A
legal release is a
legal instrument that acts to terminate any legal
liability between the releasor and the releasee(s), signed by the releasor. A release may also be made orally in some circumstances. Releases are routinely used by
photographers, in
film production, by
documentary filmmakers, or by
radio and
music producers when they photograph, film, video or record the voice or performance of individuals to be sure that the person consents or will not later object to the material being used for whatever purpose the release (or anyone they may assign the release rights to) wishes, i.e. that the wishes to use the images, sounds or any other rendering that is a result of the recording made of the releasor (or property owned by the releasor for which the releasor may claim some other right such as
industrial design rights,
trademark or
trade dress rights). This will help in insuring the
copyright owner has a clean
chain of title for any work if it is later published, broadcast, shown in a public cinema or otherwise made public.