Do I Need Life Rights to Produce a Film About a Biography?

Anytime a film is produced that reflects someone’s life story or any private details of someone’s life questions arise. As to what a filmmaker’s responsibility is in regards to obtaining permission. Say you’re thinking about producing a film about a biography. But you’re not sure whether life rights are necessary. Don’t worry, you’re not alone!

Producers and independent filmmakers frequently have questions regarding what kind of rights are required in order to produce a film about a biography. Especially with regards to making sure they do not later face a lawsuit for privacy infringement.

What are Life Rights?

A person’s life rights represent the legal permission that is provided by an individual. Allowing a filmmaker, screenwriter, story maker or some other individual to create a motion picture film, television network show, reality series, screenplay.

Or some other form of content based on the individual’s unique thoughts, experiences, observations, and other recollections from their life. 

Whenever the details of an individual’s life do not take place in public then in order to use those details in a film or any other content the filmmaker must request permission.

This permission is called life rights, and depending on the information you intend to include in a film about a biography of someone’s life you may well need to get those life rights!

When are Life Rights Required in a Film About a Biography?

Producers should consider obtaining life rights when creating a film about a biography. In any case in which they intend to include intimate details about an individual’s life. Which were not public or part of public record.

However, since there are many different instances in which life rights are necessary for the production of a biography. It’s probably easier to review the reasons when a producer would NOT need life rights in order to produce a film about a biography. 

Life rights are NOT required for the following:

• If the biography is based on facts that the producer researches and finds through various public materials. Then life rights will generally not be required. 
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• If the producer is creating a biography based on non-fiction details that are published in another source. Then life rights may not be required. But the producer will most certainly need permission from the original copyright owner.

In Summation

When in doubt, if you’re producing a film about a biography and you’re not sure whether life rights need to be acquired it’s best to err on the side of caution. And to do your best to obtain the life rights before.

Including any personal details about an individual’s life in your story. In fact, going above and beyond, and getting life rights even if these rights are not required will not get you into any trouble.

But if you’re supposed to have life rights and you don’t get the permission required, you could get sued. And it’s possible that you could face civil fines or other penalties.