Gerdes Law

CLEARANCE and VETTING

Gerdes & Associates provide complete content clearance review and analysis of any FILM, TELEVISION, BOOK, ADVERTISING, INTERNET or MULTIMEDIA property. This includes a DEFAMATION and RIGHT of PRIVACY and PUBLICITY review and the acquisition of all necessary copyrights, trademarks, music, film clips, photographs, personality and publicity rights.  Our thorough analysis simplifies the process of obtaining errors and omission insurance.

COPYRIGHTS

We can perform a thorough review and analysis of all copyright issues relating to your creative property and explain it in plain language.  This can include a complete analysis of Copyright Research or Chain of Title Reports.   In addition, we can assist you in the registration of your work or recording of relevant documents. 

Our attorneys are skilled in drafting of all agreements necessary to complete your FILM, TELEVISION, MUSIC, INTERNET, ADVERTISING, or BOOK project. We review, revise, negotiate and explain to you any agreement you may be expected to sign and prepare documents for the acquisition of any literary or intellectual property.

TRADEMARKS

We will search your trademark, advise you of its potential for registration, file for registration and guide you through the maze of the registration process.  We are also expert in the drafting, review and/or negotiation of any agreement for the sale, acquisition or license of your trademark or merchandising property.

INTERNET

THe INTERNET has presented new and complicated issues for doing business.  We can advise you how to operate legally and safely on the world wide web. This includes a careful review and analysis of your web site, negotiation and preparation of necessary licenses and advise on E-commerce issues.

ADVERTISING and PROMOTION

Whether you need a careful review and analysis of any ADVERTISING  you are about to publish, or broadcast, or just want to be sure your PROMOTION falls within safe legal guidlines, we can assist you.  We can also review or draft SWEEPSTAKES or CONTEST rules.

OPINIONS

Do you need practical advice regarding Copyright Chain of Title, Title, and Fact Research Reports such as Joan Pearce, Kellam deForest, or Marshall Plumb? We will carefully guide you through this mass of information and provide you with realistic solutions.

DUE DILIGENCE

Are you buying or selling a film, television, music or book publishing library? Gerdes & Associates will assist you with your inventory and review of the copyright chain of title. We will help you in clearing legal issues which will increase the value of these assets and provide a more accurate basis upon which to value the transaction.

ASSET MANAGEMENT

Do you have a catalog of copyright assets? We provide services to assist with the management and administration of film, television, music, book publishing and multimedia libraries. This service is also useful to celebrities or the estates of celebrities who have both intellectual property assets and personality/publicity rights. We will supervise the inventory of your assets, review and analyze the chain of title of each property, clear gaps, calendar deadlines and resolve problems where possible. From there we will organize and calendar all existing licenses, set up new licensing agreements and assist your representatives in structuring sales and marketing efforts to maximize the income from your properties.

ERRORS AND OMISSION INSURANCE

Gerdes & Associates has worked for 15 years with Entertainment Insurance Carriers. If you are applying for errors and omission insurance we help you analyze the coverage, review the project and simplify the application and approval process.