Italian Copyright, IP and Entertainment Law: Our Areas of Practice
In short
- DANDI is a boutique law firm in Rome and Genova working exclusively in copyright, intellectual property and entertainment law.
- We advise on film and TV, music, publishing, the visual and performing arts, digital media and AI.
- Italy has no fair use: we clear clips, archive footage and images for documentaries and TV, with fixed-fee advice notes in English.
- We work with producers, distributors and creative companies outside Italy, and as Italian counsel for media law firms abroad.
- Consultations in person or remotely, in English, Italian or Spanish.
DANDI is a boutique law firm based in Rome and Genova, Italy, specialising exclusively in intellectual property, copyright and entertainment law. We advise artists, producers, musicians, authors, photographers and creative companies, both in Italy and internationally.
Our practice is built around the creative industries: we know how the sectors we work in function, we understand the commercial realities behind each project, and we structure our legal advice accordingly. Below is an overview of our main practice areas.
Our Practice Areas
Copyright Law
Copyright is the foundation of every creative project. We advise on the full spectrum of copyright issues under Italian and European law: ownership and authorship, licensing and assignment agreements, moral rights, infringement and online enforcement, collecting society relationships (SIAE, SCF, Nuovo IMAIE) and rights in the digital environment.
We work with authors, photographers, illustrators, filmmakers, musicians, software developers and content creators who need practical, commercially-minded copyright advice, not just legal theory.
Entertainment Law
The Italian film and television industry operates within a complex legal framework: co-production treaties, public funding requirements, PRCA registration, broadcaster agreements and distribution contracts all interact in ways that require specialist knowledge.
We advise independent producers, documentary makers and production companies on development and option agreements, Italian and international co-production frameworks, tax credit eligibility and the procedures of the Directorate-General for Cinema and Audiovisual of the Italian Ministry of Culture, distribution and sales contracts, and talent and crew agreements. We have particular experience in Italy-Balkans and Italy-Europe co-productions.
Read our guides: Italy-Serbia and Balkans Film Co-Productions · Italy-Canada Co-Production Treaty · Legal Services for Independent Producers
Clip, Archive and Content Clearance
Italy has no fair use. Producers, broadcasters and their lawyers who use clips from Italian films, archive footage, music or images in documentaries and TV programmes need to know how the Italian copyright exceptions apply, starting with quotation under Article 70 of the Italian Copyright Act.
We review material clip by clip and deliver short advice notes in English on fixed fees: quotation and its limits, rights in Italian films and archive footage, image rights and releases, and filming of Italian cultural heritage. Where a licence is needed, we identify the rights holders and negotiate it. We also act as Italian counsel for media law firms abroad.
Clip and Archive Clearance in Italy →
Music Law
Music is one of the most legally complex areas of copyright: rights are layered, contracts are heavily negotiated, and the digital environment has introduced new licensing models that require careful navigation.
We advise musicians, composers, producers, labels and publishers on recording and publishing contracts, synchronisation and master licensing, neighbouring rights, management and booking agreements, royalty audits and disputes. We also advise on the specific requirements of Italian collecting societies for domestic and international exploitation.
New Media, Digital Law and AI
From social media content agreements to AI-generated works, from platform terms of service to app development contracts, the digital environment creates legal questions that require both technical understanding and IP expertise.
We advise on software and app licensing, end-user licence agreements, privacy policies compliant with GDPR, influencer and brand collaboration contracts, content takedown and platform enforcement, and the legal questions around AI and intellectual property, including the human authorship rule and the AI clauses introduced in Italy by Law 132/2025.
Working with International Clients
A significant part of our practice involves advising clients based outside Italy (producers, distributors, rights holders and creative companies) who need to understand and navigate Italian law, or who are seeking Italian co-production partners, Italian distribution, or access to Italian public funding. We also work alongside media law firms in the UK, the US and Europe as their Italian counsel on clearance and rights questions.
We are fully operational in English and offer consultations remotely for clients across Europe and beyond. Our advice covers not only the legal framework but the practical realities of doing business in the Italian creative market.
From Our Blog
→ Italy-Serbia and Balkans Film Co-Productions: A Legal Guide for Producers and Documentary Filmmakers — practical legal guide for international co-productions involving Italy
→ OpenAI Sora Shut Down: Copyright Lessons from AI Video’s Biggest Flop — copyright and AI: what producers and creators need to know
→ Release of Right to Privacy of Photographs for Use in a Film — what a proper image rights release must contain under Italian law
FAQ
Do you work with clients outside Italy?
Yes. Many of our clients are producers, distributors, rights holders and law firms based outside Italy. We work in English, Italian and Spanish, and most consultations take place remotely.
Is there fair use in Italy?
No. Italy has no fair use or fair dealing doctrine. Unlicensed use of protected works is allowed only within the specific exceptions of the Italian Copyright Act, such as quotation for criticism or discussion, which courts interpret narrowly. See our page on clip and archive clearance in Italy.
Can a foreign producer access Italian public funding?
Often yes, depending on the structure. Co-productions with an Italian producer can qualify for Italian incentives through the Italian partner, and foreign productions shooting in Italy can work with an Italian executive producer under the tax credit rules for foreign works. Eligibility depends on the decrees in force and on the nationality requirements of each project.
Which Italian collecting societies are relevant for my project?
It depends on the rights involved: SIAE for authors and publishers, alongside the other collective management entities now active in Italy; SCF for record producers; Nuovo IMAIE and other organisations for performers. We advise on registrations, mandates and disputes.
How do I book a consultation?
You can book a call online with Claudia Roggero or Donato Di Pelino using the links below, or contact us on WhatsApp. We respond within 24 hours on business days.
| Topic | Link |
|---|---|
| Copyright law | Practice page |
| Film and television | Practice page |
| Clip and archive clearance | Practice page |
| Music law | Practice page |
| New media, digital law and AI | Practice page |
| Independent producers | Service page |
| Italian Copyright Act (Law 633/1941) | Normattiva |
| DG Cinema and Audiovisual, Ministry of Culture | cinema.cultura.gov.it |
Book a Consultation
If you would like to discuss your situation with one of our lawyers, you can book a call directly online. We respond within 24 hours on business days.
→ Claudia Roggero: claudiaroggero.youcanbook.me
→ Donato Di Pelino: donatodipelino.youcanbook.me
→ WhatsApp: +39 345.717.14.66
