Motion Picture Merchandising Agreement

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.

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 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.

Retain illustrators, writers, editors and other independent contractors with this template USA Work for Hire Agreement for publishers and publishing houses.

• The contractor agrees to provide the publisher with the services and create the work strictly on a work made for hire basis, for a one-time fee.
• The publisher will retain sole ownership and title to the work created by the contractor under the Agreement.
• This is a reusable legal template. Buy it, download it, then use it as often as you require.
• The Agreement is governed by the laws of the United States.
• Work for hire contracts are the most advantageous arrangements for a publisher. Get this downloadable template contract and tailor it to your exact requirements.

Secure your option for worldwide motion picture, exploitation and merchandising rights to an original screenplay from the screenwriter with this Option Agreement template.

• The writer grants the producer an exclusive and irrevocable option to purchase the rights to the work.
• The producer has the right to make sequels, prequels, remakes and TV series based on the work, for which the writer will be paid a percentage of the net profits.
• The file includes a Short Form Option Agreement for recording at the Copyright Office, and a Short Form Copyright Assignment.
• Also included is a Quitclaim Release of Interest in Literary Property.
• Available in MS Word format.