Legal Articles

• Business License
• Child Labor Laws
• Copyright
• Crew Contracts
• Fictitious Business Name
• Labor Laws
• Limited Liability Company
• Location Release Forms
• Talent Contracts
• Talent Release Forms

• Share the Dream: Documentary Distribution and Sales --Part III
  June, 2006
  by Randal K. West
  Part 3 of a three part series on how to fund, make, and promote your documentary.
• Sound Advice: Bump it Up a Notch
  January, 2006
  by Hal Robertson
  Using segues and bumper music will give your productions a professional touch.
• Model Release Form
  September, 2005
  by Jennifer O'Rourke
  A Videomaker sample release form to use when hiring talent for your next production.
• In Box
  May, 2005
  by Morgan Paar
• Take Five: Five Tips for "Borrowing" Video
  November, 1999
  by Chuck Peters
  Pump up your home video with Hollywood's help.
• Copyright: Legal Issues You Need to Know
  January, 2003
  by Mark Levy
  Get permission or face the music.
• Music in a Box
  January, 2005
  by Hal Robertson
  Suspense! Drama! Romance! Laughs! The emotion of your video can change with a click of a mouse with various ways to get music and sound effects into your video.
• Sound Track: The Copyright Riddle
  December, 1996
  by Loren Alldrin
  There's a whole lot of confusion surrounding copyrights and the use of music in videos. Here are straight answers to the most common questions.
• Mass Media Law
  December, 1995
  by Mark Levy
  Join us for a look at the world of copyright law as it applies to the videomaker.
• Keeping it Legal with Location and Artist Release Forms
  June, 1997
  by Mark Levy
  This article discusses some legal factors to consider when your rights as a videographer conflict--actually or potentially--with the rights of other…
• Profitmaker: Money From Your Brain
  February, 1997
  by William Ronat
  You can turn your ideas into money. But if you don't protect your ideas with copyrights, so can anyone else.
• Profitmaker: Shooting on Location
  September, 1996
  by William Ronat
  Wherever you go, there you are. But are you prepared?
• Permits and Permission: Keeping Your Videos on the Straight and Narrow
  January, 1995
  by John Waters
  To protect yourself and your productions, you need a firm grasp on the legalities of video. This article will help you learn the law of the land.
• Sound Reasoning: Copyright Counts
  October, 1994
  by Doug Polk
• Letters to the Editor
  April, 1996
  by Joe McCleskey
  Ask Videomaker. Questions and comments from our readers and answers from the editor
• Music and Sound Effects Libraries: Your Ticket to Powerful Productions
  February, 1996
  by Dr. Robert G. Nulph
  Music and sound effects are a great way to add spice to your video productions. Fortunately, you don't need a musician or a foley artist to get the job done;…
• In Box
  November, 1997
  by Karen Director
• Make 'Em Look Good: How To Coach On-camera Subjects
  January, 1998
  by Randal K. West
  Few people are comfortable when they face camcorders. This article explains how you can put Nervous Nellies and Difficult Dans at ease and encourage their best…
• Letters to the Editor
  May, 1998
  by Karen Director
  Ask Videomaker. Questions and comments from our readers and answers from the editors.
• Book and Tape Reviews
  August, 1998
  by Don Collins
  Copyrights and Trademarks for Media ProfessionalsDigital Nonlinear EditingBeyond Weddings, Cracking the Commercial Market
• Please Release Me
  September, 1998
  by Chuck Peters
  It is good practice to always use a release form when you'll be including a person's name, face or voice in a video that you are producing for pay. A signed…
• Videomaker FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
  August, 1998
  by Joe McCleskey
  Frequently asked questions from you, frequently offered answers from us.
• Shoot with Caution: Video, the Law and You
  January, 1999
  by Jim Mikles
  Copyright, privacy and permission are important legal principles all videographers should know about. We answer the most common legal questions people have…
• Letters to the Editor
  July, 1999
  by Joe McCleskey
  Ask Videomaker. Questions and comments from our readers and answers from the editor.
• In Box
  September, 1999
  by Don Collins
• In Box
  January, 2000
  by Don Collins
• BG: Music & SFX Libraries
  January, 2000
  by Wendy Nichols
  There is now a massive selection of CD audio that's legal to use and accessible to anyone will to pay the price - and the price isn't bad!
• In Box
  March, 2000
  by Wendy Nichols
• You and Your PC can make Beautiful Music Together
  November, 2001
  by Alan Sheckter
  Learn about music creation software that can create high-quality copyright-free audio for your videos.
• Video Out: Read Me My Rights!
  November, 2001
  by John Davis
  Learn how to protect your intellectual property with this do-it-yourself Web video copyright guide.