Entertainment

Our firm assists Major Studios, as well as independent producers and TV channels in connection with audiovisual content production and distribution (movies, TV series, documentaries and other audio-visual works, including advertising and merchandising materials). Over the years we have provided assistance throughout all phases of the process of making a film: chain of title, option to purchase rights, rights clearance, agreements with talents, distribution licenses, etc. We dealt with all the different issues involved, for example:

Development Phase
Chain of Title
Rights clearance including:

• Pre-existing works
• Music
• Trademarks
• Name, Life Story and Likeness
• Screenplay
• Format

Option Purchase Agreements

Pre-Production and Production Phases
Co-Production Agreements
Pledge and Deed of Assignment
Production Services Agreements
Casting Agreements
Agreements with Talents (actors, TV hosts, voice actors, etc.) and Writers (screenwriters, directors, etc.)
Agreements with Celebrities
Locations Agreements
Releases for filming in Italy
Assistance on the set in case of critical situations
Employment issues and visas

Post-Production Phase
Music Agreements
Dubbing Agreements and Voiceover Agreements
Distribution
Distribution License Agreements
Home Video
Program Licensing Contracts 

Among other things, we have provided analysis and advice with respect to copyright, trademark and publicity rights issues, and on remedies available, with respect to:

• Authorship
• Moral rights
• Music
• Clearance of rights on User Generated Contents
• Publicity rights also in connection with documentaries for journalistic purposes, both from a copyright standpoint and from a data protection standpoint
• Purchase of motion picture and allied and ancillary rights in novels
• Remake rights
• Authorization for filming, and permit for temporary use of, Cultural Heritage
• Copyright issues involving the Vatican City State
• Collecting Societies
• Artistic services rendered by Minors
• Product placement and prop placement, both in film and in TV programs, advertiser funded programming and branded entertainment 
• New Media Distribution (Internet, on-demand and streaming services, Catch Up Rights)
• Geo-filtering and digital rights management (DRM)
• Programs dealing with judicial and health data/information
• Protection of online copyright and intellectual property
• Due diligence in connection with acquisition of libraries
• Litigation in connection with all the topics above, including the leading Supreme Court case on “format”, cases related to the internet exploitation of copyrighted works, and regarding purchasing of library pending bankruptcy procedure.
• Review of website content for possible trademark, copyright infringement and data protection issues.

Since 2008, our professionals have given lectures at the “Master in Management of Television and Movie Production” organized each year by LUISS Guido Carli Business School in Rome.