"When deciding on law schools, the availability of an entertainment law clinic was a huge factor, and not many schools offer this incredibly valuable experience. As an attorney that practices solely entertainment law, I can say without question that the practical application of basic intellectual property theory is crucial to a successful career. Entertainment law, unlike most areas of practice, is best learned by experience that cannot be found in books or the classroom."
Kent M. Marcus '96,, Founder, KMM, PC; a Nashville-based music entertainment law firm and attorney behind the Kings of Leon
Our Work and Impact
The clinic was founded in 1980 to provide students with relevant experiences aligned with their legal interests and a comfortable atmosphere where clients can discuss their concern with law students. The clinic has provided clients with information about intellectual property matters (including copyrights, trademarks and right of publicity), taxes, contracts (including, but not limited to recording, music publishing, representation, gallery and sports), licensing, and merchandising endorsement. Among other services, the clinic has helped bands to negotiate recording deals, has provided educational assistance for professional sports associations, and has delivered lectures on a variety of topics. The Clinic is an educational resource to the Penn State Athletic Department and Penn State athletes on the subject of Name, Image and Likeness.
Cases and Projects
To preserve client confidentiality, the Arts, Sports, and Entertainment Law Clinic does not release information on specific cases. However, typical projects may include:
Contact
Email: psuaseclinic@gmail.com
Phone: 814-867-0392
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Educational resource of and to Penn State on the subject of Name, Image, and Likeness
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Negotiate and draft record contracts on behalf of musical artists and independent record labels
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Negotiate and draft publishing contracts on behalf of music publishing companies and musical composers
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Draft performance agreements on behalf of major booking and talent agencies
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Assist artists in the organization of business organizations
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Provide assistance to playwrights on the exploitation of intellectual property
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Assist museums with issues of accessions and display of works of art
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Provide educational assistance to entertainers, athletes, professional sports organizations, and university departments, both within and outside Penn State
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Lecture to students in the Communication Department on the use of open-source materials
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Provide advice to the Arts and Film Department on the use of copyright, intellectual property laws, and rights of privacy regarding using the creative works of others
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Create policies for athletic departments on topics such as selecting an agent
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Assist law firms with research in support of negotiating recording contracts
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Work directly with artists to create and negotiate contracts
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Counsel young athletes as they make critical career decisions
Testimonials
Faculty Supervision
Professor Geoffrey Scott is the founder and director of the Arts, Sports and Entertainment Law Clinic. He has a wide range of teaching and scholarly interests with a focus on intellectual property and the intersection of the worlds of artistic expression, scientific invention, and the law. He has given particular attention to domestic and international entertainment law issues with an emphasis on music and rights of personality, the protection of cultural properties in Europe and Asia, and the representation of the individual professional athlete.
Professor Scott has published in the fields of law and entertainment, sports, and the protection of cultural property. In addition to being a professor of law, Scott also has an appointment as a professor in the College of Arts and Architecture, through which he collaborates with artistic faculty to lecture on legal matters implicated in creative endeavors.
Related Courses
Antitrust
This course is principally an examination of antitrust law and policy in the U.S. as evolved through prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission.
Copyrights
The course addresses the legal protection afforded to authors and artists under common law and statutory copyright. It considers the rights granted, procedure for their procurement, and protection through litigation. The course also deals with international rights, conveyancing, and interface with the antitrust laws.
Corporations
This course primarily addresses organization and operation of commercial organizations in the Anglo-American community. Preliminarily, sole proprietorships and partnerships are considered, after which corporations-for-profit are emphasized with some attention to business trusts and non-profit corporations.
Internet Law
This course presents the range of legal issues arising from the emergence of cyberspace. The course considers how the law has reacted to challenges posed by the Internet as well as how the law is shaping its future. Specific areas covered include jurisdictional analysis, First Amendment/free speech, digital copyrights, trademarks and domain names, electronic privacy, e-commerce, and Internet governance.
Law of Artistic Persons and Properties Seminar
The objectives of this course include an examination of the interface between law and the arts with an eye to both theoretical and practical implications and a striving to identify creative and serviceable solutions to the problems that have frustrated the growth and harvest of the creative effort.
Licensing of Intellectual Property
This course explores the myriad business, legal, and negotiating issues involved in the drafting and use of intellectual property licensing agreements.
Sports Law
This course explores how various areas of the law impact the sports industry. The "law" that is used by most sports lawyers is principally the application of settled principles of other legal fields to the sports industry: contract law, labor law, tax law, products liability law, intellectual property law, etc.
Trademarks
The law of trademarks is central to the concept of fair dealing in the commercial environment. The history of common law and statutory trademarks is explored as well as registration, conveyancing and foreign rights. The course deals with the duty of the merchant to compete honestly and remedies for failure to do so.