Digital Music & The Law: West Legaledcenter And The Grammy Foundation Deliver New Online Cle Programming About Digital Music Distribution

EAGAN, Minn., In the wake of a $1.92 million fine in the nation’s only federal file-sharing case to go to trial, the distribution of digital music is under legal scrutiny. West LegalEdcenter and The GRAMMY Foundation have developed Digital Music Distribution – The New Paradigm, as the first of several exclusive online continuing legal education (CLE) programs focused on entertainment law.

The digital music program is now available as an on-demand webcast through West LegalEdcenter. Recorded live at the Santa Monica offices of The Recording Academy, this legal seminar highlights the transformation of the traditional music industry’s distribution of records through “brick and mortar” stores to online digital music distribution with such technology pioneers as eMusic, Napster, Apple’s iTunes, the Independent Online Distribution Alliance (IODA) and more.

The seminar also explores the legal implications of independent artists and labels that are unable to secure major recording contracts and are using social networks such as MySpace and Facebook to sell their own music and control their artistic content, development and success in ways never before contemplated by major record companies.

“Practicing attorneys today need to know and understand the new business models in order to negotiate critical deal points such as rights acquisitions, payment of royalties, exclusivity, ad-sharing revenues, global considerations and merchandising,” said Lee Ann Enquist, vice president, West Professional Development. “This on-demand seminar will educate attendees about legal trends emerging from the music industry’s changing face.”

The legal panel presenting in Digital Music Distribution – The New Paradigm consists of architects of the new business models – Tony Berman, Esq., founder, Berman Entertainment and Technology Law; Jonathan Earp, Esq., vice president, Legal & Business Affairs, IODA; David Hirshland, Esq., president of Bug Music, Hollywood; Sean Leonard, digital music strategist. Gary Culpepper, Esq., eMusic co-founder and former executive vice president of business and legal affairs, moderates the session.

Registration information: To register for Digital Music Distribution – The New Paradigm, go to West LegalEdcenter at http://bit.ly/DigitalMusic.

About West LegalEdcenter
The cost-effective source for online and in-person legal training and CLE, West LegalEdcenter keeps attorneys up-to-date on the law and compliant with state requirements. Find everything you need to manage continuing education and professional development in law firms and legal departments – live conferences and seminars around the nation, more than 7,000 online courses, compliance tracking, learning management, and full integration with in-house training. Taught by the most prestigious names in the legal field, West LegalEdcenter covers both the core substance of law as well as hot topics in every practice area. For more information, visit www.westlegaledcenter.com.

About West
Headquartered in Eagan, Minn., West is the foremost provider of integrated information solutions, software and services to the U.S. legal market. West is a business within Thomson Reuters. For more information, please visit the West Web site at www.west.thomson.com.

About Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters is the world’s leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. We combine industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, scientific, healthcare and media markets, powered by the world’s most trusted news organization. With headquarters in New York and major operations in London and Eagan, Minn., Thomson Reuters employs more than 50,000 people in 93 countries. Thomson Reuters shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Toronto Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. For more information, go to www.thomsonreuters.com.