A copyright agent is hired to look for revenue-generating opportunities for copyrighted work creators and owners. The agent is also in charge of handling usage requests, as well as negotiating and preparing licensing agreements for their clients. Because the agent’s responsibilities often include ensuring licensee compliance and litigating unauthorized use of copyrighted works, this position is frequently filled by intellectual property lawyers. However, a copyright agent does not have to be an attorney.
A copyright agent must keep up with ever-changing copyright legislation in order to protect his or her client’s interests. In an ideal world, a copyright agent would keep track of royalties and unlicensed uses of the client’s copyrighted work. When violations are discovered, the copyright agent is most likely to file a copyright infringement lawsuit on behalf of the client and recover payment.
Copyright agents also work directly with clients to develop a strategy for maximizing the use of the client’s copyrighted material. The copyright agent is usually in charge of marketing and advertising campaigns, brand-name licensing, and control of a creator’s name or likeness. For example, if a company wanted to use a popular musical artist’s song to promote a product in an ad campaign, it would first seek permission from the artist’s copyright agent. The copyright agent and the corporation or ad agency would then negotiate a licensing fee for the song, which often included payments of future royalties every time the commercial was rebroadcast. The copyright agent and/or the copyright owner’s attorney should make sure that all parties sign the appropriate contracts and that the licensing agreement’s terms are followed.
The use of copyright agents by the estates of famous deceased people has become more common in recent years. This is to prevent the use of the deceased celebrity’s works or publicity rights. It also ensures that the creator’s legal heirs do not lose money to which they are entitled. Control of John Lennon’s songs, Elvis Presley’s image, and the licensing of products based on Charles Schulz’s comic strip “Peanuts” are just a few well-known examples.