Media Law for Producers

Legal problems can be very costly to media producers. Lawyers and court fees, coupled with the loss of work time, can lead to bankruptcy. Media Law for Producers cuts through the legalese and illustrates legal issues to help producers recognize the legal questions that can come up during production, from performer contracts through copyright registrations.

Beginning with an overview of what is media law, Media Law for Producers examines the court system and how media law is made: litigation and arbitration; contracts (sample production contracts are included); copyright, trademarks, and patents; permits, releases, and insurance; privacy, libel, and defamation; licensing music; working with and without unions; royalties and residuals; protecting your finished production; and special considerations for productions that will be broadcast.

Contracts are a very important part of this book and Miller explains the reasons behind the necessary components of several types of media contracts. Through clear explanations and examples, Media Law for Producers completely covers what producers need to be aware of to avoid legal trouble.

Philip Miller is an attorney in the Century City (Los Angeles) office of Irell & Manella LLP, where he specializes in entertainment and intellectual property law. He writes often on the subject of media and technology law and policy.