MEDIA, COMMUNICATION, ENTERTAINMENT

Overview

UGGC Africa has a team of recognized lawyers specialized in media, communication and entertainment law. Their areas of expertise include:

Film, TV and audiovisual services, radio;
Media financing;
Shows, theatrical performances and events;
Music;
Media publishing (digital and print) – including books, newspapers and magazines – and media companies;
Press, photography, image, reputation and crisis communication;
Innovations, multimedia, Internet, and platforms;
CSR reporting, sustainable development, compliance;
Sport, e-sport, games and sports betting.

The firm has a renowned expertise in the development, production, exploitation, protection and regulation of cultural and creative content. The team’s practice is particularly recognized in the following areas: music; film, TV, radio and photography; shows, theatre and events; book publishing (digital and print) and media companies; multimedia and the Internet (development of applications, software, etc.).

UGGC’s attorneys also have a strong reputation in the field of communication regulations. The firm advises clients on press offences (defamation, libel, insult, right of reply, etc.), protection of reputation, management of image rights and crisis communication. The Firm’s expertise in communications is also reflected in the team’s involvement in communications relating to corporate social responsibility, sustainable development and assistance in compliance with transparency and risk prevention obligations (“compliance”).

UGGC advises all types of clients – companies (start-ups, SMEs, large corporations), foundations, associations and NGOs, individuals – on contentious and non-contentious matters, as well as on the legislative and regulatory changes to be expected.

Film, TV and audiovisual services, radio

The firm has a renowned expertise in film, TV and audiovisual services and radio law.

The team is particularly involved in all legal aspects relating to:

Strategic, financial and legal arrangements and the structuring of cinematographic and audio-visual productions;
Drafting and negotiation of contracts from the development to the exploitation of the works including without limitation:
- Contracts for the acquisition of adaptation rights; option rights; contracts for the development of works; contracts for the hiring of script doctors, scriptwriters, authors-directors, consultants; contracts for music synchronization and for the commission of original musical works;
- Contracts with performers, actors, technicians and casual workers;
- Contracts for the production of works and international co-productions;
- Contracts for the exploitation, licensing, distribution of works; contracts for the purchase of rights;
- Contracts for the assignment of assets;
Bankruptcy and legal recovery of film or audiovisual services companies;
Scope and operation of collective management organisations in France and abroad;
Fight against copyright infringement;
Regulations applied by public bodies (CNC, CSA, HADOPI, etc.);
Broadcasting regulations (DTT, Sat/Cab, OTT, streaming, VOD, SVOD, etc.) and broadcasters’ obligations (quotas, financial contributions, media statutory windows, etc.).

Media financing

UGGC has a renowned expertise in media financing.

The team is particularly involved in all legal aspects related to:

International co-production contracts;
Due diligence and audits for the acquisition of companies, equity investments and financial arrangements relating to media companies;
Creation of structures for the production, financing and distribution of cinematographic and audiovisual works;
Financing by SOFICA, banking institutions, public and private investors;
Securities, pledges and guarantees for financing;
Contracts and structuring of endowment funds and alternative financing;
The use of crowdfunding;
Patronage and sponsorship operations, product placements and structuring of license revenues.

The Firm advises many well-known investors in the media sector, as well as associations, foundations and endowment funds.

Shows, theatrical performances ans events

The dedicated team of UGGC Africa has undeniable expertise and a recognized practice in assisting producers, creators and other stakeholders in the fields of entertainment, theatrical performances and major events in France and abroad in private or public venues for over 20 years. The firm is particularly active in the following areas:

Advice and strategies in the following fields:
- creation, conception, financing, structuring, development, pre-production, production, post-production of shows and events ;
- exploitation of shows throughout their life cycle, in particular with regard to their launch, promotion, adaptation and distribution, dismantling ;
- communication campaigns;
- valorisation of assets ;
- marketing strategy including secondary uses;
- issues relating to musical rights, revenue rights, and the scope of collective management organisations;
- regulations applicable to concert halls and other venues;
- export of shows or events abroad and international transactions;
- executive production and orders made to service providers for events (including fashion shows, etc.).
Negotiation and drafting of complex contracts (production contracts, financing, licenses, etc.), and assistance in the performance of all kinds of agreements;
Drafting and negotiation of contracts for the assignment of rights from all talents, creators and performers (designers, directors, stage directors, choreographers, scenographers, photographers, musicians, songwriters, actors, artists, performers, models, dancers, programmers and conceptors) and authorizations for the use of their personal rights and privacy rights, including rights relating to personal data (name, stage name, biographical data, likeness and image, honor, reputation, moral rights);
Financial operations and financing schemes;
Scope of collective management organisations for the rights of producers, authors and performers;
Status of artists and talents ;
Subsidies, sponsorship, patronage and taxation;
Contracts with influencers ;
Rights clearance, i.e. obtaining authorization to use from right holders;
Audiovisual recording ;
Pre-litigation;
Litigation.

Music

The dedicated team of UGGC Africa has an indisputable expertise and a recognized practice in the field of music law.

The team operates in particular in the following areas:

Drafting and negotiation of contracts between various stakeholders including:
Music publishing and co-publishing contracts; contracts for royalty payments in return for services; contracts for the management of publishing rights;
Contracts for the commission of original scores and soundtracks;
Recording contracts with performing artists and musicians;
Licensing contracts and contracts for distribution on physical media and digital platforms;
Contracts for the assignment of assets ;
Contracts with agents and managers;
Contracts for the organization of tours, concerts, shows and other events;
Scope of collective management organisations in France and abroad;
Proceedings for recovery and bankruptcy of production companies and/or publishing companies;
Liability of musical content sharing platforms;
Legal structuring of companies producing and distributing musical content (streaming websites and platforms);
Fight against copyright infringement: legal actions for copyright infringement, expertise for work comparison, site-blocking of websites providing massively infringing websites, de-indexing infringing websites;
Pre-litigation and litigation in relation with copyright infringement, comparison of musical compositions through legal expertise, contractual non-performance (violations of exclusivity, breach of requirement of continuous exploitations, reporting reporting, etc.).

Media publishing (digital and print) and media companies,

UGGC Africa has a recognized expertise in the following areas in particular:

Drafting and negotiation of book publishing contracts and assignment of rights for digital and print publications;
Drafting and negotiation of contracts for the transfer of assets and rights (books, scientific articles, reports and other publications);
Employment contracts and assignment of rights with editors, salaried and freelance journalists, graphic designers, illustrators, etc. and issues related to their social status;
Assistance and representation in pre-litigation and litigation matters including without limitation: handing over of manuscripts, copyright infringement, plagiarism, royalty reporting, requirement for permanent and ongoing exploitation, respect of moral rights, etc.;
Fight against copyright infringement: legal actions for site-blocking and deindexing;
Regulations applicable to press companies: neighbouring rights of press publishers; state-support programs;, transparency requirements; financing; media pluralism; merger regulations; press distribution; legal deposit ;
Due diligence and audits of press companies;

The firm assists writers, journalists, publishers and press companies in all their legal issues.

Press, photography, images, reputation and crisis communication,

UGGC Africa has a strong expertise in press law, protection of image rights (persons and property) and privacy, reputation and crisis communication.

The Firm provides legal services in the following areas:

Pre-litigation and litigation relating to press offences in both civil and criminal matters: defamation, insult, right of reply, etc. ;
Preparation and legal review of reports and other publications with regard to risks of defamation and other press offences, risk assessment and communication strategy arising therefrom;
Protection of image rights and privacy, particularly on social networks;
Actions against identity theft, phishing and other online scams to the detriment of individuals and companies;
Contracts for the use of individuals’ image rights and image rights applicable to goods ;
Contracts with agents.

Innovations, multimedia, internet and platforms,

UGGC Africa has a recognized expertise in technological innovations, in the adaptation of the law to the digital revolution and in the emergence of new uses and other transformations.

The team is particularly active in the following areas:

Laws applicable to marketplaces;
Augmented reality, virtual reality, new formats, new images;
Blockchain and legal regulations;
Development of AdTech (“Advertising Technologies”);
Content recognition technologies;
Virtual reality and augmented reality;
Use of artificial intelligence in the cultural and creative industries;
Regulatory issues concerning financial technologies (“FinTech”);
New multimedia uses;
Database protection.

CSR reporting, sustainable development, compliance,

UGGC Africa has a strong expertise in regulations and communications relating to corporate social responsibility and sustainable development, as well as in compliance programs.

We regularly assist our clients (companies and stakeholders) in the following areas:

Audits, due diligence, risk mapping;
Preparation, updating and analysis of compliance programs and their implementation at international and local levels;
Preparation, updates and analysis of charters, codes of conduct, reports and other voluntary declarations;
Responsibility of parent companies for the activities of subsidiaries, subcontractors and suppliers;
Determination of obligations in terms of establishing and implementing vigilance plans;
Third party evaluation process;
Policies for the promotion of diversity;
Securing international contracts and drafting compliance clauses;
Assitance and representation for investigations and litigation.

Sport, e-sport, gaming and betting

UGGC Africa has a recognized expertise in sports law and e-sport, as well as in sports betting and gaming.

The firm is particularly active in the following areas:

Regulatory aspects; contracts; structures for financing;
Athletes’ image rights; rights of sports event organizers; broadcasting of sports events and e-sports;
Partnerships; sponsorships; co-marketing; investments; acquisitions; supply and other provision of services;
Organization of sports events and e-sports; shows/ceremonies; audio-visual recordings and productions;
Regulations, codes of ethics, charters, gender and diversity issues, CSR;
Protection of the image and reputation of sportsmen and broadcasters;
Regulation of the organization of sports games and betting, promotion and advertising, sports forecasts;
Employment and immigration law applied to sportsmen and women and e-sports players.

Nos expertises MEDIA, COMMUNICATION AND ENTERTAINMENT