Like the other TV networks and major Hollywood studios, HBO is pretty straightforward when it comes to rights and clearances. We minimize as many grey areas as possible. HBO Archives is a member of the not-for-profit footage licensing trade group, ASCIL. ASCIL’s mission is to get together as a production community, to clarify and standardize, where we can, the way we all do business. One of ACSIL’s big initiatives relates to the changing and growing digital world, new media and multiplying platforms. The old permissions process is limited in our
new digital world. ACSIL is attempting to modernize the permission, licensing, and best practices process. ACSIL also has a copyright protection group that is exploring ways to neutralize Intellectual Property pirates and abusers of Fair Use. HBO Archives is very flexible with producers who license from us. We do have a standard boilerplate Agreement, but it is not etched in
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© HBO Archives (3)
© HBO Archives
You started at HBO in their Rights & Clearances department of the Sports division in 1989. This was before the mass digitization of archival material, which has become something of a conundrum for those in rights management with the easier dissemination of digital images. How strict is HBO with rights and clearances, and are you developing better ways of protecting your archives?
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