Legal information for film and video makers

What are your rights as a film or video maker?
Whether you are making a low-budget short film, a documentary, or a Hollywood blockbuster, you need to know about some important legal issues that can affect you. This chapter focuses on copyright, copyright clearance and moral rights for people working in film and video, including:

script writers
directors
producers
actors
lighting and sound operators
production designers
composers
editors
people working in post-production

Copyright for film and video makers
Copyright is about important rights that only you have in your work.

make a copy of it
cause the film to be seen and heard in public
communicate the film to the public, such as on TV or the internet

Other people need your permission or licence to do these things.

The person who makes the arrangements for the film to be made, usually the producer and director, owns copyright in a film.

protects your work against use by others without your permission
allows you to get money for your work.

Copyright clearance
At some stage, you may want to use copyright material owned by others in a film or video of your own. Before using other people’s work, you will need their permission. That is, they must say “Yes” first.

When you seek the permission of a copyright owner, this is called copyright clearance.

screenplays
written works that are read out loud, or seen
music that is used on a soundtrack
artistic works that are seen in a film
footage from another film or video, including news footage
parts of other films you might include in your film.

With a screenplay or music for example, you need the permission from the copyright owner to use that material.

Clearances are important for two main reasons:

They make sure that you do not infringe the rights of others
Many film festivals, funding bodies and distributors will need to see your clearances before they agree to work with you.

Moral rights for film and video makers
Moral rights are personal rights that connect creators of a work to their work.

As a film maker you have the moral right to:

be acknowledged — that is, have your name listed in the credits
stop anyone else from being named as the producer, director or screenwriter of the film
protect yourself by taking legal action if your film is treated in any way that hurts your reputation.

If you have included the work of other people in your film you must respect their moral rights by listing them in the credits.

Getting permission to film people and places
Before filming, you must also get permission from the performers who appear in your production. Using a consent formis the best way to do this. A consent form should explain:

what the project is
what you are filming
what you expect of them
how they will be seen or heard in the finished edit

You will also need to get permission to film on private property and sometimes on some public land.

Summary

Make sure you get permission from any copyright owner whose work appears in your production. You need to get copyright clearance if you want to use:
- a book, short story or play as the basis for your production
- footage or music

Performers or anyone who appears as a cast-member in a shot must agree to being filmed.
You must obtain permission to film on private property.
Make sure that you have all contracts written down and signed before you begin working on a film.
Credit any contributor to your production with:
- their correct name
- their role in the production

Legal Tips

You might need copyright clearance even if you use a very small part of someone else’s copyright protected work
Assigning copyright means selling your copyright. In the film industry it is normal for a screenwriter to assign the rights of their film script to a film company. Do not sign or agree to anything you do not understand.
Get legal advice on any contract.

What is Raw Law?

Learn more about these resources developed with Arts Access Victoria.