Film Distribution and Licensing Forms

Grant a license to cable and satellite networks to show a movie on television and online with this TV and Internet Broadcast License Agreement.

• The motion picture distributor grants the licensee the right to distribute and broadcast its films via basic cable, pay TV, subscription TV, pay per view, satellite and internet transmission.
• The licensee will have the authority to edit the motion pictures as required to comply with censorship requirements, to translate and dub the soundtrack, and to create derivative versions of the pictures.
• As consideration for the rights granted, the licensee will pay a specified license fee for each film. The agreement contains an alternate provision under which the licensee can issue shares to the licensor as payment for the license fee.
• The distributor will pay for all production costs to produce the motion pictures. The licensee will pay for all scanning, editing and duplication costs, as well as paying the license fees.
• This Television and Internet Broadcast License Agreement is a valuable addition to any filmmaker's movie contracts set.
• Available in MS Word format.

This 2-page Definition of Gross and Net Receipts defines what each of the terms in a film distribution agreement means, and should be attached to the agreement as a schedule.

• The attachment can be appended to any film industry contract which requires a definition of receipts, expenses and profits.
• The schedule defines the different forms of receipts (theatrical, non-theatrical, outright sales, television, video, auxiliary receipts, miscellaneous receipts), as well as a definition of excluded income.
• The attachment is fully editable and can be customized for your circumstances.

Download the Definition of Gross and Net Receipts template for your film contract library.

This Definition of Gross Receipts After Breakeven clarifies how breakeven points, receipts, distribution fees and expenses, film rentals, and other revenues and costs will be treated and applied under a Film Distribution Agreement.

• The document should be attached as a schedule to your Distribution Agreement.
• The schedule sets out how license fees will be allocated when the fees apply to more than one motion picture.
• Foreign receipts are not included in gross receipts until the sums have been received in US dollars or used by the studio for production or acquisition of films or property which can be legally exported from the country of origin.
• The studio has complete authority to distribute and license exhibition of the Picture.
• Participants have no right, title or interest in the motion picture, and no lien rights on the gross receipts or net profits.

The Definition of Gross Receipts After Breakeven template is a downloadable and customizable schedule you can use with your film distribution agreements.

This is a 5-page schedule that defines and clarifies what constitutes net profits, receipts, and expenses in a film distribution agreement.

• license fees,
• residuals,
• distribution fees,
• theatrical and/or non-theatrical receipts,
• television and video receipts,
• other income from the film except for excluded items and net of any distribution expenses, taxes, and other costs.

The Definition of Net Profits template is provided in MS Word format, and can be customized for your film distribution contract.

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.

Film producers, secure payment of the amounts owed to you by the distributors of your motion picture with this Film Distribution Security Agreement.

• The distributor grants the producer a continuing security interest in the debtor's distribution and exploitation rights in the picture, and the proceeds realized from those rights.
• The producer may exercise its security interest if the distributor fails to pay any amount owing under the Motion Picture Theatrical Distribution Agreement between the parties.
• This is a totally editable legal form template, so you can customize it for your specific needs.

Don't take the risk of not getting paid. Make it a requirement that your distributors sign the Security Agreement at the same time they sign the Film Distribution Agreement.

Hire an agent to arrange completion financing and worldwide distribution of your motion picture with this Film Producer Representative Agreement.

• The agent's appointment is exclusive and the producer agrees not to circumvent the agent, or arrange for financing or distribution services through any other party during the term of the Agreement.
• The agent will draft and negotiate distribution agreements, and provide consultation services to the producer. In addition to a flat fee against a percentage of the gross revenues of the picture, the agent has the right to receive a screen credit.
• The agent has a lien on the gross revenues of the picture, and on any claims of action subject to the agent's representation, and this provision will survive the termination of the Agreement.
• The parties agree to AFMA arbitration in the event of a dispute.
• Download the Film Producer Representative Agreement for your distribution contracts library.

Distribute feature length motion pictures to the home entertainment market with this customizable Home Video Distribution Agreement.

• The producer of the film names the distributor as its exclusive distributor to manufacture, distribute and exploit the producer's films on video, DVD, laser disc, streaming, and all other media formats throughout a defined territory.
• The distributor will pay an advance acquisition payment per product, to acquire distribution and related rights for each of the producer's films.
• The distributor is entitled to recoup its distribution, marketing and promotional costs from gross receipts.
• The distributor has the right to use the producer's trademarks and logos for advertising, publicity and promotional purposes, subject to the producer's approval of all materials bearing the producer's marks.
• The Agreement includes a delivery schedule for all materials to be delivered by the producer to the distributor, including film elements, sound tracks, composite prints, masters, scripts, cue sheets, notes, data, contracts, etc.

Get a Home Video Distribution Agreement in place for your film and keep the revenues coming in after the film's theatrical run is done.

Distribute a made-for-TV movie worldwide with this International Television Distribution Agreement.

• The distributor has exclusive rights to distribute, license, market, promote and exploit the motion picture in all languages, in all forms of television media, and the home entertainment market.
• The distributor also has the right to edit the movie as required for purposes of time integration, censorship, commercials, etc., and to make dubbed, sub-titled and close captioned versions.
• The distributor has the authority to start legal actions to preserve and protect its rights and to defend against any claims with respect to the picture or any of the rights granted.
• The distributor will pay the producer a percentage of gross receipts (after payment of distribution fees and recoupment of direct distribution costs), as compensation for the rights granted.
• The Agreement includes a Schedule of Delivery Items, Schedule of Territorial Minimums, and a Schedule of Information Regarding the Picture.

Distribute independent films for streaming and downloading over the Internet with this Internet Film Distribution Agreement.

• The distributor will distribute the film over its websites for personal, private, non-commercial use by its subscribers.
• The distributor has the right to distribute the film in any format, and to authorize its customers to copy the film onto DVD or other format for viewing on TV, computer or other device.
• The distributor pays the subscription fees from customers into a pool, from which license fees are paid to all filmmakers whose films are distributed through the distributor's websites.
• Royalties are allocated among the filmmakers after deducting the distributor's costs and its percentage distribution fee.
• The filmmaker has the right to audit the distributor's books and records once each year during the term of the Agreement. The filmmaker agrees to keep all of the distributor's information confidential and not to disclose any or all of it to any other party.
• The distributor will implement copyright protection measures to protect against unauthorized copying of the film.
• The filmmaker indemnifies the distributor against losses and damages arising from any claims with respect to its use of the film.
• Don't miss out on income from distributing films online. Get an Internet Film Distribution Agreement in place with a distributor today.

Your film or TV series could be making you money in the lucrative gaming market. License the rights to a game developer with this License Agreement for Video Game Rights.

• The game developer is granted the right to use elements, characters, settings, action, storylines, voices, music and/or artwork from a motion picture or television series in a gaming program.
• The license being granted by the producers to the developer is non-exclusive.
• The license is granted for specific territories (including worldwide, if applicable) and the developer's rights only extend to creating, selling and marketing the game products within the territory.
• The producer reserves the right to market and sell similar products anywhere in the world.
• Copyright to any object and source code created solely by the developer will be owned by the developer. If it was co-developed by the developer and the producer, then copyright will be owned jointly by the parties.
• The developer may contract with third parties for additional artwork, provided that they are approved by the producer and that they sign a separate agreement with the producer.
• All game products must meet a set of product quality standards and be approved by the producer.
• If the developer uses a third party manufacturer to produce the products, the manufacturer must be approved by the producer and must agree not to manufacture or distribute products to any other game developer.

Download the License Agreement for Video Game Rights and start earning licensing fees from your film project today.

This Motion Picture Theatrical Distribution Agreement template favors the film's producer instead of the distributor.

• The producer grants the distributor exclusive rights to distribute, license and exploit the picture in all countries throughout the world except for the United States, its territories, and English-speaking Canada.
• These rights extend to theatrical, home video, free and pay television distribution, exhibition, marketing and exploitation.
• The rights granted do not include the right to produce other pictures, or sequels or remakes, or any TV series, programs or other ancillary rights to the picture. The ancillary rights and all other rights in the film are reserved to the producer.
• The producer has paid or will pay all production costs, taxes and charges with respect to the picture.
• The distributor will pay a non-refundable advance guarantee upon execution of the Agreement.
• Gross receipts will be allocated firstly to the distribution fee, then to recoupment of any advance and recoverable delivery expenses, market and promotional expenses incurred by the distributor. The net proceeds will be paid to the producer.
• The producer will have a lien and security interest on the gross receipts and distribution contracts. As security for payment of the producer's share, the distributor grants a lien and security interest over all of the distributor's interest in the picture and in all proceeds realized by the distributor from exploitation of the picture.
• The file includes a Schedule of Delivery Requirements and a Schedule of Minimums.

Most distribution deals are heavily weighted in the distributor's favor. This Motion Picture Theatrical Distribution Agreement changes the deal in favor of the producer instead.

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.

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.

Set out the terms under which a made-for-TV movie will be distributed in this Television Distribution Agreement template for Canadian productions.

• The distributor is granted exclusive rights to exploit the picture in television, home video market, VOD, digital transmission, and merchandising.
• The distributor also has the right to edit the picture as required for purposes of time integration, censorship, commercials, etc., and the producer waives its moral rights in the picture for this purpose. The distributor will not make changes to the title, credits or copyright notice without the producer's approval.
• The producer retains the right to enter the picture in film festivals, subject to the rights licensed to the distributor.
• The distributor will pay the producer a percentage of net revenues, as compensation for the rights granted.
• The Agreement includes a Schedule of Delivery Items, a List of Agreements with Third Parties, and a Schedule of Information Regarding the Picture.
• The contract is governed by Canadian laws and is intended to be used only in Canada.