SUMMARY
Don't venture into today's media without Litwak. This up-to-date, legalese-free handbook explains how multimedia works are produced and distributed and explores the common, usually complex and discipline-crossing, legal issues that have accompanied its growth.
The laws drawn up to protect single-media works do not directly accommodate the rapidly expanding world of multimedia. Without a knowledgeable, guide, such as Mr. Litwak, developers, producers, and distributors of multimedia works can easily find themselves stumbling blindly through the electronic landscape, tempting legal and financial disaster with their every move.
Litwak's handbook walks the reader through the process of multimedia production, provides assessments of the practices of both established and emerging producers and distributors of multimedia works, and offers a broad variety of legal and business advice on such matters as protecting your work, entering into deals with electronic publishers and distributors, and plunging into cyberspace. Accompanying Litwak's sage advice are numerous sample contracts and agreements that relate to all aspects of multimedia production and distribution.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Contracts are in Bold Type)
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION TO MULTIMEDIA
What is Multimedia?
Opportunities for Independent Producers
How the Internet Can Help Independent Producers
Legal Hurdles
Industry Giants Wrestle for Control
History of the Information Superhighway
What will the Information Superhighway Look Like
Privacy Concerns
Key Technological Developments
Fibre Optics
Digital Compression
High-Definition Television
Direct Broadcast Satellite
Digital Video Disc
The World Wide Web
Government Policy
2. LICENSING CONTENT
An Uncertain Market
Clearance Problems
Fear of Digitalization
Licensing Content
Text
Copyright
Titles
Trademarks
Characters
Tort Liability
Defamation
Right of Privacy
Right of Publicity
Union / Guild Permissions
Motion Pictures
Photographs and Still Images
Music
Architecture
Fine Art
Computer Software
Defensive Tactics
Insurance
Conclusion
Contracts
Film-Clip Licenses With Warranties
Model Release
Music and Sound Recording License
Photograph License Agreement
Text License Agreement
Video License Agreement
Art Work License Agreement
3. HIRING OTHERS
The Nature of Intellectual Property
Works Made for Hire
Employee or Independent Contractor?
Assignment of Rights
Patents
Protecting Trade Secrets
General Employment Concerns
Discrimination
Civil Liberties
Privacy and E-Mail
Job Tenure
Guild / Union Concerns
Contracts
Results and Proceeds of Service Clause
Employment Agreement
Consultant Agreement
Work for Hire Agreement with Independent Contractor (Programmer)
Production Agreement
4. Submission of Materials
Protecting Your Interests When Submitting Materials
Protecting Yourself When Submitting Materials to Review
Contracts
Submission Letter
Submission Release
Submission Release
5. PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION
Packaged Media
The Distribution Chain
Distribution Channels
Marketing Calendar
Negotiating the Publishing Agreement
Conflict of Interest
Grant of Rights
Reserved Rights
Compensation
Bundling Deals
Audits and Accounting
Interest and Security
Warranties and Indemnification
Delivery Requirements
Source-Code Escrow
Technical Support of End Users
Upgrades
Trademarks
Confidentiality
Termination
Arbitration
Contracts
Software Publishing Agreement
Escrow Agreement
6. VENTURING INTO CYBERSPACE
The Internet
Advertising on the Net
Internet Web Sites
Freedom of Expression in Cyberspace
Obscenity
Child Pornography
Liability of Access Providers
Privacy Protection Act of 1980
Copyright Issues
Contracts
Virtual Shopping Mall Advertiser Agreement
Agreement for Online Distribution of Multimedia Program
7. PROTECTING MULTIMEDIA WORKS FROM INFRINGEMENT
Copyright
Copyright Notice for Multimedia Works
Copyright Registration Forms
Form TX
Form S
Form PA
Trademark
Creation of Trademark Rights
The Federal Registration Process
Benefits of Federal Registration
Grounds for Refusing Federal Registration
Maintenance of the Mark
Trademark Forms
Domain Names
Patent
Trade Secret
Contract
Non-Disclosure Agreement
APPENDIX
NOTES
GLOSSARY
Don't venture into today's media without Litwak. This up-to-date, legalese-free handbook explains how multimedia works are produced and distributed and explores the common, usually complex and discipline-crossing, legal issues that have accompanied its growth.
The laws drawn up to protect single-media works do not directly accommodate the rapidly expanding world of multimedia. Without a knowledgeable, guide, such as Mr. Litwak, developers, producers, and distributors of multimedia works can easily find themselves stumbling blindly through the electronic landscape, tempting legal and financial disaster with their every move.
Litwak's handbook walks the reader through the process of multimedia production, provides assessments of the practices of both established and emerging producers and distributors of multimedia works, and offers a broad variety of legal and business advice on such matters as protecting your work, entering into deals with electronic publishers and distributors, and plunging into cyberspace. Accompanying Litwak's sage advice are numerous sample contracts and agreements that relate to all aspects of multimedia production and distribution.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Contracts are in Bold Type)
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION TO MULTIMEDIA
What is Multimedia?
Opportunities for Independent Producers
How the Internet Can Help Independent Producers
Legal Hurdles
Industry Giants Wrestle for Control
History of the Information Superhighway
What will the Information Superhighway Look Like
Privacy Concerns
Key Technological Developments
Fibre Optics
Digital Compression
High-Definition Television
Direct Broadcast Satellite
Digital Video Disc
The World Wide Web
Government Policy
2. LICENSING CONTENT
An Uncertain Market
Clearance Problems
Fear of Digitalization
Licensing Content
Text
Copyright
Titles
Trademarks
Characters
Tort Liability
Defamation
Right of Privacy
Right of Publicity
Union / Guild Permissions
Motion Pictures
Photographs and Still Images
Music
Architecture
Fine Art
Computer Software
Defensive Tactics
Insurance
Conclusion
Contracts
Film-Clip Licenses With Warranties
Model Release
Music and Sound Recording License
Photograph License Agreement
Text License Agreement
Video License Agreement
Art Work License Agreement
3. HIRING OTHERS
The Nature of Intellectual Property
Works Made for Hire
Employee or Independent Contractor?
Assignment of Rights
Patents
Protecting Trade Secrets
General Employment Concerns
Discrimination
Civil Liberties
Privacy and E-Mail
Job Tenure
Guild / Union Concerns
Contracts
Results and Proceeds of Service Clause
Employment Agreement
Consultant Agreement
Work for Hire Agreement with Independent Contractor (Programmer)
Production Agreement
4. Submission of Materials
Protecting Your Interests When Submitting Materials
Protecting Yourself When Submitting Materials to Review
Contracts
Submission Letter
Submission Release
Submission Release
5. PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION
Packaged Media
The Distribution Chain
Distribution Channels
Marketing Calendar
Negotiating the Publishing Agreement
Conflict of Interest
Grant of Rights
Reserved Rights
Compensation
Bundling Deals
Audits and Accounting
Interest and Security
Warranties and Indemnification
Delivery Requirements
Source-Code Escrow
Technical Support of End Users
Upgrades
Trademarks
Confidentiality
Termination
Arbitration
Contracts
Software Publishing Agreement
Escrow Agreement
6. VENTURING INTO CYBERSPACE
The Internet
Advertising on the Net
Internet Web Sites
Freedom of Expression in Cyberspace
Obscenity
Child Pornography
Liability of Access Providers
Privacy Protection Act of 1980
Copyright Issues
Contracts
Virtual Shopping Mall Advertiser Agreement
Agreement for Online Distribution of Multimedia Program
7. PROTECTING MULTIMEDIA WORKS FROM INFRINGEMENT
Copyright
Copyright Notice for Multimedia Works
Copyright Registration Forms
Form TX
Form S
Form PA
Trademark
Creation of Trademark Rights
The Federal Registration Process
Benefits of Federal Registration
Grounds for Refusing Federal Registration
Maintenance of the Mark
Trademark Forms
Domain Names
Patent
Trade Secret
Contract
Non-Disclosure Agreement
APPENDIX
NOTES
GLOSSARY
Compatibility:
*CD-R (52X Speed; 700 MB disk) is compatible with any operating system that has a functional playback device. Contract Templates on CD-R are editable Microsoft Word documents that are compatible with any operating system that has a functional word processor capable of opening Microsoft Word documents.
**Litwak's Multimedia Producer's Handbook is a PDF on CD-R. See CD-R specs above for compatibility information. PDF can be viewed on any operating system that has a functional PDF reader/viewer.
*CD-R (52X Speed; 700 MB disk) is compatible with any operating system that has a functional playback device. Contract Templates on CD-R are editable Microsoft Word documents that are compatible with any operating system that has a functional word processor capable of opening Microsoft Word documents.
**Litwak's Multimedia Producer's Handbook is a PDF on CD-R. See CD-R specs above for compatibility information. PDF can be viewed on any operating system that has a functional PDF reader/viewer.
Shipping and Sales Tax Information
Shipping & Handling:
Please allow 1-2 weeks for delivery. All orders are shipped Ground via UPS or FedEx.
For international orders and/or expedited shipping, please call 310-859-9595.
We only ship to street addresses. Sorry, no P.O. boxes.
Sales Tax:
All orders delivered outside the state of California are not subject to Sales tax.
All orders delivered within the state of California shall be subject to the current Sales Tax in your county.
ALL SALES ARE FINAL!
Shipping & Handling:
Please allow 1-2 weeks for delivery. All orders are shipped Ground via UPS or FedEx.
For international orders and/or expedited shipping, please call 310-859-9595.
We only ship to street addresses. Sorry, no P.O. boxes.
Sales Tax:
All orders delivered outside the state of California are not subject to Sales tax.
All orders delivered within the state of California shall be subject to the current Sales Tax in your county.
ALL SALES ARE FINAL!