Life Rights
Definition
A legal agreement where a real person grants a filmmaker permission to depict their life, name, and likeness in a film. Life rights protect against defamation, privacy, and right-of-publicity claims. They are not strictly required to make a film about a real person (especially public figures), but they provide legal safety and often include cooperation from the subject for interviews and access.
Example
A filmmaker secures life rights from a retired detective for a true crime series. The agreement includes access to case files, cooperation for interviews, and protection against privacy claims for $15,000 plus 2% of net profits.
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