Copyright Issues in Estate and Marital Planning 2025
Where creativity meets complexity
Millions of Americans own copyrights, whether they know it or not. From musicians and software developers to choreographers, teachers, and even pantomimists, your clients may hold valuable copyright interests that require careful consideration during estate or marital planning. Copyrights don’t just represent “ideas” but rather a complex bundle of rights with long-term legal and financial implications.
Copyright questions answered
Copyright Issues in Estate and Marital Planning explores the intricacies of handling copyrights in estate and marital contexts, focusing on how these assets differ from other forms of personal property.
Where creativity meets complexity
Millions of Americans own copyrights, whether they know it or not. From musicians and software developers to choreographers, teachers, and even pantomimists, your clients may hold valuable copyright interests that require careful consideration during estate or marital planning. Copyrights don’t just represent “ideas” but rather a complex bundle of rights with long-term legal and financial implications.
Copyright questions answered
Copyright Issues in Estate and Marital Planning explores the intricacies of handling copyrights in estate and marital contexts, focusing on how these assets differ from other forms of personal property. Veteran copyright, trademark, and arts lawyer Elizabeth T. Russell will help you:
- Understand how copyrights differ from physical copies and why that distinction matters in estate planning
- Learn how copyright ownership attaches and can be transferred
- Discover best practices for identifying copyright assets your clients may not even know they own
- Identify the termination right – a federal mechanism that can override copyright transfers made decades ago.
- Gain tools for drafting estate and marital documents that account for complex federal copyright issues
Who’s got who, babe?
Plus, delve into a recent case in which Cher sued Sony Bono’s widow, Mary, over unpaid royalties. This case addresses the question of federal preemption of state-based estate and marital property laws.
From pop songs to pottery, Copyright Issues in Estate and Marital Planning covers the bases for handling copyright assets in life, love, and death.
Product details
- Identify and protect copyright assets in your clients’ estates, even when those assets are unregistered or overlooked
- Avoid common pitfalls by understanding how federal copyright law can preempt state estate and marital property law planning
- Safeguard estate plans from disruption by the powerful “termination right,” which can derail prior transfers
- Enhance client service with practical tools for transferring copyrights
- Intellectual property lawyers
- Estate planning lawyers
- Business lawyers
- Family law practitioners
- Bankruptcy lawyers