Bernard Nyman
Overview and professional background
Bernard Nyman is a solicitor specialising in intellectual property, with a particular emphasis on the publishing industry. He has 32 years' experience of advising publishers, writers, literary agents and others involved in the publishing industry.
Bernard has acted for some of the largest UK publishers (for example, Random House), in addition to some very small independent publishers. Similarly, he has acted for both very well-known authors (such as Wilbur Smith, Anthony Burgess and Doris Lessing) and first-time authors.
For a number of years, Bernard advised the Royal Opera House on contracts with broadcasters, with artists and on touring arrangements.
Professional expertise
Bernard's practice concentrates on:
- drafting, negotiating and advising on publishing contracts of all descriptions (both for publishers and for authors);
- pre-publication advice on defamation (he advised 'Which?' magazine for 25 years);
- advising on copyright;
- trade mark registration and advice;
- trade mark and copyright licences;
- software development and licensing contracts;
- web hosting contracts;
- web design contracts;
- terms and conditions and privacy policies for online businesses;
- agency and distribution agreements;
- consultancy agreements;
- agreements for the supply of goods and/or services;
- contracts for the sale of business assets;
- shareholder agreements; and
- manufacturing agreements.
Publications
Bernard is the sole contributor to volume 21(2) Intellectual Property of the Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents. He is also the author of a specialist section on the publishing industry in 'Copinger and Skone James on Copyright' (the leading practitioners' work on UK copyright).