Copyright in films and television programmes

Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis
Produced in partnership with Greg Ruback of Bristows , Jake Palmer of Bristows and Richard Dickinson of Bristows
Practice notes

Copyright in films and television programmes

Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis

Produced in partnership with Greg Ruback of Bristows , Jake Palmer of Bristows and Richard Dickinson of Bristows

Practice notes

For the purposes of copyright law the term 'film' means a recording, on any medium, from which a moving image may by any means be produced. A television programme is protected as a film for these purposes and the definition is intended to be technology neutral.

This Practice Note looks at the copyright protection afforded to film and television programmes themselves as copyright works and Practice Note: Copyright in film and television: making a new film looks at some issues regarding the types of works (dramatic, literary, musical and Artistic works) known as the 'underlying rights' which a producer may need to create or be required to license during the process of making a new film or television production.

The legal issues relating to television formats are not addressed in this Practice Note; instead, see Practice Note: Television format rights.

Copyright in films

The general rule is that the subsistence of copyright in existing films depends upon the date of their creation and is determined

Greg Ruback
Greg Ruback

Of Counsel, Bristows

Greg is a specialist lawyer in the film and television sector, having spent ten years working in-house for two major Hollywood studios in London and Los Angeles. He also spent nine months on secondment at one of the UK’s biggest terrestrial TV broadcasters.

Greg’s experience covers the full cycle of production and distribution of motion pictures and television content, from acquiring and developing IP, to licensing, marketing and distributing finished content across all media. In addition, Greg’s work includes providing business and legal affairs advice to senior stakeholders in relation to commercial IP and IT transactions for media companies and their co-promotion partners and associated suppliers, including brands, social media influencers, digital agencies, creative services and event management vendors.

As a lawyer licensed in both England and California, Greg is qualified to advise on contractual matters and regulatory regimes for marketing and advertising campaigns in both the UK and the United States.

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Jake Palmer
Jake Palmer

Solicitor, Bristows

Jake joined Bristows as a trainee solicitor in 2017 and is now an associate in the brands, designs and copyright team.
 
Much of Jake’s experience is in brand enforcement, copyright advice and IP disputes. He has been involved with devising a strategy for promptly enforcing rights in the context of social media removals in the fast fashion industry. Recent litigation experience includes a passing off trial in the High Court.
 
Jake has experience drafting advice notes on copyright subsistence and infringement in various contexts, from the film industry to online data use. He also works on trade mark prosecution matters.
 
He has assisted in advising clients on advertising matters and contributed to the latest edition of International Advertising Law.

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Richard Dickinson
Richard Dickinson

Partner and Head of Commercial & Transactional IP, Bristows

·      Richard is the head of Bristows’ Commercial & Transactional IP group. His practice focuses on commercial transactions and advisory work that usually involve the development, exploitation and protection of IP rights at their core, across a range of sectors.

·      Richard has a scientific background and has also worked on secondment with in-house legal teams, both as an associate and as a partner.

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Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom
Related legal acts:
Key definition:
Artistic works definition
What does Artistic works mean?

An original artistic work attracts copyright and such works means a graphic work, photograph, sculpture, collage, a work of architecture and a work of artistic craftsmanship.

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