New York Entertainment Litigation Attorneys

Entertainment disputes are as varied as the industry itself. Our attorneys provide representation across the full spectrum of conflicts that arise in creative and commercial entertainment contexts, including:

• Breach of Contract Claims: Recording, production, management, distribution, and licensing agreements that have been violated, misrepresented, or abandoned.

• Intellectual Property Conflicts: Copyright infringement, trademark disputes, rights of publicity claims, and ownership battles over creative works.

• Royalty and Licensing Disputes: Enforcement of royalty payment obligations, audit rights, and licensing terms across music, film, publishing, and digital platforms.

• Partnership and Joint Venture Disagreements: Conflicts among collaborators, co-producers, investors, and creative partners over profit participation, ownership, and control.

• Production and Talent Conflicts: Disputes over creative control, screen credit, on-set conditions, and performance obligations.

• Rights Reversion and Termination Claims: Enforcement of contractual reversion clauses, copyright termination rights under the Copyright Act, and label or management contract exit disputes.

_____________________________________________________________________

Film and television productions involve dozens of interlocking agreements, union obligations, and creative relationships — any one of which can become the source of costly litigation. Our attorneys represent producers, directors, writers, studios, distributors, and production companies in the full range of disputes that arise from development through distribution.

Producer Credit Disputes

Screen credit is both a financial and reputational asset. We represent clients in disputes over producer, executive producer, and other on-screen credits — including arbitration proceedings before the Producers Guild of America and litigation over contractual credit obligations. When a credit dispute affects backend participation or future deal leverage, the stakes go beyond vanity.

Completion Bond Conflicts

Completion guarantors play a central role in financed productions, and disputes over completion bond obligations — including takeover rights, cost overrun liability, and insurer obligations — can halt productions or trigger expensive litigation. We represent producers and bondholders in conflicts arising from production delays, budget overruns, and alleged defaults.

Union Disputes (SAG-AFTRA, DGA, WGA)

Productions that run afoul of SAG-AFTRA, Directors Guild of America, or Writers Guild of America obligations face grievances, arbitrations, and potential blacklisting exposure. We counsel production companies on guild compliance and represent clients in union grievance proceedings and arbitrations arising from residual disputes, working condition violations, and alleged agreement breaches.

Distribution Agreement Breakdowns

Distribution disputes — including minimum guarantee shortfalls, accounting fraud, windowing violations, and territorial rights conflicts — are among the most financially significant disputes in the film and television industry. We pursue and defend distribution claims in state and federal court and in arbitration, with a focus on recovering what our clients are owed.

Location Agreement and Production Contract Disputes

Conflicts over location agreements, vendor contracts, equipment rentals, and below-the-line service agreements can stall productions and generate significant liability. We handle these disputes efficiently, with an understanding of the production timeline pressures that make fast resolution essential.

_____________________________________________________________________

The music industry's financial structures — built on publishing rights, master ownership, royalty streams, and licensing income — create fertile ground for disputes at every stage of an artist's career. Our music litigation attorneys represent artists, songwriters, producers, labels, managers, and publishers in the full range of conflicts that arise in the music business.

Song Ownership and Copyright Disputes

Disputes over who owns a song — whether arising from work-for-hire disagreements, collaboration breakdowns, or contested copyright registrations — can be among the most consequential in the music industry. We litigate song ownership disputes in federal court and advise clients on copyright registration, chain-of-title documentation, and ownership structuring to prevent these conflicts before they arise.

Split Sheet and Collaboration Disputes

Undocumented or disputed collaboration agreements are a leading source of music litigation. When split sheets are missing, ambiguous, or contested, we represent songwriters, producers, and artists in disputes over writing credit, ownership percentages, and royalty entitlement — in court and in arbitration.

Sampling and Interpolation Infringement Claims

Unauthorized sampling and interpolation expose artists, producers, and labels to significant copyright infringement liability. We defend and pursue sampling claims in federal court, negotiate clearance settlements, and counsel clients on risk assessment before a sample-based release goes to market.

Music Publishing Conflicts

Publishing agreement disputes — including co-publishing conflicts, administration rights, sub-publishing territorial issues, and synchronization license disputes — can affect an artist's income for the life of a copyright. We represent songwriters and publishers in publishing-related litigation and contract enforcement matters.

Label Contract Termination and Exit Disputes

Recording artists and labels frequently disagree over the grounds for contract termination, the scope of options, and the consequences of alleged breaches. We represent both artists seeking to exit restrictive recording agreements and labels enforcing their contractual rights — providing aggressive, industry-informed counsel on one of the most contested areas of music law.

_____________________________________________________________________

The creator economy operates on a distinct set of commercial relationships — brand deals, platform partnerships, revenue-sharing arrangements, and audience-dependent income streams — that generate a growing volume of disputes. Our attorneys represent influencers, content creators, talent managers, and brands in the legal conflicts unique to digital media.

Sponsorship and Brand Deal Breach Claims

When brands fail to pay agreed fees, unilaterally cancel campaigns, or impose post-hoc restrictions not reflected in the original agreement, creators have enforceable legal rights. We represent influencers and talent agencies in breach of sponsorship agreement claims and negotiate settlements that account for both monetary damages and reputational harm.

FTC Endorsement Compliance Disputes

FTC endorsement guidelines impose disclosure obligations on both brands and creators — and disputes over compliance responsibility, indemnification, and regulatory exposure arise frequently in sponsorship relationships. We counsel clients on FTC compliance and represent them in disputes where non-disclosure allegations create legal or contractual liability.

Social Media Account Ownership Disputes

Disputes over who owns a social media account — between an influencer and a management company, between business partners, or between a brand and a creator — can be financially devastating given the monetization value of established audiences. We litigate account ownership disputes and seek emergency injunctive relief to prevent unauthorized account access or transfer.

Revenue Share and Platform Partnership Disputes

Revenue sharing arrangements between creators, managers, production partners, and multi-channel networks (MCNs) frequently generate disputes over accounting, payment timing, and contractual scope. We represent creators and partners in revenue share disputes across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitch, and other platforms.

Content Removal and Demonetization Disputes

Wrongful content removal, unjustified demonetization, and disputed DMCA takedowns can destroy a creator's income overnight. We pursue appeals, counter-notifications, and legal claims arising from improper content enforcement actions — including disputes where a competitor or third party has weaponized the DMCA takedown process to suppress a creator's content.

_____________________________________________________________________

Streaming has transformed the entertainment industry's revenue model — and created an entirely new category of disputes around platform licensing, revenue reporting, and digital distribution rights. Our attorneys represent rights holders, producers, distributors, and platforms in the legal conflicts specific to the streaming and new media landscape.

• Platform Licensing Conflicts: Disputes over the scope, territory, exclusivity, and term of streaming platform licensing agreements — including conflicts arising from platform mergers, catalog transfers, and unilateral windowing changes.

• Revenue Reporting and Transparency Disputes: Streaming platforms' reporting obligations are frequently contested. We pursue claims against platforms and distributors that have underreported streams, misapplied contractual royalty rates, or failed to provide required accounting statements.

• DMCA Takedown Litigation: We represent rights holders in DMCA enforcement actions and defend content creators against bad-faith takedown claims — including litigation under Section 512(f) of the DMCA for knowingly false takedown notices.

• Exclusive Content Contract Disputes: When exclusive content agreements are breached — whether by a platform abandoning a committed project, a creator delivering to a competing service, or a dispute over what "exclusive" actually means — we litigate the dispute and pursue appropriate remedies including injunctive relief and damages.

• Algorithm-Related Revenue and Visibility Claims: Contractual provisions guaranteeing promotional placement, minimum streaming thresholds, or marketing commitments create enforceable obligations. We pursue claims where platforms have failed to deliver on promotional and visibility commitments embedded in distribution agreements.

_____________________________________________________________________

Some entertainment disputes cannot wait for a trial date. An unauthorized album release, an infringing film distribution, a defamatory publication, or a stolen social media account can cause irreversible harm in a matter of hours. When speed is essential, our attorneys move immediately to seek emergency judicial relief.

We represent entertainment clients in applications for:

• Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs): Emergency court orders obtained on an expedited basis — sometimes within 24 to 48 hours — to halt unauthorized releases, distributions, or uses of protected content before the damage becomes permanent.

• Preliminary Injunctions Against IP Infringement: Court orders prohibiting ongoing infringement of copyrights, trademarks, or rights of publicity while litigation proceeds — preserving the status quo and preventing continued harm during the case.

• Emergency Relief to Prevent Distribution Breaches: When a distributor threatens to release content in violation of a contractual restriction or embargo, we seek immediate judicial intervention to enforce the agreement before the breach occurs.

• Orders to Halt Defamatory Publications: In appropriate cases where defamatory content threatens imminent and irreparable reputational or commercial harm, we pursue emergency relief to prevent publication or compel removal.

• Account Access and Asset Freeze Orders: In partnership and joint venture disputes, we seek orders preventing a departing partner or bad actor from draining accounts, transferring assets, or locking the rightful owner out of a platform account or intellectual property portfolio.

Emergency relief applications require both legal precision and deep familiarity with entertainment industry dynamics. Our attorneys have the experience to prepare and argue these applications effectively — and the industry knowledge to explain to a court exactly why the harm is irreparable and the relief is warranted.

_____________________________________________________________________

Underpaid royalties are one of the most pervasive and underenforced sources of financial loss in the entertainment industry. Labels, publishers, distributors, and streaming platforms routinely apply favorable accounting interpretations, take unauthorized deductions, misreport streams, or simply fail to pay what is contractually owed — often for years before an artist or rights holder discovers the discrepancy.

Our attorneys represent artists, songwriters, producers, and rights holders in royalty and accounting disputes, including:

• Audit Rights Enforcement: Most recording, publishing, and distribution agreements include audit rights that allow rights holders to examine the payor's books. We enforce these rights, prepare audit demands, and litigate when payors obstruct or delay a rightful audit.

• Underpayment Recovery Actions: When an audit or forensic review reveals underpayments — whether from misapplied royalty rates, improper deductions, or accounting errors — we pursue recovery through negotiation, arbitration, or litigation, with interest and attorney's fees where available.

• Revenue Misreporting Disputes: Intentional misreporting of streaming counts, sales figures, or licensing revenue may constitute fraud in addition to breach of contract. We pursue these claims aggressively, using discovery to obtain the underlying data and expert testimony to quantify the full scope of losses.

• Profit Participation Litigation: Net profit and backend participation disputes in film and television — notoriously prone to creative accounting — require both legal acumen and financial sophistication. We represent talent, producers, and investors in profit participation disputes, working with forensic accountants to reconstruct true project economics.

Note: For information about protecting your royalty rights through well-drafted agreements, see our Royalty Agreements page.

_____________________________________________________________________

Our approach to entertainment litigation is built around one principle: the strategy that wins in a courtroom is not always the same strategy that wins in the industry. We build litigation plans that account for both — pursuing your legal rights aggressively while maintaining awareness of the reputational and professional relationships that matter to your career and your business.

Depending on the nature and urgency of your dispute, our attorneys provide:

• Negotiation and Demand Practice: Direct negotiation backed by credible litigation threat — often the fastest and most cost-effective path to recovery in entertainment disputes where ongoing relationships and publicity concerns create pressure to settle.

• Mediation Representation: Strategic representation in private mediation proceedings with entertainment-experienced mediators, preserving professional relationships while pursuing favorable terms.

• Arbitration Advocacy: Many entertainment contracts require arbitration. We represent clients in AAA, JAMS, and industry-specific arbitration proceedings with the same rigor we bring to court.

• State and Federal Court Litigation: For disputes requiring the full force of judicial process — including injunctive relief, discovery, and trial — we litigate in New York State Supreme Court, the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, and appellate courts.

_____________________________________________________________________

The most expensive entertainment dispute is the one that could have been avoided with a better-drafted contract. Our attorneys work with clients proactively — before conflicts arise — to build the contractual foundations that reduce litigation risk and give our clients maximum leverage if a dispute does occur.

• Contract Drafting to Eliminate Ambiguity: Vague contract language is the single most common cause of entertainment disputes. We draft agreements with precise definitions, clear performance obligations, and unambiguous remedies — eliminating the interpretive gaps that generate litigation.

• Credit Allocation Clauses: Disputes over screen credit, songwriting credit, and producer credit are almost always traceable to agreements that failed to define credit obligations with sufficient specificity. We draft credit provisions that leave nothing to post-production interpretation.

• Royalty Transparency and Audit Provisions: We build robust royalty accounting and audit rights into every agreement — establishing clear reporting obligations, accounting periods, audit rights windows, and dispute resolution procedures that give our clients visibility into their revenue streams and remedies when payors fall short.

• IP Ownership Clarity: Ambiguous work-for-hire language, undefined collaboration ownership structures, and absent copyright assignment provisions are a recipe for litigation. We ensure every agreement clearly establishes who owns what — before the creative work begins.

• Exit Provisions for Creative Partners: Partnerships between creative collaborators are among the most fragile commercial relationships in the entertainment industry. We draft exit provisions, buyout mechanisms, and deadlock resolution procedures that give partners a workable path out — without litigation.

_____________________________________________________________________

What is the statute of limitations for entertainment contract disputes in New York?

In New York, the statute of limitations for breach of written contract claims is generally six years from the date of the breach. For oral contracts, the limitations period is typically three years. Copyright infringement claims under federal law must generally be brought within three years of the date the plaintiff knew or should have known of the infringement. However, because entertainment agreements often involve ongoing royalty obligations and continuing breaches, the applicable limitations period can be complex to calculate. Acting promptly when you suspect a breach is always advisable — delay can narrow your recovery window significantly.

Can I sue for unpaid streaming royalties?

Yes. Unpaid streaming royalties — whether owed under a recording agreement, a distribution deal, a publishing agreement, or a direct platform licensing arrangement — are enforceable contractual obligations. Depending on the nature of the underpayment, claims may include breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and in egregious cases, fraud. We also enforce audit rights that allow rights holders to examine platform and distributor records to identify and quantify underpayments that may not be visible from royalty statements alone.

Are entertainment contracts enforceable if unsigned?

Potentially yes. In New York, oral contracts and partially performed agreements can be enforceable even without a formal written signature, depending on the circumstances. Courts look at whether the parties reached a meeting of the minds on essential terms and whether one party's conduct — including partial performance, email exchanges, or course of dealing — demonstrates acceptance of those terms. However, relying on an unsigned agreement in litigation is significantly more costly and uncertain than enforcing a properly executed written contract. If you are operating under an unsigned or informal arrangement, we strongly recommend formalizing it immediately.

Can I terminate my recording contract?

Terminating a recording contract — or establishing grounds for termination — is one of the most complex areas of music law. Recording agreements are often deliberately structured to make artist-side termination difficult, with broad cure provisions, long option periods, and significant contractual consequences for breach. However, grounds for termination do exist, including the label's failure to release a record within a required period, material breach of the label's own obligations, and in some cases, the application of the California seven-year rule or New York personal service contract limitations. We analyze the specific terms of your agreement and the facts of your situation to identify every available avenue.

What happens if a producer breaches a development agreement?

A producer's breach of a development agreement — including failure to fund, failure to attach talent as promised, or failure to meet submission deadlines — can entitle the non-breaching party to damages, reversion of underlying rights, and in some cases specific performance. The remedies available depend heavily on how the development agreement was drafted. We evaluate breach of development agreement claims quickly, with a focus on the rights reversion and credit implications that are often more valuable than monetary damages in the development context.

How long does entertainment litigation take in New York?

Timelines vary significantly based on the forum and complexity of the dispute. Arbitration proceedings before AAA or JAMS can often be resolved in 6 to 18 months. New York State Supreme Court commercial litigation typically runs 1 to 3 years through trial. Federal court litigation in the Southern or Eastern District of New York tends to move faster on copyright and trademark matters but varies by judge and complexity. Disputes resolved through negotiation or mediation can conclude in weeks or months. We provide honest timeline assessments at the outset of every engagement so clients can make informed strategic decisions.

What is the difference between arbitration and litigation in entertainment disputes?

Arbitration is a private dispute resolution process conducted before a neutral arbitrator (or panel) rather than a judge or jury. Most entertainment contracts include mandatory arbitration clauses that require disputes to be resolved through AAA, JAMS, or another designated forum rather than in court. Arbitration is generally faster and more confidential than litigation, and decisions are typically final and difficult to appeal. Litigation in state or federal court offers broader discovery rights, the possibility of jury trial, the right to appeal, and the ability to seek emergency injunctive relief more readily. When a contract requires arbitration, we represent clients in that forum with the same strategic intensity we bring to court.

Can disputes be resolved without going to court?

Yes — and in many cases, out-of-court resolution is faster, more cost-effective, and better for preserving professional relationships. Negotiation backed by credible litigation threat often produces favorable settlements in entertainment disputes where the parties have ongoing business relationships or reputational concerns about public proceedings. Mediation with an experienced entertainment mediator is an increasingly common path to resolution in complex multi-party disputes. That said, when a counterparty is acting in bad faith, refusing to engage, or causing ongoing irreparable harm, aggressive litigation and emergency court relief are the right tools — and we pursue them without hesitation.

_____________________________________________________________________