In need of a Chinese Video Release

May 30, 2011 11:21 PM

How do I find a Chinese Release form? Chinese-Language video resources needed...

I'm working on a small-scale documentary about the upcoming dragon boat festival here in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. I'm looking to get video release forms written in Chinese to have all my bases covered, legally-speaking.

Right now, my best option is probably to drop this standard form into google translate. But let's face it, that's probably going to result in a very strange document.

Does anyone know of any chinese-language video websites that might have an equivalent to this form?

posted by seansbrain to Media & Arts (7 answers total)

Note that you need more than just a translation of a U.S. video release form, you need one that complies with Taiwan's legal requirements (which may well differ from U.S. requirements). I don't know where to find such a document, but as someone largely ignorant of such things, I'd probably start by contacting the American Institute in Taiwan to see if someone in their American Cultural Center can point you towards a Taiwanese video production company who would be willing to give you a copy of their standard release form (I'd probably also try asking the AIT's reference librarians).
posted by RichardP at 2:16 AM on May 31, 2011

You're going to need local counsel on this. The tort environment in Taiwan is likely to be radically different than that in the US.

IAAL, and I do tort law all day, and I don't want to touch this one with a ten-foot pole.
posted by valkyryn at 4:19 AM on May 31, 2011

Getty provides its releases here in a few different languages, including a few varieties of Chinese. Might not be exactly what you need, but perhaps a start.
posted by msbrauer at 5:21 AM on May 31, 2011

If you have a local fixer who's done this before, she/he should have some or should be able to translate yours. (I wouldn't worry about Taiwanese legal requirements, unless you're planning on distributing the film there.)

But, if not, get people's verbal releases on camera.
posted by Ideefixe at 8:47 AM on May 31, 2011

Not a subject I know much about, but a search in Chinese found this blog post from a Taiwanese still photographer that includes a sample release form (the bit in the text box at the bottom) - text of that mentions rights to moving as well as still imagery. He says in his opening para that there still aren't any clear laws about image rights in the ROC (post made mid-2010). HTH.
posted by Abiezer at 2:40 PM on May 31, 2011

All of these answers are truly fantastic. Thank you for your help. I'll have a translator/fixer on the day of shooting, so I now have several great options. All of the information in here was incredibly informative. Thank you, all.
posted by seansbrain at 1:13 AM on June 2, 2011

seansbrain, I'm glad you found our comments helpful (to be honest, I'm not sure how useful we were). If you decide you want a local ROC lawyer to either review a release you obtain yourself or to draft one from scratch, the AIT has document listing lawyers willing to represent Americans in Taiwan. That document also provides the Republic of China Bar Association's phone number if you want a referral to a different lawyer (although the RoC Bar only provides referrals if you can speak Chinese).
posted by RichardP at 4:35 AM on June 2, 2011