In today's complex media environment, aspiring filmmakers and new media artists are as vulnerable as swimmers in shark-infested waters. This user-friendly guide supplies creative artists with the essential legal concepts needed to swim safely with lawyers, agents, executives, and other experts in intellectual property and business law.

How do I copyright my screenplay? How can I clear rights for my film project? What can I do to avoid legal trouble when I produce my mockumentary? How do I ascertain whether a vintage novel is in the public domain? Is the trademark I've invented for my production company available? What about copyright and trademark rights overseas? If I upload my film to YouTube, do I give up any rights?

Bill Seiter and Ellen Seiter answer these questions and countless others while also demystifying the fundamental principles of intellectual property. Clear and thorough, this plain-spoken and practical guide is essential for anyone seeking to navigate the rapidly changing media environment of today.

Ellen Seiter is the Stephen K. Nenno Professor in the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California. Bill Seiter is an intellectual property attorney who concentrates on US and international trademark, copyright, and Internet matters.

"An outstanding and original work. It is rare to find a book this loaded with foundational information that is also a true pleasure to read. "The Creative Artist's Legal Guide" is a unique and significant contribution to the study of media industries and media law, and it will be a tremendous resource for students, teachers, and industry professionals."--Jennifer Holt, author of Empires of Entertainment: Media Industries and the Politics of Deregulation, 1980-1996