Hi everyone! I just came across an interesting IP-related article that I thought I’d share.
Essentially, it is about how writer and actress Michaela Cole turned down a $1 million Netflix deal because they wouldn’t allow her to retain any of the copyright. Mind you, Cole was only asking for 5% of her copyright (at one point she even just asked for 0.5%), but Netflix executives told her, “It’s not how we do things here. Nobody does that.”
Eventually however, BBC offered her a deal that included “a seat at the table on the production side” and “full creative control and the rights to the work.” The show has since been an Emmy-winning success.
I think this article suggests that there is a shift in power dynamics within the entertainment industry and this may be beneficial for artists who are seeking to retain control of their work.
As is evident from Netflix’s actions, copyright is is a valuable commodity. That said, Cole’s deal with BBC indicates that high quality content is in high demand and this is leading major production companies and distributors to start allowing authors to retain part of their copyright in exchange for that content. You can read the article here: https://www.indiewire.com/2020/07/micaela-coel-turned-down=netflix-million-dollar-offer-1234571456/
Communications Law