Guides: Music Law Research Guide: Treatises, Journals, News, and Study Aids

Further Research Guidance

The Georgetown Law Library has a number of other research guides that may be relevant to music law research, such as:

We also have a number of guides to treatises and study aids, called Treatise Finders, based on legal subject area:

Key to Icons

Georgetown only
On Westlaw
On Lexis
On Bloomberg
PDF
More Info (hover)
Preeminent Treatise
Study Aid

General Treatises on Major Music Law Topics

These titles deal broadly with copyright, licensing agreements, and other areas of law which affect the entertainment industry generally. All are available electronically for members of the Georgetown Law Center community.

Antitrust Law: An Analysis of Antitrust Principles and Their Application (Areeda & Hovenkamp)
This is a multi-volume loose leaf publication which includes in-depth examinations of thousands of cases. Appendices include reprints of selected statutes and antitrust guidelines. Available electronically via CCH VitalLaw (formerly Cheetah). The treatise can be browsed using the "+" symbols in the left-hand menu, and it can be searched using the "Search Within..." box. (Print version current through 2013 only.)
Entertainment Law: Legal Concepts and Business Practices
This multi-volume set is a complete reference for business attorneys who structure entertainment deals, negotiate contracts or litigate disputes involving the entertainment industry. (Print version current through 2007 only.)
Lindey on Entertainment, Publishing & the Arts
Provides expert coverage of entertainment law, mass communications, and the arts. Includes forms and detailed guidance for drafting agreements. Updated three times a year. Also has an index. (Print version current through 2011 only.)
Nimmer on Copyright
This ten-volume treatise is considered to be one of the most authoritative works on copyright law, covering constitutional, statutory and common law issues. Included are full-text of laws, regulations and international conventions and forms and jury instructions. There are also extensive citations to relevant primary and secondary authorities. (Print version current through 2014 only.)
Milgrim on Licensing
A guide to intellectual property transactions that covers licensing in all substantive areas of intellectual property, and provides practical guidance on drafting individuals clauses and complete agreements. Includes information on antitrust considerations.

Music Law Books & Treatises

The following titles deal specifically with the music industry and/or its legal issues, but may not be as thorough, in-depth, or up-to-date on developments in specific areas of law as the "General Treatises..." listed on the right. Also see the "Getting Started" area of this guide for more works specifically on music law and the music industry.

To find more books on music law, search our catalog.

News & Current Awareness

These current awareness publications are heavily used by attorneys to keep up with recent cases, proposed legislation, and developments within their practice areas. Many include expert news & commentary and useful legal analysis, often in addition to treatises and other tools.

Tech & Telecom: Media Law Practice
Bloomberg Law's Media Law Practice page, collecting news and other materials, including the Media Law Reporter News archive (discontinued in 2019; continued in Tech & Telecom News).
IP Law News
IP practitioner highlights, news stories, and featured IP cases. Bloomberg Law.
Antitrust Practice Center
Includes antitrust law practical guidance, federal opinions, agency news, merger review, and much more.
Trademarks and Copyright Practice Center
Includes , IP Law News, Law X.O. Podcast & other trademark, IP, and copyright resources.
ABA Entertainment & Sports Lawyer
A quarterly publication of the Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries of the American Bar Association. Directed at lawyers who devote a major portion of their practice to entertainment, sports, arts, intellectual property law, and other related areas. Provides current, practical information as well as public policy and scholarly viewpoints.
The United States Law Week
Used by attorneys to keep up to date on important cases and other legal developments nationwide, in all areas of the law.

Academic Journals

Lexis and Westlaw's law journal databases are popular places to search for relevant law journal articles; however, this is not necessarily the most efficient way of finding relevant journal articles, nor is it comprehensive. The Articles for Legal and Non-Legal Research research guide explains the differences between searching journal indexes and searching full-text databases. It also links to specific legal and non-legal indexes and full-text databases.

There are several law reviews and journals dedicated to entertainment law issues; however, note that scholarly articles on music and entertainment law may also appear in journals that are general in nature, so you should not limit your research only to entertainment- or music law-specific journals.

Intellectual Property & Entertainment Journals on Westlaw
A collection of law journals dealing with topics of intellectual property and/or entertainment law.
Antitrust Law Reviews & Journals on Westlaw
Copyright Law Reviews and Journals on Lexis
Bloomberg Law Copyright Law Practice Center
Under "Resources," click "Law Reviews & Journals"' on the left.

Some specific journals that publish articles on entertainment law and the arts include:

Study Aids

The following sources are designed to assist students taking substantive law classes in areas relevant to the music industry:

Copyright Examples and Explanations (6th ed.; 2021) by Stephen McJohn
Copyright law examples and explanations are provided in this work. It includes an overview of copyright, copyrightable subject matter, ownership and transactions, statutory rights, and copyright litigation. Examples in the work are drawn from judicial opinions, news reports and student questions.
Entertainment Law in a Nutshell (5th ed.; 2021) by Sherri L. Burr
This compact reference gives a big picture overview of the intellectual property, contract, publicity, estate planning, and First Amendment issues that contribute to the field of entertainment law. Professor Burr also addresses specific legal issues that arise in the film, music, and television industries, including discussion of the rise of "reality" television.
Intellectual Property and Unfair Competition in a Nutshell (7th ed.; 2013)
This study guide provides an understanding of the creation of specific intellectual property rights as well as the determination of a commercial wrong. It discusses the historical inter-relationship between intellectual property law and the law of unfair competition.
Intellectual Property: Patents, Trademarks and Copyright in a Nutshell (6th ed; 2018) by Arthur R. Miller
Focuses on the foundations and practice of patent, trademark and copyright law.
Understanding Copyright Law (7th ed.; 2019) by Marshall A. Leaffer
A comprehensive study aid on copyright, which examines, among other issues, factual works, works made for hire, parody of fair use and software protection. Part 111 is a comparative analysis of copyright, patent and trademark law. Includes an overview of international copyright law is included, in addition to tables of cases and statutes.

Music Law Research Guide

Contents