Clearance & Copyright: Everything You Need to Know for Film and Television (3d edition)

by: Michael C. Donaldson

Published by: Silman-James Press

Reviewed by Sharron Stockhausen

Technology helps many get started in film or video production, but what about the world of intellectual property? How is a video producer supposed to understand all that too?

Los Angeles-based attorney, Michael C. Donaldson feels that pain and offers an antidote. He draws on over three decades of experience in copyright and entertainment to provide a reader-friendly book that belongs on the shelf of every film or video producer.

Donaldson begins at the beginning—with where copyright originated. While he doesn’t end at the end, because the end cannot be known as long as people create, he closes with two contemporary topics—international and Internet copyright.

In between, he offers pertinent information on fair use and its place in film, music, and advertising. Another term people throw out is public domain, and he covers that too. He’s even got a chapter on parody, satire, and jokes, and another on characters and costumes.

Those chapters comprise just the opening section. He moves on and covers how to get a completed script, then how to register the copyright once you get it.

You might think that’s plenty to expect from one book, but Donaldson offers even more, including information about others such as writers, actors, crew members, and financial backers who may have rights because they’re involved in making your film.

Even after all that information, Donaldson is not done. Film makers know much more goes into making a film—things like product placement, shooting locations and sets, and music, for example. Donaldson covers all that too. And even though the film’s shot, it doesn’t mean the intellectual property issues are over. Donaldson helps with the post production phase as well.

If you’ve ever wanted to produce a film or video, you need more than technology. You need to understand intellectual property. Donaldson offers a complicated subject that’s written in an easy-to-understand style. All you have to do is get this book and keep it handy. You’ll refer to it often and it will pay for itself the first time you refer to it. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Armchair Interviews says: An important resource for people in the entertainment an publishing industry.