Title Reports: Who Needs Them???? - E&O insurance
Posted by Meghan Stickney on Fri, Apr 03, 2009 @ 07:35 AM
One of the least understood areas dealt with in the hectic world of film and television production is that of Title research and E&O insurance.Entertainment Lawyers often comment on how often their Clients ask "Why do we need a Title Search?", as well as "Why is a Title Report for financing so expensive?" Herein, I will attempt to provide simple answers to these excellent, oft-asked questions.
Over the past decade, the huge expansion in both modes of broadcast transmission and new channels, of distribution of content via cable, internet and satellite has made it virtually impossible to completely control by whom as well as where a television program or film property will be seen. Hence, the possibility of potential Title, Copyright of Trademark infringement suits has expanded immeasurable over the past decade.
In order to avoid lawsuits over conflict due to previously used Titles, the insurer underwriting the financing of the production requires a Title Search. The report generated by this search is thus an attempt to reduce the risk of a lawsuit by meeting the insurance application requirements and ensuring as much as is possible the uniqueness of your Title. Increasingly, due to the rapid growth of media content spill-over into neighboring foreign markets, Entertainment Lawyers and Insures are requiring basic Title Search coverage in both Canada in the US even if the property is licensed for broadcast into just one of the markets initially.
Since 1923, the foremost provider of North American Title and Copyright Reports ahs been Thomson CompuMark. Initially known as Thomson & Thomson, the Boston-based firm now offers research offices in Washington, Boston, and Montreal, as well as local sales offices in 9 cities across North America, Europe and Japan. These capabilities, tired to the numerous proprietary Thomson Corp. databases and continuous major capital investment have enabled Thomson CompuMark to lead the world in Title. Copyright and Trade-Mark research for close to a century!
Coupled with their initial question of "Why is Title Search coverage is required?", the curious producer is then likely to ask "what is being investigated?" In the provision of a Title Report in Canada, the research includes searching all registered and unregistered Canadian trade-marks, the Canadian Copyright Registry, titles in the National Libraries of Canada and Quebec, as well as numerous online sources and proprietary databases. Similarly, in the United States, research is done not just on registered and common law US Federal and State trade-marks, but also titles found in the US copyright Office, the Library of Congress and numerous other online and proprietary sources.
As the world shrinks, International Title coverage is emerging as a major new concern. Thomson CompuMark has responded to this new challenge by introducing our new International Tile Search services in early 2006. This new capability enables us to office Title reports for such vital entertainment markers as the UK, Australia & new Zealand, the European Union, China, Japan and South Korea, as well as South Central America! For each Title , we research common law exact and closely similar title usage across multiple media including film, television and computer games.
Ensure that your television or film production successfully find distribution without costly delays or lawsuits. Use a world-class provider to ensure the smooth, timely progression of your work from pre-productions to successful distribution and release!