Free intellectual property guidance for musicians, producers and music-tech innovators in the Liverpool City Region.
The MusicFutures IP Clinic and Lab supports artists, creators and music businesses by providing accessible, expert guidance on intellectual property while raising awareness of key issues in employment and anti-discrimination law.
By lowering barriers to legal and strategic IP advice, the clinic supports more equitable participation in music innovation and creativity, particularly for independent artists and small enterprises.
It helps creators understand and protect their rights, enabling them to commercialise their work confidently while reducing the risk of infringement or loss of ownership.
Rooted in the Liverpool City Region’s strong cultural identity and music economy, the clinic strengthens connections between academia, industry and local talent, improving IP literacy and helping drive inclusive economic growth.
The clinic operates on a non-contentious basis, focusing on education, early-stage support and preventative guidance, rather than legal dispute resolution.
This means the clinic does not compete with legal services offered by law firms.
A core feature of the programme is the delivery of tailored IP briefings that help artists, rights-holders and creative entrepreneurs understand key intellectual property concepts relevant to their work, including:
- Copyright
- Licensing
- Trademarks
- Patents
- Trade secrets
These briefings equip participants with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions, avoid common pitfalls and protect creative work from the outset.
Who It’s For
Do you:
- Write music or lyrics?
- Perform, record or distribute music?
- Run a music-related business?
- Have a music or music-tech idea you’re ready to launch?
- Want to strengthen your branding or protect your identity?
- Need guidance on challenging a platform decision affecting your account?
The MusicFutures IP Clinic can help.
Our free guidance helps you understand:
- Copyright and related rights
- Designs
- Trademarks
- Patents
You’ll learn what they are, how they differ, and how to use them effectively to protect your creative work and innovations.
Whether your idea is big, small or still taking shape, our clinic is here to help.
The clinic is supported by McLegal, Kanaval and Hindles.
A simple step-by-step process to help you understand and protect your intellectual property.
