Rights Clearances for Film and Television Productions

Tracking rights and clearances for film and television productions is an important step in the filmmaking process. It must take place in order for footage to be released for distribution. Before you can legally use any intellectual property in your film and television productions, you’re going to have to seek rights clearance from the documented copyright owners. And those who otherwise own the intellectual property. But what’s the process like?

As a newly aspiring filmmaker, you might find the entire process of documenting your rights clearances for film and television productions to be confusing and difficult to navigate.

This is primarily because there are so many different rights clearances that are required for a production. Including those from people, property, and locations that are involved.

At Beverly Boy Productions, we realize the challenges faced by filmmakers in obtaining proper rights clearances for their productions.

If you’re struggling with the process, we recommend you work with an attorney as a starting point to ensure you get the appropriate clearance for your production.

What Clearances Do I Need?

Before you begin a film project, at the very start of the ideation, you need to be thinking about clearance. If you’re wondering what clearances you’ll need, prepare for a lengthy list! Clearances fall into three categories as follows:

Locations

To include film permits from cities, states, and individual properties. This also includes rental agreements, leases, and location release forms allowing a location to be filmed and allowing the footage to be used in a film project.

Property

To include intellectual property rights such as copyright clearance, licenses to use music or footage, and permissions from those who own intellectual property such as photos, film footage, audio files, etc.

People

To include performance releases from anyone that appears in your film as well as rights to publicity and individual crew releases for any footage that inadvertently captures cast or crew.

When Should I Get Clearance?

Rights clearances for film and television productions should be obtained at the very start of any film project. Beginning with the earliest conception of the film. You do not want to go back after the fact and attempt to obtain clearance.

It’s best to start tracking rights clearances with the first steps you take to produce a film or television media production.

For example

If you’re producing a film and you intend to use a script, you’ll start with obtaining the copyright license to use the script. Additional rights clearances will follow from this point on, as you advance through the stages of production.

How are Rights Clearances Obtained?

Obtaining clearances and keeping track of the rights that you have to the film that you’re producing is a lengthy process. It’s best that you work with an attorney if you’re new to the process.

As there are likely clearances that you’ll be required to have. Which you might not be prepared for such as those relative to trademarks, logos, and other details.

Obtaining rights clearance is sometimes as simple as getting a form signed such as a release. But it can also be complicated and may require researching.

All in order to figure out who holds a copyright, how to find the copyright owner, and then negotiating appropriate rights to use the copyrighted material in your film or television production. 

Consider This

For music rights clearances, you can go to the Clearance website and pay a nominal fee to do it yourself.

Seeking clearance for books or for other intellectual property? You can visit the United States Copyright Clearance Center to obtain the copyright that you require.

Obtaining and properly tracking rights and clearances for film and television productions are an important part of the filmmaking process.