Why chain of title matters
Distributors, financiers, and insurers look for an unbroken trail from the underlying writer, creator, or rights holder through every option, assignment, and release before funding a project.
Insights · Chain of Title
Chain of Title Digest
Financiers, insurers, and distributors won’t underwrite a deal until they see a clean chain of title from creator to release. Use this digest to keep the paperwork straight and avoid last-minute surprises.
February 7, 2026
Option and assignment clarity
A stack of option letters or assignments that lack release language or are not properly dated can derail the chain; during diligence you need to confirm each has been properly exercised and expressly assigned.
Insights · Chain of Title
- Original writer and director agreements with express ownership and deliverable descriptions.
- Option or first-look letters attached with evidence of exercise, notice, and payment.
- Any joint-venture or co-production agreements that allocate IP ownership.
- Releases from third parties whose contributions touch the final product (e.g., stock footage, likenesses).
Process notes
- Map all prior rights holders, even if the agreement has not yet closed, and confirm releases before calling the project “cleared.”
- Match every payment or notice in the stack with the paperwork; missing invoices or unsigned releases are red flags.
- Track the territory and media rights on each document; lenders will only finance the media they can insure or distribute.
- Document each transfer in a title memorandum so future deals can be closed without re-walking the same chain.
References
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