Pro bono lawyer?

Submitted by inasilentway207 t3_z16lke in Maine

Hello everyone! I am working w a non profit hoping to create a bit of a music program. Since we hope to publish music, I was thinking it’d be neat if a lawyer would be willing to meet with us (or Zoom!) to discuss some legal ramifications of putting music out, particularly as there are younger folks involved (some of whom are under 18).

Anyone have any thoughts or leads or know anyone who’d be down to help out?

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Guygan t1_ix99pwe wrote

Go to the Maine Bar Association webpage. They may have a list of lawyers by specialty that can help. Then make some calls. Big firms tend to be more willing to do this sort of thing.

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IamSauerKraut t1_ixa76yb wrote

I am not aware of any IP trademark or copyright lawyers in Maine who do pro bono work. None of the Volunteer Lawyers Project attorneys are listed as doing IP work, either. But there is a group out of Boston that focuses on providing pro bono legal IP patent assistance that may of use despite it not being directly in the trademark or copyright areas of IP law.

There are many things to learn and some of what this group offers will provide great educational background: https://artsandbusinesscouncil.org/patent-pro-bono-program/

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nogiblets t1_ix9lq3l wrote

Start by read Don Passman’s book “All You Need to Know about the Music Business’ if you haven’t already before engaging an attorney.

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R3lak t1_ix9wdxk wrote

What kinda of lawyer would be against Bono? One that hates U2?

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Candygramformrmongo t1_ix9svi0 wrote

Following on Guygan's comment, The practice area would be intellectual property, more specifically: copyright. You'd want to consider sampling and infringement (both avoiding and enforcing), and basic contracting issues: licensing, royalties, etc.

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Top-Molasses8678 t1_ixh53jx wrote

Not sure about lawyers specifically but I am a grant writer for a nonprofit, happy to help if it’s needed when you get to that stage!

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