Kurt Mantheiy, PLLC

03/27/2021

More and more of my clients are dealing with a problem that goes back hundreds of years. BOOTLEGGING. And I'm not talking about making h***h in the woods, this is about unauthorized merchandise.

As more and more "do it yourself" selling and printing platforms have jumped onto the scene (red bubble, cafe press, zazzle, teepublic, etc.) bootleg merchandise has exploded. This hurts the artist who will never see a penny from that merchandise, and also hurts the fans who will receive an inferior shirt.

So you may be thinking, "Why not just sue the crap out of these sellers?" but the answer is more complicated than you may imagine. The vast majority of these sellers are from overseas and largely from countries that do not respect copyright law and lack treaties with the United States as such. Now you could sue the platform itself, but that is a big uphill battle that you are not guaranteed to win anyways.

The solution? DMCA takedowns. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act became law in 1998 and is still one of the best weapons against bootleg merch. The way that online service providers protect themselves from liability is by having a "notice and takedown" procedure in place. Sending these takedown notices is a powerful tool that you can use yourself to remove bootleg merchandise from sites and search results.

I teach all my clients the correct way to do these, and for bigger clients I get involved personally. For the largest of the acts I work with I've even been able to set them up with third-parties who do all the work themselves.

You owe it to yourself and to your fans to ensure that all merchandise available for sell is official and authorized. If you have any further questions please reach out to me ([email protected])

Welcome to Mantheiy Law Kurt Mantheiy (pronounced Man-Tie) is an entertainment, wills and business lawyer located in beautiful downtown Dallas, Texas. Offering a full range of legal services and payment options that are flexible for any budget. Kurt has over a decade of experience as a recording and...

02/27/2021

The newest song from my own band Ocean's Envy just came out through Electric Station Label. This is what gives me an edge over other entertainment lawyers, I don't only talk the talk, I walk the walk. Check the song out here: https://open.spotify.com/track/14sUwDmfqgvRen3mLJGpk8?si=ZvLj60rfTtCW0rcNzZ71Xw

Welcome to Mantheiy Law Kurt Mantheiy (pronounced Man-Tie) is an entertainment, wills and business lawyer located in beautiful downtown Dallas, Texas. Offering a full range of legal services and payment options that are flexible for any budget. Kurt has over a decade of experience as a recording and...

02/13/2021

Do you feel stuck because you can't tour? The entertainment industry is more alive than ever right now. Bands and artist's are finding innovative solutions to keep their creative juices (and their cash flow) moving. Take advantage of this time to explore new media options, start new collaborations, write new material, and prepare for your future. Live streams are great, but don't feel like you have to jump on that bandwagon. No one knows your brand better than you, so do what makes sense for your fanbase. A great alternative to a live stream is to record acoustic versions of old songs, or commission remixes from other artists. This is also the perfect time to add a lawyer to your team. I have taken on several new artists during the pandemic and I couldn't be happier with the work we've managed to get done. The important thing is that you don't stagnate, the world moves very quickly and you can't afford to sit around doing nothing.

08/18/2020

I practice entertainment law, but sometimes do my own entertaining. Check out the latest one from me and Jonathan Paulsen

Written & Produced by Kurt Mantheiy & Jonathan Paulsen Mixed by Jonathan Paulsen ©2020 Oh What A Day Music

04/16/2020

Although nothing replaces the in person connection, I've been drafting a lot of wills & trusts completely remotely through email and telephone for my clients who wish to comply with stay-home orders and social distancing. The biggest challenge is that you are still required to have two disinterested witnesses to execute your will, but I have found some creative solutions to this.

If you've never had a will before, ask yourself if now is the right time. If the answer is yes and you're located in Texas please give me a call or text at 469-562-2733

03/17/2020

Instead of worrying, be proactive and get a will. You probably won't need it now but unless you plan on living forever you're making a smart investment. Call or text me (469-562-2733)

03/09/2020

When something goes wrong as an artist, there is a terrible feeling in the pit of your stomach. You know that you're about to get hit with a lawsuit and owe a lot of money. I've seen it before and I will see it again. The best way to avoid this is is with proper planning and running a legit business entity. Setting up an LLC for your band or act is NOT cheap. You're looking at $300 in fees, plus anywhere from $400-$1000 for the legal work in setting it up the right way. But cheap is also a relative term, because that investment can be the difference between financial ruin and walking away relatively unscathed. When $1000 keeps you from losing $100,000 then it's a bargain. Some artists will read this and say, "eh, it won't happen to me", and will end up with that terrible feeling when it does happen to them. Other artists will make the investment in themselves and protect their livelihood and careers. If you're interest in an LLC, call me or a lawyer of your choice today.

03/05/2020

Musicians: if a lawyer gives you a “per page” price on contract review/drafting you either about to get ripped off or receive some shoddy work. You should pay hourly or ask for a flat fee after the lawyer has time to evaluate the situation.

01/21/2020

The first single by own band Ocean's Envy is out now on Spotify. Save it to a playlist and then come catch us live at the Not So Fun Wknd festival on March 22nd.

Ocean's Envy · Save a Seat · Song · 2020

11/04/2019

Texas handgun owners, let an attorney tell you how to take the gun show on the road.

There's a longer version of this video as well if you want more information (just click in the description of the video for the link to it).

Click here to watch the full length version with more information: https://youtu.be/E9tp9Jl5Ghs Get at me: 469-562-2733 Today we're discussing handguns in ca...

10/19/2019

My band needs musicians for some upcoming shows and future tours. We have an unreleased full length record and a great booking agency behind us.

If you're in the DFW area and enjoy modern pop/rock/electro music then please get in contact for more details.