Entertainment law—sometimes known as media law—is a broad topic that includes traditional areas of law when applied to the entertainment industry. As with most industries, these traditional areas of law have unique applications in the entertainment industry.

Some of the areas of law that are often relevant to the entertainment industry and form a part of what is loosely known as entertainment law include contract law; intellectual property law (copyright law, trademark law, trade secret law, right of publicity, licensing law); First Amendment law (content regulation, obscenity, and censorship); privacy law; employment law; labor law; agency law; defamation law; tax law; immigration law; securities law; and civil litigation.

And when people in the entertainment industry have personal legal issues related to criminal law, family law (prenuptial agreements, divorce, child custody, child support), and personal injury law, for example, the related publicity may present additional challenges.

In Ohio, entertainment law encompasses various legal disciplines as they apply to the entertainment industry. Contract law is central, governing agreements between artists, producers, and distributors. Intellectual property law is crucial for protecting creative works, including copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets, while the right of publicity protects individuals' names and likenesses from unauthorized commercial use. First Amendment rights are balanced against regulations on content, obscenity, and censorship. Privacy laws in Ohio protect against the unwarranted public disclosure of private facts. Employment and labor laws regulate industry relationships, ensuring fair treatment and compensation for workers. Agency law covers the relationship between artists and their representatives. Defamation law addresses harm to reputations through false statements. Tax and immigration laws affect how entertainers and industry professionals conduct business and work within the state. Securities law may come into play with financing entertainment projects. Civil litigation can arise from disputes in any of these areas. Additionally, personal legal issues such as criminal charges, family law matters, and personal injury can have heightened implications due to the public profiles of entertainment industry professionals.