Course Description:
This class will explore the various business and legal aspects involved in content production and creation, from acquiring and clearing rights in the content, creating the content consistent with legal obligations, and examining the upside and downside of various distribution methods. The class will explore both production and distribution of audio, print, video, and interactive media formats.
The class will be evenly split between production issues and distribution issues. In the first half of the class, we will discuss how to acquire rights to a story, “fair use”, when to use releases, production agreements, talent agreements, product integration, and financing vehicles. In the second half of the class, we will examine distribution, including option agreements, the characteristics of various distribution and/or publishing arrangements, and how to best leverage your distribution to meet your overall goals.
Students taking this class should have completed COM 558 or COM 560. Prerequisites will be checked before an add code is given.
University of Washington
Department of Communication