Article: Don't Lose Your Shirt: Legal Issues Surrounding Merchandise Agreements

As revenues from the sale of records continue to decline, band merchandise comprises an integral part of an artist's total revenue stream. Today's definition of band merchandise has expanded beyond the traditional concert merchandise of yesteryear (e.g. T-shirts, baseball caps, and bumper stickers). Today, artists sell all kinds of wares - everything from action figures to perfume - to supplement their income. Some artists, such as Gwen Stefani and Jennifer Lopez, have forged identities as full-scale fashion designers.

All of this increased merchandising activity raises a host of legal considerations. Most importantly, it is necessary to identify who owns the underlying rights in the ...

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