Lucas LLP http://www.lucasllp.com/ attorneys and counselors at law :: literary agency en Copyright 2008 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:20:00 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Lucas LLP is a law practice dedicated to helping creative people and companies develop and manage their business and legal relationships. We advise a varied group of clients on a range of issues and offer exceptional experience in matters of:
› publishing law and related business issues; › literary representation; › rights management and licensing; › copyright registration, research, and management; › art law; and › business formation and development.
We represent and counsel a spectrum of clients: authors, artists, publishers, and other professionals who contribute to the publishing of books, journals, magazines, and websites; software designers and developers; sellers and buyers of art; consultants and companies who create, manage, and distribute creative works; and many others who seek advice on how to develop opportunities and protect their interests. We welcome inquiries regarding our legal services and literary representation, and encourage you to review the information on this website for an overview of our practice.]]> http://www.lucasllp.com/2008/07/about_lucas_llp.html http://www.lucasllp.com/2008/07/about_lucas_llp.html About Lucas LLP Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:20:00 -0800 Inspiration or Misappropriation? The Cellist of Sarajevo, asserts that although the title character of his novel was inspired by a real-life musician, he is under no obligation to secure the real person's permission for depicting him--or a character very much like him--in a work of fiction. The author has used the same setting, the number of days the cellist plays, the same musical selection (Albinoni's Adagio), and the moniker given to the cellist by members of the media who originally covered the story. Vedran Smailović is the cellist who received worldwide attention during the war in Bosnia for playing his cello amidst the rubble (and sniper fire) in Sarajevo in the wake of a deadly mortar attack. He claims that his story has been inappropriately used by Galloway, without permission, for Galloway's--and his publisher's--financial gain. Complicating the matter, or perhaps making it clearer, is that Galloway's Canadian publisher, Knopf Canada, used a photo of Smailović on the cover of the book without Smailovic's permission. (As of this writing, the cover is displayed on Knopf Canada's web page for the book.) Reports on the dispute on the CBC News website and via the Times (London) Online. Although the tongue-in-cheek guideline for many authors and publishers has been that "it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission," asking for forgiveness may be a more costly proposition.]]> http://www.lucasllp.com/2008/07/inspiration_or_misappropriatio.html http://www.lucasllp.com/2008/07/inspiration_or_misappropriatio.html In Other News Galloway inspiration misappropriation permission right of publicity Smailovic Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:19:10 -0800 Expanding our services Literary Representation page. Please review it for details about the subject matter and types of projects we represent, our submission guidelines, and the terms of our representation. [1 May 2008] ]]> http://www.lucasllp.com/2008/05/expanding_our_services.html http://www.lucasllp.com/2008/05/expanding_our_services.html Lucas LLP News Tue, 20 May 2008 22:49:42 -0800 Literary Representation In addition to providing specific legal advice and assistance related to publishing matters, including contract negotiation, copyright registration, and the licensing of subsidiary rights, Lucas LLP provides literary representation to authors. http://www.lucasllp.com/2008/05/literary_representation.html http://www.lucasllp.com/2008/05/literary_representation.html Literary Representation Thu, 08 May 2008 14:14:14 -0800 Attorney or Agent? "Do I need an attorney or an agent?" is a question we often hear, and the answer depends on your needs as an author, illustrator, publisher, or other publishing professional. ]]> http://www.lucasllp.com/2008/05/attorney_or_agent.html http://www.lucasllp.com/2008/05/attorney_or_agent.html Literary Representation Thu, 08 May 2008 14:13:49 -0800 Submission Guidelines Before sending material for our consideration, please read these submission guidelines. Following these guidelines will allow us to review and respond to submissions as efficiently as possible, and will help us take the first step toward determining whether we are the appropriate representative for your work. Note that we may not respond to submissions that do not conform to our guidelines. Areas of Representation Lucas LLP represents authors of nonfiction. Within that broad category, we seek projects in the areas of current affairs, history, biography and memoir, science, gastronomy and food science (including topics in food, wine, cooking, sustainable agriculture), law/legal history, popular culture and cultural criticism, and lifestyle topics with an emphasis on sustainable and ethical practices. We also accept submissions in other subject areas, and invite you to send a query with a short description of your work in an area other than those just noted. We represent a limited number of fiction projects, but do not represent romance, fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, juvenile fiction, poetry, or screenplays. Few if any agencies represent works of every stripe and style. Because there are many excellent agents with experience in genres and subject areas not listed above, we urge you to consult one or more of the regularly updated print and online resources for finding such agents. If your inquiry relates to legal services, please note that our legal advice is not limited to the aforementioned categories and genres. If you do not seek an agent but instead have questions about whether we are available to advise you on a particular legal matter, to review a contract or license, or to provide other assistance, please contact us. What to Submit For nonfiction: Submit a letter introducing yourself and your project along with your proposal. If not included in your proposal, also send a c.v. or résumé. For fiction: Submit a letter introducing yourself and your project, along with the first chapter of your work or the first 20 manuscript pages, whichever is less. Provide us with the submission history of the work, to agents and to publishers. Retain a copy of materials you submit to us for your own records. Do not send complete manuscripts or original or unique materials or artwork unless specifically requested. For email submissions: Do not send Microsoft Word or other word processing files as attachments unless specifically requested. If you include an attachment with your email, please convert your document to .pdf. Non-pdf attachments may not be reviewed. Where to Submit We accept submissions via the U.S. Postal Service and via email. Queries sent via the U.S. mail must be directed to:
Literary Submissions Lucas LLP P.O. Box 6920 Beverly Hills, California 90212-6920
Queries sent via email should be directed to:
submissions@lucasllp.com
How we respond For us to reply to your postal inquiry you must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. If you do not, we may not respond to you, and we may recycle or otherwise dispose of your submission material. Replies to email submissions will be made via email. We do not return proposals or other preliminary submission materials. Please retain a copy of materials you submit to us for your own records. We aim to review and respond to submissions 4-6 weeks after receipt. Please do not telephone or email to confirm receipt or to request the status of our review. ]]> http://www.lucasllp.com/2008/05/submission_guidelines.html http://www.lucasllp.com/2008/05/submission_guidelines.html Literary Representation Thu, 08 May 2008 14:12:15 -0800 "In Other News": Sharing resources and information In the spirit of sharing news and resources with our colleagues and clients we'll update this portion of the site frequently, linking to news items, other sites, and online resources that have caught our attention or that are of particular attention to others whose business and legal interests intersect with ours. Note, however, that any third party sites referenced or linked to by us reflect the opinions of the contributors to or owners or editors of such sites but not necessarily the opinions of Lucas LLP or Lisa Lucas or Terrence Talbot individually. Lucas LLP is not responsible for the content of such sites. http://www.lucasllp.com/2008/05/sharing_resources_and_informat.html http://www.lucasllp.com/2008/05/sharing_resources_and_informat.html In Other News Thu, 01 May 2008 21:32:17 -0800 Contacting Lucas LLP Legal Services For further information about Lucas LLP, our range of services, and our availability to assist you, contact Lisa Lucas at llucas@lucasllp.com. Lucas LLP is located at
403 South Bedford Drive Beverly Hills, California 90212-4119 Hours strictly by appointment.
Phone: 1.310.569.9564 Fax: 1.310.284.8558 Literary Agency After reviewing our agency guidelines, submissions and queries related to literary representation should be sent to:
Literary Submissions Lucas LLP P.O. Box 6920 Beverly Hills, California 90212-6920
or to submissions@lucasllp.com We urge you to review our agency guidelines before sending your query to us. Queries that do not conform to our guidelines may be recycled (or deleted, in the case of electronic submissions) without further review or notice to you. ]]> http://www.lucasllp.com/2008/05/contacting_lucas_llp.html http://www.lucasllp.com/2008/05/contacting_lucas_llp.html Contact Thu, 01 May 2008 14:21:18 -0800 Lisa Lucas UCLA Law Review. Her research and commentary on the legal battle over interstate wine shipment to consumers were published in the February 2005 issue of the UCLA Law Review. A member of the State Bar of California, she is also a member of California Lawyers for the Arts, the Beverly Hills Bar Association (including its Committee for the Arts), and the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Lisa supports and is a member of The Authors Guild. In her capacity as a literary agent, she adheres to and encourages the adoption of the Association of Authors' Representatives' Canon of Ethics. In addition to her participation in associations for legal and publishing professionals, Lisa is the Vice President of the Los Angeles chapter of Slow Food. ]]> http://www.lucasllp.com/2008/05/lisa_lucas.html http://www.lucasllp.com/2008/05/lisa_lucas.html Partners Thu, 01 May 2008 14:00:00 -0800 Terrence Talbot Sandvox, a leading website development application for Macintosh computers. Terrence received his B.A. in Politics, Economics, Rhetoric, and Law from the University of Chicago and his J.D. from the Boston University School of Law. He is a member of the California Bar Association and a contributor to several technology forums and developer groups. ]]> http://www.lucasllp.com/2008/05/terrence_talbot.html http://www.lucasllp.com/2008/05/terrence_talbot.html Partners Thu, 01 May 2008 12:00:00 -0800 Legal Services Publishing law and related issues: We assist authors, artists, publishers, and other publishing professionals in matters related to:
» primary publishing agreements and licensing agreements for publication and for subsidiary rights, including:
» foreign-language rights; » audio and audio-visual rights; » electronic, online, and multimedia rights; » dramatic performance rights (including motion picture, stage, and television rights); » first-serial and second-serial rights; » reprint rights, and rights for special or limited editions; » copublishing agreements, both domestic and international; and » merchandising agreements and arrangements
» agency agreements; » collaboration agreements; » work-made-for-hire agreements; » permissions for text and illustrative material; » interview releases; » photographic releases; » distribution agreements; and » agreements related to self-published works.
As part of our work in this area we review existing contracts; advise clients on their negotiations or negotiate on our clients' behalf; and prepare and revise contracts and related documents. Copyright issues: We assist clients with copyright registration, assignments and transfers of copyright, copyright research, and related contract and licensing issues. We also assist clients in matters related to securing permission to use others' copyrighted works and to granting such permissions. Art law: We advise artists and other contributors to artwork on sales, consignment, licensing, display, and publication matters, and also work with purchasers and licensees of artwork on their acquisition of specific pieces of artwork and/or rights in artwork. Business formation and development: We advise clients who wish to form businesses on their choice of entity (partnership, corporation, limited liability corporation), assist them in fulfilling the legal requirements to establish a business entity, and provide counsel and feedback on a variety of start-up and ongoing business issues. Software development: We advise clients who develop, distribute, and sell software. In addition to providing guidance and assistance on the formation and funding of a software business and on product development and distribution, we work with clients who contribute to others' software development projects as advisors and independent contractors. We also advise individuals and businesses on a range of contract and licensing matters including nondisclosure agreements, assignments of rights, and work-made-for-hire agreements. Online publishing: Many of the services noted in the categories above are of concern to individuals and businesses involved in online publishing. We offer assistance in these matters and in others more specifically related to
» website development; » website hosting; » domain name acquisition and protection, and » publication and protection of online content.
For information about how Lucas LLP can advise and assist you in these matters, please contact us. ]]> http://www.lucasllp.com/2008/04/legal_services.html http://www.lucasllp.com/2008/04/legal_services.html Legal Services Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:23:29 -0800