Marc Jacobson

Practice Areas

Marc Jacobson is an entertainment and intellectual property attorney with a focus on film and music matters. His film practice includes work in finance, production and distribution for both talent and companies. His music practice includes all aspects of music publishing, recording for both artists and companies. He represents producers, financiers, production companies, music publishers, record companies, recording artists, songwriters, estates and other entertainment industry clients.

Career

With nearly five decades of experience on both the company and talent sides, Marc has built a distinctive practice focused on two core areas: film and music.

In film, Marc counsels producers, financiers, and production companies on entity formation, production agreements, chain of title documentation, financing arrangements and structures, distribution negotiations, and domestic and international tax credit analysis and monetization. He has served as counsel and executive producer on feature films including "In the Land of Saints and Sinners," "The Virtuoso," and the upcoming "Lucca Mortis."

In music, Marc represents major music estates and prominent songwriters and artists. He regularly counsels Lee Mendelson Film Productions, owner of the music catalog accompanying the Peanuts animated specials, composed by Vince Guaraldi. He handles copyright recaptures and licensing matters for the estate of Theodore White, co-writer of the Aretha Franklin classic "Think." His music practice encompasses sophisticated publishing and recording transactions, performing and mechanical rights clearances on blanket and deal-by-deal bases, and licensing negotiations for traditional entertainment use and non-traditional users including digital platforms. He has extensive experience handling catalog transfers for both buyers and sellers, lenders and borrowers.

Marc has represented the estates of George & Ira Gershwin, Elvis Presley, and Duke Ellington, and songwriters including Jimmy Webb, Shakira, James Brown, and Holland-Dozier-Holland. He regularly clears performing and other rights for digital distribution across single countries and multiple territories, and advises on music licensing for non-traditional music users, including social media applications.

Marc testified before Congress and the World Intellectual Property Organization regarding the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and previously served as General Counsel of Prodigy Services Company. He is the Founding Chairman of the New York State Bar Association Section on Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law (EASL), where he remains active, and is a frequent speaker at New York State Bar Association events. He was an Adjunct Professor of Entertainment Law at Fordham University Law School, CUNY Law School, and The New School.

Professional Memberships

New York State Bar Association | Founding Chairman, Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law Section

American Bar Association | Forum Committee on Entertainment Law

Copyright Society of the USA

Association of Independent Music Publishers

The Gothams

Education