Clearance & Copyright, 5th Edition: Everything You Need to Know for Film and Television

LOS ANGELES – Silman-James Press today announced the forthcoming publication of the book Clearance & Copyright, 5th Edition: Everything You Need to Know for Film and Television, which will be released in February.

Clearance & Copyright, 5th Edition will be available for purchase in paperback from major booksellers in February. It is currently available for pre-order on Amazon.com. Clearance & Copyright, 5th Edition – now completely revised, updated, and expanded – is the industry standard guide to every conceivable rights issue that filmmakers and other content creators might encounter. From the initial acquisition of material through the rights issues that arise during pre-production, production, post-production, and release, this legalese-free guide will help you protect yourself and your work from disastrous legal actions.

Entertainment attorneys Michael C. Donaldson, Lisa A. Callif, and Christopher L. Perez at the Los Angeles law firm Donaldson Callif Perez are widely regarded as the world’s leading experts on rights clearance issues in independent film and television, which has become increasingly prevalent and important in the changing field of entertainment, news, and intellectual property.

The new book features links to 21 downloadable contracts that are discussed and analyzed in the body of the 560 page book, 56 illustrative film clips related to litigated cases discussed in the book, and 36 color pictures of items litigated in cases discussed in the book.

Book launch events will be held Clearance & Copyright, 5th Edition in New York (Tuesday, February 7) and Los Angeles (Thursday, February 16) with the authors in-person. Donaldson, Callif, and Perez are available for interviews in advance and in-person around these events. Advance copies of the book are now available for press review in final print edition and digital format. The book will also be featured at the Copyright Society USA conference in Palm Springs, CA in early February.

| Clearance & Copyright, 5th Edition: Everything You Need to Know for Film and Television

Ted Sarandos, Co-CEO and Chief Content Officer at Netflix said: “I love this book and use it often.” And he added, “This book has never been more valuable and relevant. It is the bible for clearance professionals, creators, and distributors.”

Michael C. Donaldson is an entertainment attorney who has been fighting for independent filmmakers for over 35 years. In addition to working on films by such industry icons as Oliver Stone, Davis Guggenheim and Lawrence Bender, Michael serves as General Counsel to Film Independent (home of the Independent Spirit Awards) and the Writers Guild Foundation. He is the industry’s go-to attorney for fair use (a doctrine in United States copyright law permitting limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the rights holders) and other clearance- and rights-related issues. American Bar Association’s ABA Journal has called him “the Obi-Wan Kenobi of fair-use.” A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Donaldson has been honored by the International Documentary Association and featured in Variety and The Hollywood Reporter coverage on leading entertainment lawyers.

Lisa A. Callif specializes in representing independent producers and production companies in all aspects of content creation, including equity financing, production and distribution with extensive experience in fair use, copyright and personal rights issues. Lisa is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards – among her many accolades are recognition as one of The Hollywood Reporter’s Power Lawyers and a Daily Journal Top Entertainment Lawyer, as well as her recognition by Variety on the Women’s Impact Report and the Best and the Brightest list.

Christopher L. Perez specializes in all aspects of the firm’s practice, including representing independent filmmakers through development, financing, production, rights clearance and distribution. He has helped hundreds of productions secure the E&O insurance necessary to distribute their films and has established himself as an advocate for artists’ rights. In addition to representing filmmakers, Chris serves as counsel to writers, podcast producers, radio personalities, museums and foundations, as well as Film Independent. He currently serves asco-president of the Board of Directors for the International Documentary Association and has been named an Attorney of the Year by California Lawyer for his advocacy work.

Donaldson Callif Perez is a Los Angeles-based law firm that specializes in representing independent producers of film, television and web-based content. They focus on financing, production and distribution, but are also renowned for their clearance and intellectual property work, especially in the area of fair use. Veteran entertainment attorney Michael Donaldson has been working on fair use issues for 35 years, including the firm’s 16 years in operation.

Silman-James Press is an independent book publisher based in Los Angeles. Founded in 1990 by Gwen Feldman and Jim Fox, they publish books on filmmaking, the motion picture industry, music, costume, the performing arts, the game of chess, and—most recently—sumo and Japanese culture.