A Chain of Title Report is a comprehensive investigation into the legal ownership history of a film, television project, or underlying literary property. It traces the sequence of historical transfers of title—from the original creator to the current owner—to ensure that all intellectual property rights have been correctly assigned and documented.

This service is designed for producers, distributors, financiers and legal teams who require absolute certainty that all rights have been properly secured before production, delivery or sale.

A ‘clean’ chain of title is the bedrock of any successful production. Without a verified paper trail, your project faces significant legal and financial risks that can halt distribution. Our reports are essential for:

E&O Insurance: most insurers require a Chain of Title report before providing coverage.

Financing & Investment: investors and banks need proof of ownership before releasing funds.

Distribution Deals: no distributor will acquire a project without a verified chain of documentation.

Completion Bonds: bond companies must be satisfied that the production entity holds all necessary rights to the script and underlying materials.

Comprehensive Copyright Analysis

We perform a meticulous review of the documentation surrounding your project, to ensure the entire infrastructure of your project is legally secure, including:

Underlying Rights: checking the status of original books, plays, articles or life rights.

Corporate Standing: verification of Certificates of Incorporation and Articles of Association.

Assignments & Transfers: verifying the validity of all Assignments of Rights.

Writer Agreements: reviewing Work-for-Hire agreements and Certificates of Authorship.

Personnel & Talent: ensuring cast and crew agreements include full rights assignments and moral rights waivers.

Music Clearances: auditing Master and Synch Licences and Composer Agreements.

Third Party IP: assessment of licences for footage, trademarks, brands or artwork.

Our reporting does not just list what you have; it highlights what you are missing. We provide a clear assessment of the ‘Chain’ to identify any breaks in the title that could jeopardise your production.

Gap Identification: we flag missing links, expired options, or incomplete assignments.

Risk Mitigation: we provide actionable insights on how to remedy documentation errors.

Final Opinion: a concise summary of the project’s title status for your legal team and underwriters.