Media and Entertainment

All the members of 8 New Square have considerable specialist knowledge of the media and entertainment industry and are well placed to advise on issues arising from the convergence of media and technology as well as the more traditional areas which may involve trade marks, copyrights, performing rights as well as contractual and licensing issues. See also copyright, designs and related rights  and trade marks.

Print media

We act regularly for publishers of newspapers and magazines, including  News Group and Northern & Shell. Recent cases have included Baigent v Random House Group (for Random House) and HRH Prince of Wales v Associated Newspapers (for HRH the Prince of Wales).

Music industry

Members of Chambers have acted for many of the big names in the music industry including The Beatles, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, The Stone Roses, Björk, Liberty X , members of The Jam and of the Buena Vista Social Club. We have also acted for some of the leading industry bodies including the BPI, the PRS and PPL in a wide variety of cases including a claim against the government for alleged failure to implement European legislation.

Music rights licensing; Copyright Tribunal

We are regularly involved in cases concerning music rights licensing including royalty and termination disputes as well as contracts of carriage such as satellite and internet distribution agreements. We also have experience in the competition aspects of rights licensing.

8 New Square has particular expertise in Copyright Tribunal work having been involved in many leading cases such as BSkyB v PRS (broadcast royalty payments), Virgin Radio v PPL (in-store radio royalty payments) and BA v PRS (royalty rates for in-flight entertainment).

Film and Televison industry; format rights

We have appeared in some of the leading cases including Norowzian v Arks, Fraser-Woodward v BBC and Pro Sieben v Carlton and have been involved in litigation over format rights for TV shows (Pop Idol/X Factor).

Unauthorised decoders and unauthorised reception of broadcasts

Members of 8 New Square have experience dating back to BBC v Hi-Tech Xtravision in 1990 of handling cases concerning unauthorised decoders and apparatus for unauthorised transmissions. Recent cases include: Football Association Premier League v QC Leisure and Murphy v Media Protection Services, both of which are now pending before the ECJ.