TV Pilot show? Legalities? Royalties?

I'll try not to make this too confusing!


I am starting business as sole distributor for fantastic new childrens' toys.


The creator of toys has commissioned and obtained 30 seconds of animation of these toys...he has no more funding to increase length of animation.


I have a very interested professional animator prepared to continue animation to a 'pilot' length.


As sole distributor I would like to approach TV companies with a pilot length animation of the products I am promoting and selling.


If animation accepted by TV company, who owns rights to it......the original 30second animator?....the animator who lengthens it to pilot?.....the creator of original/copywrite idea?....me,who provides story board and commisions 2nd


animator? or TV company?....


Can anyone tell me how this works please...also, does the TV company buy the animation if they want it....should they want further episodes. who would pay for that? Are their Royalties involved?...if so,who is entitled?


Help please.

TV Pilot show? Legalities? Royalties?
Contact Own It. They are a body that specialises in advice on intellectual property rights in the creative industries. You need to register (free) on their website to access all the information. They also provide some free legal advice and will point you in the right direction for further help.





I've attended several of their free events in London and they're excellent.





The British Library also has an intellectual property section that you can subscribe to on-line but I'd go to Own It first.





Good luck!
Reply:If the studio picks up the idea, they will want to distribute it, therefore they are the distributor. They get paid after the TV producers, writers etc... get paid and that takes years (around 100 episodes.) They'll also have a producer take care of the production work, storyboards, writers, animators, etc....





Your position sounds like agent, and you get a portion, usually 10%, of the deal.





The toy creator gets whatever deal s/he can from the studio and royalties, since they own the copyright.





I cannot give you exact numbers because it depends on how much the studio wants the product. Also most of these items are negotiable (meaning contract) so you'll need a good lawyer.