What is a Sunset Clause and why you should care?
What is a Sunset Clause – Introduction Have you ever watched the sun go down on the beach? I bet you could actually see it wane into a tiny disc on the horizon, like a golden coin, and then evaporate in a whisper. The sun has officially “set”. Yet, it is not immediately dark. The afterglow […]
Five Submission Release Tips – Ask An Entertainment Lawyer
Five Submission Release Tips – Introduction A submission release is a contract that “releases” a person who receives information from obligations to the person who shared that information. Television and film writers often encounter submission releases when pitching materials. By way of example, let’s say you have an awesome idea for a new kids TV […]
Sales Agency and Distribution Agreements (in Canada)
Sales Agency and Distribution Agreements – Introduction You’ve gone and completed the impressive feat of producing a film. Now what? After a film or series is produced it will often be licensed, whether in theatres, on television, or any number of video-on-demand platforms, from Netflix to Disney+, Apple TV to Amazon Prime. The licensing […]
Starting Your Game Company – Legal Package
Author: Mark Edwards, Entertainment Lawyer Starting Your Game Company – Introduction Starting your game company can be incredibly rewarding: you have the freedom to decide whom you work with and what you work on. On the other hand, as with starting any business, it also means that you need to think about the business […]
Tax Credit Overview – Filming in Manitoba Series
Author: Michael Duboff, Entertainment Lawyer Tax Credit Overview – Introduction It is well known that Toronto and Vancouver are established hubs for film production in Canada. It is perhaps less well known that Manitoba (and Winnipeg in particular) has seen a recent boom in local filmmaking. For example, the 2021 action film, Nobody, was […]
US Workers Entering Canada for Film & Television Productions: Immigration Law
Author: Michael Duboff, Entertainment Lawyer US Workers Entering Canada for Film & Television Productions – Introduction When it comes to creating film and television programs, most producers have enough to think about without having to worry about immigration laws. However, understanding relevant immigration laws can be vital knowledge for Canadian producers seeking to engage U.S. […]
Using Third-Party Owned Content: What You Need to Know
Using Third-Party Owned Content: Introduction The Internet has been a massive boon for creators: it has given an unmediated, free (or nearly free) platform on which to exhibit works which can be viewed by millions, or even billions, of people. On the other hand, the mass proliferation of online content has greatly increased the incidence […]
Assigning Concept Rights in Canada – Ask An Entertainment Lawyer
Author: Mark Edwards, Entertainment Lawyer Assigning Concept Rights in Canada – Introduction Recently, I have been asked about assigning concept rights to a single purpose production company (“SPPC”) – in the first case, to assign the rights, in the second, to unwind an assignment that went far beyond what was needed. Incorporating an SPPC is […]
Esports: Opportunities and Legal Considerations for Creators
Esports: Opportunities and Legal Considerations for Creators – Introduction Esports is an exciting, evolving and lucrative field of entertainment. On pace to outstrip the film and television industry in terms of sheer economic activity, Esports attracts an audience that is only eclipsed by the FIFA World Cup and the NFL Superbowl. Esports is a term […]
FACTOR: Emergency Support Funding
FACTOR: Emergency Support Funding – Introduction Are you a musician who has been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic? Or perhaps you are a concert promotor or music festival that hasn’t been able to host a live music event in many months? If the answer is yes, you and many other individuals and businesses in […]
