RPL Partner Nicole Page on Life Rights in Realscreen Online

Reavis Parent Lehrer LLP Parner Nicole Page shares important insights on when and why life rights agreements should be obtained when depicting a real-life subject in “Life Rights — It’s Complicated.” To read the article on Realscreen.com, click here.

“In order to obtain access to and cooperation from subjects as well as to avoid lawsuits alleging defamation, misappropriation of likeness, infliction of emotional distress or other claims, it is sometimes necessary to secure “life rights” agreements, particularly if the life of one particular subject is central to the film. While factual information isn’t copyrightable, fiction and non-fiction filmmakers will likely need to contemplate at some point in their careers whether or not securing life rights is essential to a particular project. Life story rights agreements allow filmmakers to portray and editorialize an individual’s life story. But as you’ll see here, several factors determine whether such an agreement is necessary.”  Read more…