Director, Rights & Clearances
Director, Rights & Clearances
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$ 130000 - 140000
1 Vacancy
Job Description
ABOUT SONY PICTURES NONFICTION
Sony Pictures Televisions Nonfiction group is the feature documentary premium content and reality unit within Sony Pictures Television (SPT). Through ownership interests in or partnerships with production companies Sharp Entertainment The Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC) B17 Entertainment 19 Entertainment This Machine Filmworks Maxine and more. The group creates and produces content in every form of nonfiction programming for audiences worldwide currently totaling more than 100 series across 35 networks
Key programs include the global hits American Idol co-produced by 19 Entertainment and So You Think You Can Dance co-produced by 19 Entertainment; Sharp Entertainments 90 Day Fianc franchise for TLC Love After Lockup franchise for WeTV and Man v. Food for Cooking Channel; IPCs documentary series Were Here for HBO The DAmelio Show for Hulu and SelenaChef for Food Network; and B17 Entertainments Thanks a Million for Roku The Final Straw for ABC Dark Marvels for History Channel and the Emmy-nominated The Book of Queer on MAX. Additionally 19 Recordings has launched the music careers of Platinum artists including Kelly Clarkson Carrie Underwood Daughtry Phillip Phillips Lauren Alaina and more recently country music rising star Gabby Barrett American Idol winners Iam Tongi as well as finalists Megan Danielle and Colin Stough.
DIRECTOR OF RIGHTS & CLEARANCES
The Director of Rights & Clearances is responsible for overseeing content clearance through all stages of production from development through post-production on behalf of Sony Pictures Television Nonfiction and its related companies. The primary focus is on reviewing episodic cuts and related materials across a variety of unscripted programming including documentary series/features reality and competition shows to confirm appropriate clearance standards are met while identifying addressing and resolving legal business and reputational risks. This is a hands-on role working directly with showrunners production archival legal insurance and other internal and external partners to maintain clearance standards throughout project lifecycle.
Core Responsibilities:
- Serve as the rights and clearances lead for episode cuts and related materials to screen for logos music archival material talent appearances privacy issues defamation and other clearance concerns.
- Coordinate with internal and external counsel on intellectual property fair use defamation privacy publicity and other legal risks.
- Flag issues communicate clearance notes propose practical fixes and confirm compliance with network and platform guidelines.
- Oversee the securing of licenses for third-party materials by production teams.
- Train producers and editors on best practices early in the creative process.
- Attend creative meetings to anticipate clearance challenges before filming or post.
- Provide rapid turnaround guidance to production and post teams throughout production and editorial processes.
- Maintain organized files for locations agreements appearance releases materials licenses stock footage and vendor files.
- Supervise the preparation of clearance logs and related network legal deliverables.
- Update internal guidelines and templates for ongoing production and studio compliance.
Requirements:
- 6 years of clearance experience in unscripted and documentary television production.
- Strong experience reviewing episode cuts and other project-related materials for legal clearance and reputational risks.
- Deep knowledge of copyright trademark privacy defamation publicity defamation and fair use principals.
- Fluency with production paperwork such as appearance releases location agreements music licenses and guild or union deliverables.
- Proven ability to identify PR and reputational risks in sensitive subject matter (true crime controversial topics celebrity content etc.).
- Skilled in negotiating licenses for third-party materials.
- Highly organized with excellent recordkeeping and clearance tracking skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills and ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear production notes.
- Bachelors degree required; paralegal certificate or JD a plus but not required.
- Eligible to work in the US and available to travel and work on-site as production requires.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Familiarity with studio network delivery requirements (Netflix Amazon Hulu Warner Bros. Discovery Fox etc.).
- Experience on large-format competition or live event series.
- Prior negotiation of third-party license fees (e.g. professional sports) or stock agency deals.
- Knowledge of international clearance standards for global distribution.
Sony Pictures Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race color religion sex national origin disability veteran status age sexual orientation gender identity or other protected characteristics.
SPE will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with applicable law.
To request an accommodation for purposes of participating in the hiring process you may contact us at
Required Experience:
Director
Employment Type
Full-Time
