Writings by Ronald S. Bienstock

Music Industry Investors – Making Sense of Your Options For new record labels, distributors, promotion companies, and other businesses looking to raise capital, the music industry has unique benefits and challenges. Traditional options, such as angel investors and venture capitalists, are available, but businesses will likely have to concede some creative control of their company. […]

The Legality Behind Claiming “Made in USA” During his 2016 Presidential campaign, Donald Trump has reignited the debate about whether U.S. businesses should manufacture more products in the United States. Of course, while criticizing companies like Apple and Ford Motor Co. for making products overseas, Trump critics have also raised questions about whether his campaign […]

Pulling off a pyrotechnic guitar performance is not as easy as you thought One of the lasting images from the 2015 film “Mad Max: Fury Road” was the character Coma-Doof Warrior playing a flame-throwing guitar. The scene actually generated increased interest in pyrotechnic guitar performance. However, musicians should remember that these instruments and other equipment that produce […]

Will the Trans-Pacific Partnership benefit guitar manufacturers? The guitar manufacturing industry is already heavily dependent on foreign production and as a result, could benefit from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). However, given the attitude toward the trade deal on the presidential campaign trail, its future is on ground as steady as a detuned E-string.Support for the TPP is not […]

In the wake of the diminution of value of various income streams, including mechanical royalties from publishing, musicians are looking for new ways to make money. Last year, Taylor Swift made headlines when she filed trademark registration applications for several of her song lyrics and titles. The reigning pop queen is seeking to obtain marks […]

Which Countries Earned Failing Grades in IP Protection? When it comes to safeguarding intellectual property, some countries do it better than others. In its annual report, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) recently flagged several U.S. trading partners that are failing to adequately protect or even acknowledge IP rights of owners. According to the report, intellectual […]