Buckworths advises start-ups and scale-ups in media and communications, including digital media companies, content creators, publishers, PR firms, advertising businesses, and communications agencies.
IP is the foundation of most media businesses. We advise on copyright ownership and protection, trademark registration, brand protection, and IP licensing. We draft rights agreements, co-production contracts, platform terms, and distribution arrangements, and advise on how content is created, owned, and monetised.
We advise on data protection and GDPR compliance for media businesses, particularly around audience data, electronic marketing, and digital advertising. We draft website terms and conditions, acceptable use policies, and user agreements. On employment, we advise on contracts for staff and freelancers and manage IR35 risk in sectors with high contractor usage.
For businesses at growth stages, we advise on shareholder agreements, SEIS and EIS, funding rounds, and M&A transactions including trade sales and acquisitions.
Book a free consultation to discuss your media or communications business.
Our Services
- Commercial
- Commercial Property
- Corporate
- Data Protection
- Dispute Resolution
- Employee Incentivisation
- Employment
- Franchising
- Funding
- General Counsel
- Intellectual Property
- Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)
- Regulatory Services
- Secretarial Services
- Strategy and Business Support
FAQs
Media businesses generate and license large volumes of IP, including editorial content, photography, video, design, and software. Key issues include ownership of content created by employees versus freelancers, licensing terms with clients and platforms, music licensing, and enforcement against unauthorised use. We advise media businesses on IP ownership, licensing, and enforcement.
A PR or marketing agency needs client agreements covering the scope of work, fees and payment terms, IP ownership of materials created, confidentiality, social media guidelines, liability and termination. Getting IP ownership provisions right is particularly important. The default position under UK law is that IP created by a freelancer belongs to the freelancer, not the client or the agency. We draft client agreements for marketing and communications businesses.
Marketing businesses face specific GDPR obligations around consent for electronic marketing, profiling and targeting, data sharing with clients and third-party platforms, and the use of cookies and tracking technologies. The ICO has issued detailed guidance on direct marketing and we advise marketing businesses on compliance with these requirements.