+ Company Organization

If you are making a commercial production you should consider formally creating an organization to oversee production. Whether to incorporate as a corporation, organize as an LLC, or form another type of company depends on the goals and product of the production. Failing to form a proper company around the production can lead those making the product to be held personally liable for lawsuits and accidents during production. All productions carry some risk of costly lawsuits. Anyone making art should protect their personal assets from this risk.

But forming a company can be complicated. What type of company to form can be confusing, and the process tedious. A mistake at this stage can be extremely costly down the road. Hiring a competent attorney to help is the best way to make sure that your project gets things right from the beginning.

+ Contract Drafting

When making a web series, consider writing contracts that make the expectations and relationships between everyone involved clear. This includes making ownership of the brand clear and clarifying the licensing and use of all contributions. If you are employing an editor, it will help you both to have the relationship formalized in writing. Contracts between advertisers should also be written and reviewed by an attorney.

+ Fair Use Checks

When making a video series that comments on other things, you will often find yourself using material that belongs to others. Whether you have the right to do so, and how much you can use, is a complex question that an attorney should help you answer. In an increasing age of larger companies claiming videos and taking series down, you need to protect yourself in advance.

+ Content ID and Site Rules

While not a series of laws, the rules of hosts like YouTube might as well be when they remove the ability for you to make a living on your videos. But these systems often make mistakes or are applied inconsistently. If you need to challenge a strike or stand up for your content, a lawyer can help you make sure you are protected.

+ Licensing

Anything that is not owned by the production needs to be licensed. This includes music, graphics, and other media needed for the production. What needs to be licensed can be a very technical question, and a lawyer should be employed when considering claims of fair use. Licensing should be done explicitly and in writing. Contracts should be involved even when the music is written for the production or provided for free, to ensure that this use is not challenged later.

+ Copyright and Intellectual Property

Your project consists of various types of intellectual property, all of which should be protected. Registration is an essential part of this process. If someone steals your work, you need a copyright registration before you can sue them for damages. The Law Firm of Dillon McCarthy is dedicated to ensuring that these legal protections work for everyone, not just the largest creators.