Lee & Ko has provided legal services relating to entertainment and media-related business activities and other matters since the mid-1980s and has developed much expertise in these areas. The firm currently has a highly capable group of specialists who are well-equipped to advise clients on any legal issues that may arise in the context of entertainment and media-related concerns.

Lee & Ko’s Entertainment Practice Group has dealt with a very broad range of legal issues in connection with various entertainment/media categories, such as movies, audio recordings/CDs, music, videos, dramas, broadcasting, Internet, new media, theatre, etc. The Group has been called upon to provide legal services to a large number of individuals and companies involved in the entertainment industry, and has provided legal representation to, among others, movie producers, TV broadcasting companies, entertainment groups, phonograph record/CD companies, media producers, distributors, cable network operators, software and game companies, animation developers and venture capital investors.

The Entertainment Practice Group has recently acted as legal counsel for a U.S. entertainment and media giant, in connection with various matters including arrangements for the distribution of motion picture films, establishment of a joint venture company in Korea, licensing matters, tax issues, copyright infringement, etc.The Group has also advised famous movie studios in connection with various business activities in Korea.

Expertise

Legal Services for Content Providers (i.e., game industry, etc.)

Lee & Ko has provided clients in the game industry, as well as other content providers, with legal advice and assistance covering all important legal issues relevant to their business operations (i.e., sales, licensing, game development contracts, M&A, joint venture agreements, software-related copyright issues, online game marketing, cyber-money, etc.). Further Lee & Ko has provided expert advice to its clients with regard to content issues under the Juvenile Protection Act of Korea and related matters, such as the game content rating system, handling of applications for and objections to game content ratings, as well as other cases on personal data protection obligations.

Advice on transactions involving sale of game items on online auction websites
Drafting and review of game development agreements of large game company
Advice on investment and establishment of a joint venture game company

Legal Services for Entertainment Management Companies, Entertainers, etc.

Lee & Ko has developed an extensive practice in the area of providing various legal advice and representation to companies engaged in entertainment, sports and media related businesses and various formal associations within the entertainment, sports and media industry, as well as to individual performers, athletes and media personalities. In this regard, the Entertainment Practice Group provides a broad range of legal advice, not only advising on establishment and operation of entertainment companies, associations and related joint venture companies, but also advising on various contracts, disputes, etc., among such companies and entertainers, athletes and media personalities, as well as various other persons engaged in related businesses.

Issues under Broadcasting Law

Advice on legal issues arising under broadcasting laws relevant to data broadcasting, such as, public relations and advertisements on public interest channels Advice on whether sponsorship identification in drama programs violates broadcasting laws Legal services for musical performers, entertainers and athletes
Advice and representation in connection with breach-of-contract dispute, world tour, media articles, breach and termination of exclusive management agreements, marketing of audio recordings/CDs, selecting celebrities as honorary ambassadors of advertising relating to popular musical performers and entertainers Advice on conclusion and termination of exclusive management agreements with well-known athletes/personalities

Project financing, movie funds, etc.

Advice on proposed legislative amendment of rules and regulations applicable to “movie investment funds”
Advice on issuances of bonds with warrant, convertible bonds, etc., by entertainment management companies

Legislation

Advice in connection with the amendment of the Act on Phonograph Records/CDs, Videos and Games (APRVG)

Intellectual Property Right

Lee & Ko’s Entertainment Practice Group provides a broad range of legal advice on licensing of intellectual property rights relating to domestic and foreign entertainment companies, entertainers, athletes, etc., as well as registration of copyright, as well as establishment, registration and contractual disposition of various types of entertainment and media-related rights and handling of various related disputes.

Advice for global IT leaders on various copyright issues
Advice on copyright infringement issues arising from use of music as background music for Internet UCC items and advertisements, MP3 music files
Advice and representation concerning disputes and litigation of rates charged by music copyright association for playing of music
Advice on payment standard of compensation for performers and producers of audio recordings/CDs

Others

Advice on various agreements and contracts in connection with artwork exhibition, sale and purchase, concert sponsorship, performance-related license, fashion show, investment in movies and revenue sharing, DVD sale, audio recording/CD production, franchise for entertainment management companies and animation production