Story Rights: The First Step to Protecting Your Film

Before a camera rolls or a deal is signed, there’s one critical thing every film producer must secure: the legal right to the story.

It doesn't matter if you’re adapting a best-selling novel, turning a newspaper article into a documentary, or dramatizing a real-life event — if you don't properly own or license the rights to the source material, you’re setting your entire project up for serious legal trouble. Even worse, you could lose the film after it's made.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what you need to know:

1. Screenplays: Always Get a Written Agreement

If you're working with an original screenplay written by someone else, you need a written agreement (usually called an option or purchase agreement). This document spells out that you either have:

• The exclusive right to develop the screenplay for a set time (an option), or
  
• Full ownership once you pay an agreed-upon purchase price.
  
  

Never rely on a handshake deal or an email "okay." Written contracts are the only way to truly protect your rights.

2. Books, Articles, and Other Published Works

If your film is based on a book, magazine article, blog post, or other published work, you must negotiate rights with the copyright owner — usually the author or publisher.
This is often done through an option agreement (giving you time to develop the project) and a purchase agreement (once you’re ready to move forward).

Producers should also check if the work is in the public domain — but don’t assume. Always verify with an entertainment lawyer.

3. Real-Life Stories: Handle With Care

Telling a story based on real people’s lives brings another layer of risk: right of publicity and defamation claims. Even if the facts are public, individuals (or their estates) can claim you used their name, likeness, or story without permission.
Best practice? Secure life rights agreements — even if you think the person won't sue. It's better to be proactive than to spend your budget fighting lawsuits.

Final Thought:

Story rights are the legal foundation of your film. Without them, distributors won’t touch your project, investors will walk away, and lawsuits can destroy all your hard work.

Before you dive into production, protect yourself — and your film — by making sure you own or have licensed the rights you need.

When in doubt, consult an experienced entertainment attorney. In the film business, an ounce of prevention is worth millions in protection.