Keep the masters
The value of digital media lives in ownership. We work to retain control over the underlying rights, not just the royalty stream.
PRACTICE · ART & ENTERTAINMENT
Entertainment & Digital Media Law
Streaming is not an addendum to the entertainment business; it is the center of modern cultural economics. For creators, influencers, and independent studios, the difference between a catalog that pays and a relationship that extracts comes down to the architecture of the contract. We read platform terms closely, negotiate master rights, and enforce your intellectual property — so the people who make the culture are the ones who keep its value over the long tail.
- Discipline
- Art & Entertainment
- Engagement
- Per matter or retainer
- Counsel
- Christopher Moye
ART & ENTERTAINMENT
Keep the masters
The value of digital media lives in ownership.
The problem
A creator can build a catalog worth a fortune and sign it away in a deal that only looks like it pays.
The economics live in the fine print: how revenue is defined, what is recoupable, who owns the masters, and what a platform's terms quietly take. By the time the money should arrive, those terms are fixed. The protection is won in the contract, before the work goes out.
Principles · 01
How we draft the matter.
Every engagement is composed against these commitments. They shape the protections we add, the questions we ask, and the document that leaves the file.
Platforms are not partners
Terms of service are designed to extract value from the creator. We draft the bespoke agreements that override standard terms.
Move quickly on infringement
When infringement occurs, delay erodes value. We move quickly — takedowns first, and litigation where it is warranted — to stop the unauthorized use.
What we watch · 02
What can break the matter.
These are the terms, structures, and practical risks that usually decide whether the work holds when the file is tested.
CREATORMUSICIAN
Publishing & Master Rights
Negotiating 360 deals, licensing agreements, and distribution terms that keep intermediaries from diverting long-tail streaming revenue.
INFLUENCERSTUDIO
Platform Independence & Monetization
Structuring agreements that protect digital creators from unilateral algorithmic changes, one-sided terms of service, and sudden demonetization.
PUBLIC FIGURE
Digital Defamation & DMCA Enforcement
Rapid-response takedowns and, where warranted, litigation to defend creators against organized reputation attacks, copyright infringement, and digital piracy.
The work · 03
Four steps. One engagement.
Each step is concrete; each step has a deliverable. The scope is defined, the matter moves, and the file closes.
- 01
Catalog Audit
We review your existing publishing deals, platform contracts, and royalty splits to identify revenue leaks.
- 02
Contract Engineering
We restructure upcoming deals to prioritize long-term ownership over short-term advances.
- 03
Enforcement Architecture
We set up monitoring and rapid-response procedures to catch and stop infringement early.
- 04
Litigation Response
When terms are breached, we litigate with precision — pursuing damages and injunctive relief where the facts support them.
Proof
What stands behind the work.
What stands behind the work — credentials and representative engagements, stated plainly.
Entertainment and digital-media matters are handled by Christopher Moyé, Esq., who authors the firm's published writing on creator and media law.
Creator and influencer agreements, platform and distribution terms, master and publishing rights, licensing, and IP enforcement.
We start from the revenue definitions and ownership terms — the clauses that decide what you actually keep — not the headline numbers.
Common questions
Questions clients ask.
Plain answers to the questions that come up most. If yours is not here, send the facts — we answer in writing.
- Do influencers and content creators really need a contract?
- For any paid collaboration, yes. A brand or sponsorship deal sets usage rights, exclusivity, payment, and FTC-disclosure obligations — and without a written agreement, those default to whatever the other side later claims. A short, clear contract is far cheaper than an ownership or payment dispute.
- What is a 360 deal?
- A 360 deal lets a label or partner share in multiple revenue streams — recordings, touring, merchandise, endorsements — not just record sales. They are not inherently bad, but the percentages, terms, and carve-outs decide whether the arrangement is fair. We negotiate the scope so the deal does not reach further than it should.
- What is the difference between a sync license and a master-use license?
- Syncing music to video usually requires two licenses: a synchronization license for the composition (publishing) and a master-use license for the specific recording. Missing either is an infringement risk. We make sure both are cleared and that, on your side, your rights are licensed on fair terms.
- Who owns the masters, and why does it matter?
- Whoever owns the master recording controls its licensing and long-tail revenue. Many deals quietly assign masters to the label or distributor. We negotiate to retain ownership or secure a meaningful reversion, because that ownership is where durable value sits.
- Should a creator form an LLC or loan-out company?
- Often, yes — a loan-out or LLC can provide liability separation, contracting structure, and tax flexibility as income grows. Whether it is worth the administrative cost depends on your revenue and deals; we assess that rather than assume it.
PROTECT YOUR IP
Protect your intellectual property.
Negotiate contracts that preserve your long-tail rights and defend your catalog against algorithmic extraction.
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