FWRV - Insights

What Effect Will New York’s New Law Providing for a Post-Mortem Right of Publicity Have on Nonfiction Filmmakers?

May 18, 2021 Documentary Toolkit

What is the Significance of a “Work for Hire” Clause in a Contract?

Mar 30, 2021 Documentary Toolkit

If Filmmaking During the COVID-era is Inherently Risky, Can Filmmakers Require Crew or Subjects to Assume Their Own Risk and Waive Legal Claims Against the Producer?

Dec 1, 2020 Documentary Toolkit

What If I Can’t Afford or Don’t Want to Use an Aggregator? Is DIY Digital Distribution a Feasible Plan?

Nov 9, 2020 Documentary Toolkit

To Distribute My Feature-Length Independent Documentary in Digital Media, Should I Use an Aggregator or a Distributor?

Oct 27, 2020 Documentary Toolkit

Works Made for Hire: Five Things to Know

Oct 26, 2020 FWRV Legal

How Hollywood Can Fight Racism: A Conversation with Alan Jenkins and Flo Mitchell-Brown

Jul 9, 2020 Webinars and Podcasts

Back to the New Future: 5 Industry Guidelines for Film/TV/Streaming Productions to Return

Jun 11, 2020 FWRV Legal

Video: “Best Practices for Documentary Film” Episode #3 (Special Guest: Neil Rosini)

May 21, 2020 Webinars and Podcasts

Five Questions to Ask When Deciding Whether Borrowing a Video Clip is Fair Use.

May 1, 2020 FWRV Legal

Five Things for a Brand to Consider About Influencer Marketing.

Apr 23, 2020 FWRV Legal

COVID-19 Message to Our Clients

Mar 18, 2020 Firm Insights

It’s Tempting to Take Photos and Excerpts of Clips from Seemingly Non-Professional Sources That Have Been Uploaded to YouTube and Other Internet Sites, and Use Them in a Documentary as a “Fair Use.” But is it Legal?

Feb 18, 2020 Documentary Toolkit

If a Nonfiction Story in a Newspaper or Magazine Inspires Me to Do a Documentary or a Nonfiction Podcast Serial or TV Series on the Same Subject, Do I Have to Ask the Author or Publisher for Permission?

Nov 12, 2019 Documentary Toolkit

Are All Works by the U.S. Federal Government in the Public Domain, and If So, Why Would a Documentary Maker Pay an Archive for Them?

Sep 17, 2019 Documentary Toolkit

HBO’s Unlicensed Use of Painting in “Slenderman” Documentary is Too Ambiguous to Avoid Infringement Lawsuit

Sep 3, 2019 Documentary Toolkit

When Filming Abroad, Consider the Laws: If Unlicensed Borrowings in a Documentary (of Clips and Headlines, for Example) Qualify in the U.S. as Fair Use, are Those Borrowings Still Legal When the Documentary is Distributed Outside the U.S.?

Jul 30, 2019 Documentary Toolkit

Court Agrees: Use of “Super Bowl Shuffle” in Documentary is Fair Use

Jun 4, 2019 Documentary Toolkit

Memorializing Relationships Early Pays Off Later: Does a Film Producer Make a Mistake By Not Entering Into Work For Hire Agreements with Film Crew, Talent, Writers and Other Independent Contractors Whom She Hires?

Mar 5, 2019 Documentary Toolkit

Prepare for the Long Haul Part 4: Managing Marketing and Distribution Activities

Feb 19, 2019 Documentary Toolkit

Prepare for the Long Haul Part 3: Avoiding Legal Liability

Feb 12, 2019 Documentary Toolkit

Prepare for the Long Haul Part 2: Establishing a Chain of Title for Intellectual Property

Feb 5, 2019 Documentary Toolkit

Prepare for the Long Haul Part 1: Creating a Business Entity

Jan 29, 2019 Documentary Toolkit

Fair Use Doesn’t Shield Unlicensed Use of a Personal Photo – Even When the President Crashes a Wedding

Jan 8, 2019 Documentary Toolkit

Public Domain Safety Zone Advances a Year

Jan 2, 2019 Documentary Toolkit

A Practical Discussion of Appearance Releases Part 5: What Should You Do If You Discover in Post-Production That Your Team Neglected to Obtain an Appearance Release from an Interview Subject?

Dec 25, 2018 Documentary Toolkit

A Practical Discussion of Appearance Releases Part 4: Can an On-Camera Verbal Release Substitute for a Written Release?

Dec 18, 2018 Documentary Toolkit

A Practical Discussion of Appearance Releases Part 3: What Is an “Area Release” and What Purpose Does It Serve?

Dec 11, 2018 Documentary Toolkit

A Practical Discussion of Appearance Releases Part 2: Why Might Documentary Producers Obtain Appearance Releases Even Though They Don’t Have To?

Dec 4, 2018 Documentary Toolkit

A Practical Discussion of Appearance Releases Part 1: What Does a Documentary Appearance Release Typically Contain?

Nov 27, 2018 Documentary Toolkit

The Ins and Outs of Educational Distribution Part 5: What Is a Public Performance License and Why Does It Matter?

Jun 19, 2018 Documentary Toolkit

The Ins and Outs of Educational Distribution Part 4: What Is a Distribution Window and Why Is It Significant?

Jun 12, 2018 Documentary Toolkit

The Ins and Outs of Educational Distribution Part 3: What Is an Appropriate Sales Agreement Term?

Jun 5, 2018 Documentary Toolkit

The Ins and Outs of Educational Distribution Part 2: How Are Distribution Fees and Expenses Handled?

May 28, 2018 Documentary Toolkit

The Ins and Outs of Educational Distribution Part 1: What Are Educational Rights and How Are They Monetized?

May 21, 2018 Documentary Toolkit

Are There Extra-Sensitive Categories of Defamatory Statements?

May 8, 2018 Documentary Toolkit

Can a Filmmaker Avoid Legal Liability in a Documentary by Conveying a Potentially Defamatory Statement Through an Interview Subject Rather Than Through Narration?

Apr 9, 2018 Documentary Toolkit

Archive Agreements Part 2: What is the Connection Between Obtaining Archive Licenses and Fair Use?

Mar 19, 2018 Documentary Toolkit

Archive Agreements Part 1: Are There Other Good Reasons to Read Licenses Carefully?

Mar 13, 2018 Documentary Toolkit

Music Part 2: When Can Recordings of Public Domain Music Composed More Than a Hundred Years Ago Be Used Without Asking Permission?

Feb 20, 2018 Documentary Toolkit

Music Part 1: Can Music Be Included in Films on a Fair Use Basis?

Feb 13, 2018 Documentary Toolkit

E&O Part 9: What Does E&O Insurance Cost?

Jan 16, 2018 Documentary Toolkit

E&O Part 8: Is a Lawyer Necessary for an Application for E&O Insurance?

Jan 9, 2018 Documentary Toolkit

E&O Part 7: At What Stage of Production Should You Apply For E&O Insurance?

Jan 2, 2018 Documentary Toolkit

E&O Part 6: Where and How Do You Get E&O Insurance?

Dec 26, 2017 Documentary Toolkit

E&O Part 5: Why is E&O Insurance Necessary?

Dec 19, 2017 Documentary Toolkit

E&O Part 4: What Doesn’t E&O Insurance Cover?

Dec 12, 2017 Documentary Toolkit

E&O Part 3: What does E&O insurance cover?

Dec 5, 2017 Documentary Toolkit

E&O Part 2: Who Does E&O Insurance Cover?

Nov 28, 2017 Documentary Toolkit

E&O Part 1: What is E&O Insurance?

Nov 21, 2017 Documentary Toolkit

Introduction to False Light

Nov 7, 2017 Documentary Toolkit

Defamation is Broadly Defined

Oct 17, 2017 Documentary Toolkit

When Does Artistic License in Editing an Interview Cross the Line?

Oct 3, 2017 Documentary Toolkit

The Artifact Test

Apr 1, 2017 Documentary Toolkit

Fair Use Demystified

Apr 1, 2017 Documentary Toolkit

Documentary Basics for Filmmakers

Apr 1, 2017 Documentary Toolkit

“The Producer’s Perspective”

Apr 1, 2017 Webinars and Podcasts