Quitclaim Release of Interest in Literary Property

You've commissioned an original screenplay from a writer. Now get the writer to sign this Certificate of Authorship. The screenwriter certifies that:

• The screenplay was written as a work made for hire commissioned by the producer, and that the producer is deemed to be the author of the work.
• The work is original and not in the public domain, has not been adapted and does not violate or infringe upon any other person's statutory or common law rights.
• The producer owns all right and title to the screenplay, and has the right to make any changes to the material, and the writer waives all moral rights.
• The writer will not make any claims or demands against any assignee or successor in interest of the producer.
• The writer will have no right to enjoin or restrain the distribution or exploitation of any motion picture or other material based on the screenplay.
• The Certificate of Authorship of Screenplay form is an important part of the documentation you need to establish your rights to the material. Download it for your production forms library.

License the film merchandising rights to a distributor with this Motion Picture Merchandising Agreement template.

• The distributor gets an exclusive license within the defined territory to manufacture, advertise, distribute and sell merchandise that incorporates names, characters, and events from the film
• In return, the distributor will pay the film producer a guaranteed minimum compensation amount (a fixed amount paid as an advance against the percentage royalty), and a percentage royalty based on the current wholesale price of the licensed products.
• The producer must approve all products, packaging, labels, advertising, display materials and copyright notices to be used in connection with the licensed products.
• The distributor agrees to protect the producer's property rights and goodwill, and acknowledges that all goodwill and all rights to the materials created by the distributor are the exclusive property of the producer.
• All licensed products must carry the producer's copyright and/or trademark notices (as applicable).
• The distributor must carry standard product liability insurance and advertiser's liability insurance during the term of the Agreement.
• Upon termination of the Agreement, the distributor will have a 90-day period to dispose of all products already manufactured, so long as the Agreement was not terminated for cause.

This Motion Picture Merchandising Agreement template is available as a MS Word download, which is fully editable and customizable to fit your needs.

Make sure your film distributors sign this Distributor Assumption Agreement to comply with SAG requirements for payment of residuals.

• In order to ensure that SAG members are paid the residuals that they are owed, Screen Actor's Guild requires all movie producers to have their distributors sign an assumption agreement under which they agree to pay residual payments directly to SAG instead of to the producer.
• This legal form template sets out how and when the residuals will be paid to SAG, as well as the form of reporting that the distributor is required to submit.
• SAG has the right to inspect the distributor's accounting and records with respect to revenues earned by the film.

Whether you're a union or non-union filmmaker, you still have to comply with SAG's requirements. Download your copy of the Distributor Assumption Agreement for Residuals.

Prepare a Theatrical Distribution Agreement for a single motion picture with this standard form template.

• The distributor gets exclusive and unrestricted rights to the theatrical, television and home video exhibition, distribution and exploitation of the picture, in all languages and versions, including music rights, dubbed or titled versions, and the right to edit the picture as the distributor deems necessary.
• The distributor also gets ancillary rights, including literary and music publishing rights, merchandising, soundtrack recording rights, and the right to produce additional pictures, sequels or remakes of or based on the picture.
• The producer reserves non-theatrical distribution of the picture for its own use.
• The producer has paid or will pay and discharge all copyright claims and all other claims and rights with respect to the picture and all elements, including music, contained in the picture.
• The distributor will have no contractual obligation under any contract or license made by the producer in connection with the picture.
• The distributor will not be responsible for any payments to performing rights societies, unions and organizations, or for payment of any taxes or other amounts owing in connection with the distribution or exhibition of the picture.
• The distributor will have complete, exclusive and unrestricted control over the distribution and exploitation of the picture (directly or through any sub-distributor or licensee).
• The producer will be responsible for securing any necessary import permits or licenses.

1. Delivery Manifest,
2. Definition of Gross and Net Receipts,
3. Certificate of Authorship,
4. Short-Form Assignment,
5. Certificate of Origin.

This standard form Motion Picture Theatrical Distribution Agreement is a comprehensive and customizable template that includes all the paperwork you need to get the deal done.

Prepare an Assignment of Copyright in a written work by the author using this easy template.

• The author assigns to a third party (such as a publisher) all of the author's worldwide rights in copyright in a specified written work.
• The author retains a personal license to use extracts from the work, but the author must obtain the assignee's permission before using all or a large portion of the work.
• The author indemnifies the assignee against any infringement claims resulting from publication of the work.
• Every publisher - print or digital - should have an Assignment of Copyright form available for authors to sign when dealing with any copyrighted work.
• Available in MS Word format.