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1-5 Entertainment Industry Contracts Form 5-6

Entertainment Industry Contracts

Copyright 2002, Matthew Bender & Company, Inc., a member of the LexisNexis Group.

Part I MOTION PICTURES

A Acquisition and Sale of Rights

Chapter 5 MISCELLANEOUS AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE ACQUISITION AND

SALE OF RIGHTS

1-5 Entertainment Industry Contracts Form 5-6

Form 5-6 Short Form Copyright Assignment with Commentary

This document is a shortened version of the document reflecting the transfer of rights in the
literary property. It is typically used as an exhibit to an option/literary purchase agreement, and
upon acquisition of the literary property, it is recorded with the U.S. Copyright Office instead of
the full-length transfer of rights document. If this document is attached to an option agreement
and the option is not exercised, it is a good idea to request that the original be returned to the
seller.
CONTRACT
CLAUSE COMMENT
CLAUSE
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that, in consideration of One Dollar ($ 1.00) and
other good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the
undersigned (name of assignor) (''Assignor'') do(es) hereby sell, grant, convey and assign unto
(name of assignee) (''Assignee''), its successors, assigns and licensees forever, all right, title and
interest including but not limited to the exclusive worldwide Motion Picture and allied rights of
Assignor in and to that certain literary work to wit: (identify Property, e.g., that certain original
screenplay written by (name of writer) entitled (title of property)) (''Literary Property''), and all
drafts, revisions, arrangements, adaptations, dramatizations, translations, sequels and other
versions of the Literary Property which may heretofore have been written or which may hereafter
be written with the sanction of Assignor.
This instrument is executed in accordance with and is subject to the agreement (the ''Literary
Purchase Agreement'') between the undersigned and the assignee dated as of (date to be filled in)
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1-5 Entertainment Industry Contracts Form 5-6

relating to the purchase of certain rights in the Literary Property, which rights are more fully
described in the Literary Purchase Agreement.
Dated this _________________day of _________________, 19 _________________.
(name of assignor)
(''Assignor'')
By: _________________
Its: _________________

AGREED TO:
(name of assignee)
(''Assignee'')
By: _________________
Its: _________________

[An Acknowledgement must be appended to this Agreement.]

DISCUSSION
The Short Form Copyright Assignment is intended to set forth the very basic information
concerning the identity of the assignor, the identity of the assignee and the identity of the
property. The preferred practice seems to be to recite general consideration and not the specific
amount paid for the property in order to prevent general disclosure of the purchase price. The
signature of the assignor should be notarized, and this document is intended to be recorded in the
U.S. Copyright Office.
[Data Table or Signature Block Omitted]