Do you want to book guests on your podcast?
Then you’ll need a podcast guest release form.
In order to protect your legal rights when recording and distributing jointly created podcast episodes, having each and every guest sign a podcast guest release form is essential.
This article will discuss why you need a podcast guest release form and where to get affordable lawyer-drafted podcast guest release form templates.
What is a Podcast Guest Release Form?
A podcast guest release form is a legal contract between you and your guest where the guest releases ownership of the final product – the podcast episode – to you. It also gives you permission to use, edit, share, distribute and repurpose the episode.
Why You Need a Podcast Guest Release Form
The most common question from podcasters is “Do I need a podcast guest release form?”
The simple answer is yes, you do need a podcast guest release form for podcast guests to sign if you want to protect your legal rights over your podcast.
Even though you’re the host of the podcast, when you’re recording guest episodes, it isn’t always clear about who owns the rights to the episode because it’s a joint endeavour. But with a signed podcast guest release form, the guest releases their rights to the episode to you – giving you the copyright.
Having your podcast guests sign a podcast guest release form protects your podcast (and your business) if a guest ever disputes your use of the podcast in the future. Let’s say for example, that a guest decides to sue you over rights to the episode, with a signed podcast guest release form, you have proof that they had released their rights to the episode to you and that the copyright is yours. Without a signed podcast guest release form, it’s possible that a judge could grant the guest rights over how you use the episode.
So, by having a signed podcast guest release form, you can prevent future unnecessary legal headaches.
Where to Get Podcast Guest Release Form Templates
But where can you get affordable podcast guest release form templates?
You’ve probably seen tons of free podcast guest release form templates online. However, I’d stay clear of anything that isn’t clearly drafted by a legal professional. When it comes to legal contracts, I like to leave it to the pros.
Unfortunately, with free podcast guest release form templates that you find online, you just don’t know if they cover the necessary legal clauses to fully protect your podcast. In addition, when you use a podcast guest release form template that you found online, you might actually be infringing on someone else’s copyright. Even though a template is in the public domain, like through a Google search, it doesn’t mean that the person who shared it online has the rights to share it. And consequently, you may not have the legal right to use it. Fortunately, there are legal professionals who sell licences to use their podcast guest release form templates. And Online Legal Essentials is one of them.
Online Legal Essentials is owned and operated by Corinne Boudreau, a Nova Scotia Lawyer. Online Legal Essentials sells a variety of legal templates to help business owners with the legal stuff in their business.Online Legal Essentials sells the Podcast Legal Template pack that gives you everything you need to protect your podcasts legal rights. It includes three (3) customizable legal templates that can be instantly downloaded upon purchase:
Podcast Guest Release Form Template
The Podcast Legal Template pack includes a podcast guest release form template so that you can obtain permission to use content from any of your guests.
Podcast Production Agreement
Although we haven’t discussed it in this article, if you are hiring a podcast producer for your podcast, you’ll want to clearly set out the rights and responsibilities between you and the podcast producer. The Podcast Template pack includes the Podcast Production Agreement so that you can do so.
Podcast Sponsorship Agreement
And finally, if you intend to monetize your podcast through sponsorships, then you’ll need a Podcast Sponsorship Agreement. This way your sponsors have a clear understanding of their rights and responsibilities with respect to your podcast.
So, it’s a no-brainer, if you haven’t yet purchased podcast legal templates then you’ll want to get your hands on the Podcast Legal Template pack. I bought the Podcast Legal Template pack over a year ago and I use the podcast guest release form template and the podcast sponsorship agreement all the time for my podcast.
To check out Online Legal Essentials Podcast Template pack, click here. And if decide to buy any of Online Legal Essentials’ template packs, use the coupon code EVASPARE10 at cart to receive an additional 10% off.
What do you have to lose?
Head on over to Online Legal Essentials today.
Disclaimer #1
Evaspare Inc. is an affiliate of Online Legal Essentials and may receive monetary compensation, at no extra cost to you, when you click on links and/or use promotional codes.
Disclaimer #2
Please be advised that I am not a legal professional and the information in this article is not to be considered legal advice. Instead, this article is intended to be informational and educational in nature and consulting with a legal professional is always encouraged.