Copyright is one of the underpinning legal principles in the film and TV industries as copyright helps to define the chain of tile in ownership of not just finished film and TV productions, but also the underlying source material that such productions are based on and any number of other musical or visual elements that comprise a production.  Moral rights also play an important role in the film and TV industries due to the specific rights they provide to both directors and creators of certain kinds of works.  To help explain how copyright and moral rights work in the film and TV industries the specific questions we address in this Fact Sheet are:

•    What is copyright?
•    How does copyright apply to the film and television industries?
•    What else does copyright apply to?
•    What are the individual rights that are included in copyright?
•    Who owns the copyright in a film or television programme?
•    Can more than one person own the copyright in something?
•    Do I have to register my copyright?
•    Are there any other requirements before copyright will apply?
•    How long does copyright last for?
•    How do people know that I am the owner of my copyright?
•    Are there any situations where copyright does not apply?
•    Are my copyright rights enforceable throughout the world?
•    What is copyright Infringement and how does it occur?
•    What can I do if someone is infringing my copyright?
•    How do I transfer my copyright to someone else?
•    Do I have to assign my copyright to enable someone else to use it?
•    What is the real difference between assigning and licensing copyright?
•    What are moral rights?
•    How do moral rights apply in the film and television industries?
•    What rights do moral rights actually provide for?
•    What does the ‘right of attribution’ mean in practice?
•    What does the right against ‘false attribution’ mean in practice?
•    What does the ‘right of integrity’ mean in practice?
•    What can I do if someone is infringing my moral rights?
•    Can I transfer my moral rights to someone else?
•    How long do moral rights last?
•    Do moral rights need to be registered?
•    Are there any situations where moral rights do not apply?

In the film and TV industries producers play a critical role balancing the creative and practical business requirements of a production.  Because of this there are many different aspects to a producer’s role that need to be appropriately clarified and defined in any agreement with a producer.  To help shed some light on some of the issues that need to be addressed in producer agreements the specific questions we address in this Fact Sheet are:

•    What does a Producer do?
•    What is the difference between an “Executive Producer” and a “Line Producer”?
•    Is the Producer responsible for signing all the legal documents?
•    Does the Producer contract as an individual?
•    How long does a Producer Agreement last for?
•    Can the Producer work on other projects as well?
•    Does the Producer own the copyright in the film?
•    Does the Producer have the final say in hiring the cast?
•    How does the Producer get paid?
•    Does the Producer receive a credit in the film?
•    Is the Producer in charge of publicity for the film?
•    What other things is the Producer expected to agree to?

The specific questions we address are:

• What does a Director do?
• What is a “Director’s Cut”?
• Who is the “Completion Guarantor?
• Is it necessary to have a completion guarantee?
• Does the Director contract as an individual?
• How long does a Director Agreement last for?
• Can the Director work on other projects as well?
• Does the Director own the copyright in the film?
• Does the Director have the final say in hiring production personnel?
• How does the Director get paid?
• Does the Director receive a credit in the film?
• What other things is the Director expected to agree to?

Click here to download Director Agreements (171)