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Writer's pictureElena Saubanova

Roadmap Part 4: Navigating Film Rights Deals - A Beginner's Guide for Filmmakers



Managing film rights is one of the key components of success in the film industry. Whether you're an independent director, producer, or the owner of a small studio, understanding how to handle the rights to your film will help you maximize its monetization potential. In this guide, we'll cover the essential aspects of navigating rights deals, which are crucial for both novice and experienced filmmakers.
Types of Rights: What Are You Selling?
Before entering negotiations, it is vital to clearly understand which rights you hold and which ones you are willing to transfer. The film industry identifies several key types of rights:
  • Theatrical Rights: These pertain to the exhibition of the film in cinemas and can be a significant revenue source, particularly for major releases.
  • Digital Rights: These cover distribution via streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, or YouTube.
  • Television Rights: This includes cable, satellite, and broadcast TV. Deals can be either exclusive or non-exclusive.
  • DVD and Blu-ray Rights: While physical formats are losing popularity, they remain relevant in certain regions and for collectible editions.
  • Merchandising and Ancillary Rights: These involve creating and selling merchandise associated with the film, such as toys, clothing, or books.
By segmenting these rights, you can approach film monetization more flexibly. For instance, you might sell digital rights in one country while retaining television rights for another, enabling you to strike separate deals with regional distributors.
Retaining Rights: Creating Multiple Revenue Streams
Retaining certain rights can be a strategic decision to secure additional income in the future. Here's how this approach works:
  1. Regional Retention: Selling rights in one country doesn’t obligate you to relinquish them worldwide. For example, you could transfer theatrical rights for the U.S. market but retain them for Europe and Asia, allowing you to negotiate separate deals with regional distributors.
  2. Format Retention: There’s no need to sell all rights at once. You might transfer theatrical rights but keep digital rights. This is particularly advantageous if your film has strong potential for streaming audiences.
  3. Long-Term Opportunities: Some rights, such as international or ancillary rights, may generate revenue years after the film's release. For instance, a film could later be licensed for broadcast on niche TV channels or included in a classic film collection.
Retaining rights requires a thorough understanding of the market and careful analysis of potential revenues. If you’re confident in your film’s value, holding on to rights can allow you to capitalize on future opportunities.
Legal Contracts: Protecting Your Interests
Solid legal agreements are the foundation of successful rights deals. Here’s what to consider:
  • Expert Legal Support: Hire a lawyer specializing in the film industry. They’ll help you draft agreements that protect your interests and avoid pitfalls.
  • Clear Terms: Contracts should specify:
    • The rights being transferred.
    • The contract’s duration.
    • The geographic regions covered.
    • The distribution formats included.
  • Creative Rights Protection: If you wish to retain control over the creative content (e.g., avoiding edits or changes to the ending), this should be explicitly stated in the agreement.
  • Revenue Provisions: Clearly outline how revenues will be divided, including advance payments and royalties. Ensure the contract includes transparency in sales and viewership reporting.
  • Termination Clauses: Include provisions for terminating the contract if obligations are not met.
A well-drafted legal document not only safeguards your interests but also demonstrates your professionalism to distributors.
Collaboration with Legal Professionals
Working with legal firms specializing in the film industry is crucial for protecting your rights and interests. These professionals assist not only with contract drafting and review but also in resolving disputes that may arise at any stage of distribution.

NB: A Document you can upload immediately: Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA):


Advantages of Legal Support
  1. Expert Contract Drafting: Industry-specialized lawyers understand market specifics and can anticipate clauses that protect you from unfavorable terms or hidden risks.
  2. Dispute Resolution: If your rights are violated, legal experts can help recover them through negotiations, arbitration, or court action.
  3. International Assistance: When working with foreign distributors, it’s essential to adapt contracts to local laws. Experienced lawyers can help tailor agreements to meet the legal standards of other countries.
Examples of Rights Restoration
Specialized legal firms have helped filmmakers restore lost rights or prevent their loss in many instances:
  1. Script Rights Restoration: A European independent director faced a situation where a production company registered the script as its own. Legal intervention proved the director’s authorship, allowing them to regain control.
  2. Challenging Invalid Contracts: In an Asian country, a filmmaker signed a contract with a distributor that secretly required transferring all rights, including for remakes. A legal team annulled the deal as its terms violated local laws.
  3. Reclaiming International Distribution Rights: A small studio sold international rights to a partner who failed to promote the film. Legal action allowed the studio to reclaim the rights and transfer them to another distributor.
Can Major Companies Exploit Beginners?
Unfortunately, large companies sometimes exploit the inexperience of novice filmmakers. This can occur in several ways:
  • Unfavorable Terms: Contracts may include clauses that automatically transfer all rights, including those for adaptations, remakes, and sequels.
  • Using Unregistered Ideas: If scripts or film concepts are not officially registered, companies may claim these ideas without crediting the creators.
  • Evading Financial Obligations: Distributors may avoid paying royalties or providing transparent sales reports, using complex schemes to obscure actual revenues.
How to Avoid Losses
To protect yourself, follow these recommendations:
  1. Copyright Registration: Always register your script, film, and other materials with copyright organizations or specialized platforms.
  2. Thorough Contract Review: Never sign agreements without consulting an experienced lawyer. Even seemingly clear terms may hide risks.
  3. Choose Reliable Partners: Work only with reputable distributors and producers who have a positive track record.
  4. Legal Support at Every Stage: From drafting contracts to resolving disputes, professional legal assistance can help you avoid numerous problems.
Conclusion
The film industry is a complex environment where rights play a crucial role in a project’s success. Collaborating with legal experts helps emerging filmmakers protect their interests, avoid fraud, and manage distribution effectively.
If major companies attempt to exploit your inexperience, having professional legal support can prevent violations from escalating. Remember, your rights are not merely legal formalities—they are critical assets that ensure your creative freedom and financial independence.

For 10€ only !This Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) protects confidential information related to a film script, shared by the Disclosing Party with the Receiving Party. It outlines obligations to keep the information confidential and not to use it for any purposes other than evaluating potential collaboration. The agreement also specifies exceptions, conditions for returning materials, and remedies for protecting the author’s rights. The NDA is valid for a specified period and is governed by the laws of the designated jurisdiction.

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