Rights and Royalties: What Independent Producers Need to Know
Vice president of rights and royalties company Counterpoint Systems explains how to thrive in a shrinking film market
by Ben Clasper
URL: http://www.moviemaker.com/producing/article/rights_and_royalties_what_independent_producers_need_to_know_20100119/
Rights and royalties have not traditionally been a priority for independent producers. Why should they be when between them and the first dollar stands a chain of exhibitors, distributors and agents to manage that area. Yet producers are now taking more of an interest in these arcane legal and bookkeeping matters. Why? Quite simply, the industry has changed; there is less money, fewer companies to pitch and a new generation of moviemakers and producers challenging the concept of copyright and bypassing traditional windows for distribution.