Music Law: Contract Negotiation and AI
- Semester: Spring 2026
- Course ID: 296W
- Credit Hours: 2
-
Unique: 29899
Course Information
- Grading Method: Pass/Fail Allowed (JD only)
- Experiential Credit: 2 credit hours
- Will use floating mean GPA if applicable
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Meeting Times
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| MON | 3:55 - 5:45 pm |
Evaluation Method
| Type | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper | |||
| Other |
Description
Taught by Chris Castle.
Music Law: Contract Negotiations and AI is a practice-based course designed for law students interested in music law, tech policy, and entertainment business affairs. Students explore the legal, economic, and policy dimensions of key music industry agreements—recording artist, producer, publishing, and digital platform deals—while developing hands-on skills in drafting and negotiation. Students will also gain a working knowledge of the key regulations governing the functioning of the music industry, particularly for mechanical royalties and the role of the Copyright Office and the Copyright Royalty Board. The course features team-based simulation exercises, in-class deal memo drafting, and a final paper focused either on the Copyright Royalty Board’s 2026 Phonorecords V proceeding or emerging AI licensing frameworks. Topics include mechanical royalty rate-setting, collective rights management, metadata, and the impact of AI on copyright and NIL rights. Students will also examine real-world copyright litigation against AI platforms and leading legislation to regulate AI. Guest speakers provide practical context. No prior music law experience is required. This course is ideal for future music attorneys, policy advocates, or startup counsel in the music-tech ecosystem.
Important Class Changes
| Date | Updated |
|---|---|
| 10/17/2025 | Experiential credit changed |