Media Release Form

What is the purpose of a media release form?

A media release form is a legal document that grants permission to use an individual’s likeness, voice, image, or statements in various forms of media, including photography, video, audio recordings, and written content. This template represents an individual’s formal consent for the use of their image or other media by an organization, business, creator, or any other entity.

A media release template is a mandatory document every business, organization, or creator should have when sharing, advertising, publishing, or distributing media that contains an individual’s likeness or other unique features.

The parties involved in a release template are a releasor and a release receiver. A releasor is always an individual who grants permission for their media or content to be used. For instance, a releasor could be:

• a student whose academic achievements will be published on the university’s webpage;
• a guest speaker whose experience or life achievements match the topic of a podcast or TV show;
• a volunteer, whose picture could be included on a nonprofit organization’s promotional materials, etc.

A release receiver is an entity, business, or individual who gets the rights to use the media containing the releasor. It could be a school, production company, brand, producer of a TV reality show, etc.

What is the difference between a media release form and a model release form?

A media release form and a model release form are often confused by many users. Despite their similarity, two documents serve different purposes:

• First, a model form is widely used for commercial purposes. For instance, advertising or promotional marketing campaigns. While a media form is used typically for editorial, educational, informational, and other non-promotional purposes.
• Second, a releasor under a model form gets a monetary compensation, while this is not the case for a media release template.

How do I write a media release consent form?

A media release consent form is a simple one-page document. Despite its simplicity a consent form has to cover a number of essential elements to become a legally binding document. Below we made a list of key points you have to include:

Details of the Parties

A consent form shall include the full name and address of a releasor (i.e., a person who makes a consent form) and a release receiver (i.e., a person who gets permission).

Parties may also include contact information like phone number or email. This is especially important if the consent is being issued for a limited period of time.

For a media release form for minors template, a full name and address of a minor’s guardian or parent should also be included.

Duration of the Consent

A release template should always reflect the period of its duration. A release form could be issued:

• for an indefinite period of time;
• until a specific date in the future; or
• until the occurrence of specific events in the future (e.g., a project’s expiration, specific violations by a release receiver, etc.).

When a media release form is issued for an indefinite period of time, a releasor shall have a right to revoke it at any time. Revocation of a release form takes place in writing. In that case a releasor shall send a written notification to a release receiver informing them about the revocation of a consent form.

When a release form expires on an agreed date, a release shall not send any notification informing the same. Such an expiration takes place automatically. If, however, a release receiver intends to keep using the media, a new media release consent form should be granted instead.

Scope of Release

A media release agreement template shall outline the exact scope of rights granted to a release receiver. Therefore, the following key points should be covered:

• Type of media/content: detailed description, content format (e.g., photo, podcast, voice), date of creation;
• Modification of media/content: a consent form shall address whether a release receiver is allowed to modify or edit in any way released content;
• Scope of media/content application: publication on a website, printed materials, social media posts, TV show, etc.
• Any applicable restrictions: a release receiver shall keep confidential a releasor’s address, phone number, and other private details.

It is vital to understand that under a release template, a receiver does not get any material compensation for the provided release.

How to customize a release form at Faster Draft?

To customize a media release consent form, follow a few easy steps below:

1. Click the button “Create Document.”
2. Answer simple questions in the form.
3. Select a document’s format—media release agreement PDF or Word.
4. Make a payment.
5. E-sign, download, print, and use your customized legal document template in minutes.