensing agreements, sale negotiations, and copyright and contract negotiations and disputes. Our experience includes negotiations concerning the sale and gifting of photographic collections with auction houses, galleries, and museums; advising owners of stock images and stock image platforms in their licensing and sale endeavors; and providing guidance to advertisers and companies regarding the use of photography in marketing and product images. 

From documentaries, corporate videos, and film and television productions to the licensing of literary properties and the comprehensive management of rights and clearances, we have experience with the unique issues that arise in the production, distribution, licensing, and other exploitation of entertainment properties across an array of platforms.

We represent podcast platforms, hosts, creators, and distributors, guiding our clients through the key business and legal issues that arise when bringing podcast content to market. Our services range from talent agreements and releases to rights clearance, production, and distribution. We apply our in-depth legal skills and industry knowledge to support our clients as they create, host, distribute, market, and license podcast content. 

Members of our Arts & Entertainment practice, along with lawyers in our Fintech team, address the myriad legal issues associated with NFT technology. Whether assisting with the minting, sale, or purchase of NFTs; setting up an NFT marketplace; or advising clients who are using blockchain technology as a means of authentication to track ownership, use, licensing, or sale of their work, clients rely on Perkins Coie to help them navigate the novel legal issues surrounding these technologies.