Coe W. Ramsey

Coe Ramsey’s practice focuses on entertainment and communications law.

Coe’s music entertainment law practice includes representation of major recording artists and producers, development and A&R companies, bands, musicians, singers, songwriters, record companies, publishers, music producers, re-mixers, disc jockeys, and other artists.  He represents clients on various matters relating to the music entertainment business, including record contracts, publishing agreements, producer agreements, record profit share agreements, band agreements, development contracts, formation and financing of entertainment companies, agency agreements, music licensing, songwriter agreements, sponsorship agreements, and touring and live performance contracts.

Coe’s communications and media practice has a particular emphasis on FCC regulatory, transactional, corporate, and intellectual property (copyright and trademark) matters.  He has particular experience in advising radio and television station operators on issues relating to broadcast licensing, renewals, digital television, digital radio, FCC ownership rules and policies, station acquisitions, cable and satellite carriage, political advertising, FCC Equal Employment Opportunity rules, and Children’s Television Broadcasting. 

Coe’s passion for broadcasting and music stems from his previous years of experience in the industry.  Before becoming an attorney, Coe worked as a radio station mix show disc jockey, as a mobile and nightclub disc jockey, and as a re-mixer / music producer.  His re-mixes have been played on radio stations and in night clubs around the world.  As a hobby, Coe operates and programs an internet radio station featuring his mixes of current dance music.  

Coe is currently the Chair of the Sports and Entertainment Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association.  Coe was designated by North Carolina Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Communications Law in 2009 and a Rising Star in Entertainment Law in 2011.  In the February 2009 issue of North Carolina Super Lawyers, Coe was profiled in the article “From DJ to J.D.: Coe Ramsey masters the art of mixing.”

Coe is a frequent speaker before broadcasters association meetings and related seminars.  He regularly serves as guest lecturer for classes and student groups on music and entertainment law at law schools including Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wake Forest University, North Carolina Central University, Campbell University, and Elon University.  Additionally, he routinely speaks at continuing legal education events on music copyright law and writes legal articles for entertainment publications, including DJ Times.  Coe operates DJ Counsel.com, a blog dedicated to the discussion of legal issues relating to the music entertainment business, with a particular emphasis on music copyright law.

Articles, Publications, & Presentations

• Intellectual Property Law Panel, SPARKcon, Raleigh, NC, September 2011
• Legal FAQs for DJs, Seminar Presentation for 2011 International DJ Expo, Atlantic City, NJ, August 2011
• Music and the Internet, CLE Presentation for the North Carolina Bar Assocation Sports and Entertainment Law Section Annual Meeting, January 2011
• File-sharing: The Straight Dope, DJ Times, September 2010 
• Intellectual Property Law Panel, SPARKcon, Raleigh, NC, September 2010
• An Overview of the 2010 Triangle Game Conference, Sports & Entertainment Newsletter, North Carolina Bar Association, June 2010
• Legal Q&A for DJs, Mobile Beat, The Mobile Entertainer's Magazine, May 2010
• Keynote Speaker, 2010 Sports and Entertainment Law Symposium, UNC Sports and Entertainment Law Association, April 2010
• Sound Games: Music Licensing and Gaming, Presentation for the Triangle Game Conference, April 2010
• Digital Beats: Music Licensing and Copyright Enforcement on the Web, CLE presentation for the UNC School of Law Annual Festival of Legal Learning, February 2010
• Legal Beat Update, A DJ's Legal Guide to Using Music on the Web, DJ Times, September 2009
• Court Rules No Public Performance Fee for Ringtones, Sports & Entertainment Newsletter, North Carolina Bar Association, Novemeber 2009
• The Top 10 Things DJs Should Know About Music Copyright Law, Seminar Presentation for 2009 International DJ Expo, Atlantic City, NY, August 2009
• Keeping the Digital Beat Legal, A Guide to Using Music on the Internet, Sports & Entertainment Newsletter, North Carolina Bar Association, June 2009
• License It and Collect!, Panelist for Winter Music Conference, March 2009
• Music and Your Business: The Top 10 Things Business Owners (and their Attorneys) Should Know About Music Copyright Law, CLE presentation for UNC School of Law Annual Festival of Legal Learning, February 2009
• Legal Beat, Copyright Law and You, DJ Times, December 2008
• The Fundamentals of Music Copyright Law, CLE presentation for the UNC School of Law Annual Festival of Legal Learning, February 2008
• Sound Recordings and Musical Compositions: Music Copyright Law Basics, CLE presentation for the North Carolina Bar Association Sports and Entertainment Law Section Annual Meeting, September 2007
• A Guide to the FCC's Equal Employment Opportunity Rules, presented at the NAB Show, Las Vegas, April 2007
• A Guide to the FCC's New Children's Television Rules, presented at the NAB Show, Las Vegas, April 2007
• Burning the Global Village to Roast a Pig: The Communications Decency Act of 1996 is not "Narrowly Tailored" in ACLU v. Reno, 32 Wake Forest L. Rev. 1283 (1997), James H. Hoge Award, Second Place
• Co-Author, Access to the Judicial Process and Records, NC Media Law Handbook (Cathy Packer and Hugh Stevens eds., 2001)

Honors & Awards

• Rising Star in Entertainment & Sports Law, North Carolina Super Lawyers, 2011-12
• Rising Star in Communications Law, North Carolina Super Lawyers, 2009
• Recipient, Irving E. Carlyle Distinguished Law Scholarship

Professional & Community Activities

• Board of Advisors Member, Journal of Business & Intellectual Property Law, Wake Forest University School of Law
• Chair, Sports and Entertainment Law Section, North Carolina Bar Association, 2010-2011
• Council Member, Sports and Entertainment Law Section, North Carolina Bar Association, 2008-2011
• Contributing Writer, DJ Times Magazine
• Music and Film Co-Chair, Sports and Entertainment Law Section, North Carolina Bar Association, 2007
• Technology Chair, Sports and Entertainment Law Section, North Carolina Bar Assocation, 2007
• Member, Federal Communications Bar Association
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, North Carolina Bar Association
• Member, Wake County Bar Association
• Cooperating Attorney, American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina Legal Foundation, Inc.

News

• Ramsey to Present at DJ Times Expo
• Brooks Pierce Attorneys Chair Sections of NC Bar Association
• Coe Ramsey Presents at Sports & Entertainment Law CLE
• Ramsey Profiled in North Carolina Super Lawyers

Seminars & Speaking Engagements

• Coe Ramsey to Present at ABA Forum on Communications Law Program
• Sports and Entertainment Law Symposium
• Ramsey Presents at Triangle Game Conference
• Copyleft vs. Copyright: Artist and Author Rights in Tomorrow’s Digital Age
• Ramsey and Spainhour Present "Legal Beat: Using Music in Business and Publishing on the Internet"
• Ramsey Speaks to Artists and Label Owners at Winter Music Conference
• Brooks Pierce Attorneys Participate in 18th Annual Festival of Legal Learning

Publications

• An Overview of the 2010 Triangle Game Conference, North Carolina Bar Association
• Legal Q&A for DJs, The Mobile Entertainer's Magazine
• Use of Music in Broadcast Commercials and Promotions, Intellectual Property Adviser

Stories

• DJ Turned JD