Music Distribution and the Internet

There is hardly an aspect of internet music promotion, sale and distribution which does not have a legal dimension. Since the stakeholders in the process includes artists, their managers, music publishers, record companies, distribution companies and the consumer, the law relating to internet music distribution is extremely complex. Andrew Sparrow's Music Distribution and the Internet provides those connected to the music and media industries with a guide to the legal requirements they must meet, answering questions such as: ¢ How should you conclude contracts with consumers over the internet? ¢ What are the various legal terms and conditions that should govern the sale of physical product to online music buyers? ¢ How should a website user's personal information be handled? ¢ What limitations are there on the way this data may be used for ongoing marketing of an artist's work or the merchandise associated with it? ¢ What are the latest copyright laws in this area and how do they apply to the internet? The book provides practical advice on how to approach key relationships with the internet buying consumer and other online media providers. The law is explained in straightforward terms and applied throughout in a music business context. Music Distribution and the Internet is an essential reference for anyone seeking to exploit and protect their rights and those of their artists in the rapidly expanding, constantly evolving and fascinating arena that is new media.

Andrew Sparrow is a national award winning Solicitor and founder of Lecote Solicitors, a niche commercial law firm concentrating on Internet, IT and New Media Law. He was one of the first Solicitors in the United Kingdom to pursue the legal issues relating to online business. Andrew is author of several books on commercial and Internet law published internationally. In a national poll conducted in 2004 and supported by the Department of Trade & Industry he was acknowledged as one of 100 individuals in the UK who have contributed most to the development of the internet in the last ten years.

Contents: Introduction to the internet and its impact on music distribution; Online contracts for the sale of music and merchandise; Website terms and conditions; E-Commerce Regulations 2002; Protecting and exploiting intellectual property rights in online music; Online marketing of music and merchandise; Collecting online data about music-buying consumers; Distance selling regulations and online music and merchandise sales; Paying for internet music distribution; Agreements with web designers, mobile operators and internet service providers; Strategic agreements between the internet music company and other parties; Advertising music and merchandise online; Electronic signatures and online music sales; Disability discrimination issues for music websites; Whose law applies to internet music sales?; Further reading; Index.