How to find exclusivity agreement for show concept

[_JD_]

I'm trying to tie the producer of a product to my production company by way of exclusivity agreement.

The pilot (and hopefully subsequent shows) will highlight the production methods of the product and the personalities involved in producing said product and the customers themselves.

I am trying to secure funding for the pilot through another production company, but before doing so, I'm trying to make sure that the manufacturer cannot go around me and seek funding for the show or do the show with someone else without me.

If anyone knows a good source for general exclusivity agreements on the internet that relates to what I'm trying to do, I would really appreciate it.

I hope this forum is appropriate for this question...

TIA

Jim

 

[j1clark@ucsd.edu]

I'm trying to tie the producer of a product to my production company by way of exclusivity agreement.

The pilot (and hopefully subsequent shows) will highlight the production methods of the product and the personalities involved in producing said product and the customers themselves.

I am trying to secure funding for the pilot through another production company, but before doing so, I'm trying to make sure that the manufacturer cannot go around me and seek funding for the show or do the show with someone else without me.

If anyone knows a good source for general exclusivity agreements on the internet that relates to what I'm trying to do, I would really appreciate it.

I hope this forum is appropriate for this question...

TIA

Jim

I think you need a real(tm) lawyer, especially one in the entertainment business. I also think this is a question for the 'business' section, rather than the Docu/Events section...

In general when discussion 'new' projects that have some economic potential, one hands the potential client a 'non-disclosure' contract, it is not a contract for payment, just a contract which disallows either party from discussion the project with others. It doesn't prevent the client from looking and discussion other projects with service providers, it just gives coverage for what you and the client may discuss.

If the client goes with another, and you 'see' your project ideas... the NDA will allow you to sue for breach of that NDA contract. You need to take notes and have mail/email transactions, which can later support your claim of priority of the concept, and give credence to a claim of breach, in that you discussed these ideas 'first' with the customer.

In all such matters it really is a crap shoot in any case... ideas are not 'copyrightable', so the other side can claim independent development of a similar concept... it will take the jury to determine whether your claims are supported or not... that is it will take a lot of money to get any court satisfaction...

This is one reason why some people 'sell' pitches. That way it is clear that the pitch becomes the property of the client... and you, the pitcher, get paid for the pitch, whether the client goes with you for completion or not. (Sometimes the 'pitch' is listed under a 'concept development contract', which amounts to approximately the same thing...)