Understanding Option Agreements for Film and Television & How to Protect Yourself

Learn from and Entertainment & IP Attorney at LaneCrowell LLP, whose client's projects have been on Starz, Nickelodeon, Discovery, TLC and more!

Whether you're controlling some valuable intellectual property, looking to secure IP, or simply have a valuable property in the form of a spec script, TV pilot, webseries, digital series, or other filmed material, you are likely going to be confronted with signing or distributing an option agreement. It is imperative that you understand the various types of option agreements and what information should be included to assure that you are not only protecting your material, but yourself legally as well.

As the international content business grows, option agreements have become more and more commonplace. It is the vital piece of the paper trail that will ensure you are exercising and getting all your rights as your project gets made. These agreements are designed to protect both sides of a given deal, but can be complicated and sometimes include unnecessary language or clauses that could serve to hold up your content or payment. before you sign on the dotted line, you need to understand what exactly is an option agreement, who has creative control, how much money can be made and what you need to include to protect your rights up front.

To help you navigate option agreements is Thomas Crowell is an entertainment and intellectual property attorney and partner at LaneCrowell, LLP. Thomas specializes in working with artists whose work you’ve seen on Sony, Starz, Marvel, DC, IDW Publishing, Discovery, and many more.

You won’t be overwhelmed with legal jargon here. Thomas is an expert at showing writers, directors, producers, and more how to understand their agreement and legal options in a tangible way, as seen in his best-selling legal guide for independent producers, The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers.

After watching this on-demand webinar, you’ll know the difference between shopping agreements, option agreements, and purchase agreements, which one is best for your material or the material you’d like the rights to, understand copyright issues, how to ensure you have exclusivity, and all of the deal points that you’ll need to negotiate. 

PRAISE FOR THOMAS'S TEACHINGS AT STAGE 32:

"Very informative. The best legal/contract class I have ever attended." -Jon C.

"Mr. Crowell was truly informative and I appreciated that he covered both sides: Producer and Writer (because I am both)." -Elease P.

"Thomas is so clear and precise. I will have to come back many times to be able to absorb all the information. Wonderful and just what I needed." -Prema R.

I have taken Thomas's webinars several times over the years through Stage 32 and I have learned so much. From my personal experience, if you ever in need of an entertainment attorney to represent you when you encounter legal issues with your film, he is the attorney you should go to. Thank you, Thomas Crowell for literally saving my behind! -- Joe P.