Legal Question in Entertainment Law in California
screenplay and novel contract rights
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have a question for you. I am a screenplay writer beginner and I finished my creation. I want create now a novel about the same story like my screenplay. Is it possible to sell the screenplay seperately to an other person that I sell my novel form of this story?
Thank you very much
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: screenplay and novel contract rights
You can absolutely sell the novelization rights and motion picture/screenplay right to different entities.
When you negotiate the sale of the screenplay rights, you make sure you hire an entertainment attorney, and tell him you want to retain the novelization rights. Likewise, when and if you negotiate the sale of the Novelization rights, you insure that you retain the screenplay/motion picture rights to the story.