Contracts, IP & rights
Intellectual property & licensing
For most creative organisations, the intellectual property is the business: the show, the design, the recording, the brand, the format. We help you own it clearly, license it well, and stop other people helping themselves to it.
Who this is for
Artists, makers, producers and performers; creative businesses whose value sits in their work; and cultural organisations that create, commission or use copyright material.
If your work can be copied, licensed or argued over, this is for you.
At a glance
- Who owns what, settled in writing
- Licences that pay you fairly and keep you in control
- Rights cleared before you use other people’s work
- Help when someone uses your work without permission
How we help
We advise on who owns what, the question that causes most trouble later, and make sure ownership is properly captured in your commissions, employment and freelance arrangements. We handle licensing in both directions: licensing your work on terms that pay you fairly and keep you in control, and clearing the rights you need to use other people’s material.
We cover copyright, moral rights, performers’ rights and design rights, and the assignment or licensing of all of them. If you are building something bigger, such as a format, a catalogue or a brand, we help you structure the rights so the value is protected and can be exploited.
Talk to us
Not sure where to start? Book an online appointment and we will point you to the right help.
Email hello@proartsplus.co.uk or call 0330 127 1414 during office hours.
How it works
- Identify
We work out what rights exist and who holds them. - Decide
We agree whether you want to keep control, grant use or transfer ownership. - Document
We put the agreements in place. - Protect
If someone infringes, we advise on the most effective way to stop it.
Getting ownership right at the start prevents most disputes later.
Why ProArtsPlus
Intellectual property, rights and media work have been at the heart of our founder’s career, and it shows in the advice. We are as comfortable with performers’ rights and a co-production’s tangle of ownership as with a simple licence, and we keep the commercial goal in view.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns the copyright in commissioned work?
Often not who you would expect. The author is the first owner of copyright, so a freelancer or other commissioned creator usually keeps it even when you paid for the work, unless it is assigned to you. An assignment of copyright only works if it is in writing and signed, so we make sure ownership is agreed and recorded.
What is the difference between assigning and licensing?
Assigning transfers ownership; licensing lets someone use the work on agreed terms while you keep ownership. We help you choose and document the right one.
Someone is using my work without permission. What can I do?
There are practical steps, from a well-judged letter to formal action, and the right one depends on the situation. We advise on the most effective route to get it stopped or paid for.
What are performers’ rights?
Performers have their own rights over the recording and use of their performances, separate from copyright. They matter in music, theatre, film and television, and we make sure they are handled properly.
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Not sure where to start?
Tell us what you are dealing with and we will point you to the right help.