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Entertainment IP Lawyers | Modern Legal

Have a Great Idea for Hasbro, Mattel, Disney, Netflix, or Another Entertainment Company?

Every year, thousands of inventors, writers, toy designers, game developers, artists, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs develop exciting new ideas that they hope will become the next Monopoly, Transformers, My Little Pony, Magic: The Gathering, Barbie, or blockbuster streaming series.

Unfortunately, many creators spend months—or even years—developing their concepts only to discover that they have overlooked critical legal issues involving copyright, trademarks, intellectual property ownership, confidentiality, licensing, or idea submission procedures.

At Modern Legal, we help creators evaluate, protect, and strategically present their ideas before they approach major entertainment companies.

Whether your goal is a licensing agreement, royalty arrangement, acquisition, or strategic partnership, we can help you understand the legal landscape and position your project professionally.

What Is an Idea Submission?

An idea submission occurs when an individual or company presents an original concept to another business in hopes that the recipient will:

License the idea
Purchase the concept
Develop the project
Invest in production
Acquire intellectual property rights
Enter into a royalty agreement
Form a joint venture
Negotiate a production or publishing deal

Examples include:

Toy concepts
Board games
Trading card games
Children's books
Mobile apps
Television series
Animated films
Feature films
Comic books
Video game concepts
Character designs
Plush toys
Collectibles
Consumer products
Educational products
Interactive experiences
AI-powered entertainment platforms

Why You Should Never Simply "Send Your Idea"

One of the biggest misconceptions among creators is that copyright law protects ideas.

Generally speaking, it does not.

For example:

An idea for "a family of magical dragons protecting children" may not be protectable.

However:

Original artwork
Scripts
Dialogue
Character descriptions
Storylines
Game mechanics (to a limited extent)
Original illustrations
Written materials
Software code
Musical compositions

may all receive varying forms of legal protection.

Understanding this distinction is one of the most important steps before approaching a major entertainment company.

Companies Often Reject Unsolicited Ideas

Many entertainment companies maintain strict policies regarding unsolicited submissions.

These policies are designed to reduce the risk of lawsuits alleging that a company "stole" someone's idea after independently developing a similar concept.

Companies may:

Refuse to review unsolicited materials
Require online submission portals
Require submission releases
Reject confidential materials
Require acknowledgments regarding independent development
Limit what legal rights a submitter retains

Understanding these procedures before submitting materials can help avoid misunderstandings and better position your project.

Common Legal Issues in Entertainment Idea Submissions

Our attorneys can help evaluate issues including:

Copyright Protection

Questions often include:

Can this script be copyrighted?
Should I register before pitching?
What materials should be registered?
Should artwork be separately registered?
What about AI-generated content?

Trademark Protection

We evaluate:

Titles
Brand names
Character names
Toy lines
Game names
Product branding
Logos
Slogans

Trademark clearance before pitching may reduce future conflicts.

Character Protection

Many entertainment projects revolve around memorable characters.

We evaluate:

Character originality
Similarity risks
Existing franchises
Potential infringement concerns
Character branding opportunities

Licensing Strategy

Sometimes selling the idea outright is not the best option.

Alternative structures may include:

Exclusive licenses
Non-exclusive licenses
Royalty agreements
Option agreements
Merchandising rights
Territory restrictions
Streaming rights
International rights
Publishing rights
Sequel rights
Spin-off rights

Understanding these possibilities can dramatically affect the long-term value of your intellectual property.

Chain of Title

Entertainment companies often require proof that you actually own what you are pitching.

This may include documentation concerning:

Copyright ownership
Independent contractors
Artists
Writers
Co-creators
Assignment agreements
Work-made-for-hire issues

Failure to establish a clear chain of title can delay or derail negotiations.

How the Idea Submission Process Typically Works

Every company has its own procedures, but the process often looks something like this:

Step 1

Develop the concept.

Step 2

Document creation dates.

Step 3

Evaluate copyright issues.

Step 4

Consider copyright registration.

Step 5

Conduct trademark clearance.

Step 6

Review ownership documentation.

Step 7

Develop presentation materials.

Step 8

Identify appropriate submission channels.

Step 9

Review submission agreements.

Step 10

Negotiate licensing or acquisition terms if interest develops.

Entertainment Companies That Frequently Receive Idea Submissions

Depending upon the project, creators may wish to approach companies such as:

Hasbro
Mattel
Disney
Pixar
Nickelodeon
DreamWorks
Universal
Warner Bros.
Netflix
Amazon MGM Studios
Apple TV+
Sony Pictures
Lionsgate
Cartoon Network
LEGO
Spin Master
Ravensburger
Asmodee
Electronic Arts
Ubisoft
Epic Games

Each company typically has its own submission procedures and internal review processes.

Potential Rights That May Be Negotiated

Every deal is different.

Potential rights may include:

Copyright ownership
Trademark licenses
Character licensing
Publishing rights
Television rights
Film rights
Streaming rights
Digital rights
Mobile application rights
Video game rights
Merchandising rights
Toy manufacturing rights
International distribution
Translation rights
Audio rights
Podcast rights
Theme park rights
Promotional rights
AI training rights
NFT or digital collectible rights (where applicable)
Future derivative works
Sequel rights
Prequel rights

Can You License an Idea Instead of Selling It?

Sometimes.

Rather than assigning ownership outright, creators may negotiate:

Royalties
Milestone payments
Advances
Minimum guarantees
Performance obligations
Renewal options
Sales-based compensation
Revenue sharing
Profit participation

Every agreement should be carefully reviewed by qualified legal counsel.

Illustrative Example: Toy Concept Licensing

Imagine an inventor develops an innovative educational board game for children ages 6–10.

Instead of attempting to manufacture and distribute the product independently, the inventor may decide to approach a major toy company.

If the company expresses interest, discussions could include:

Exclusive licensing rights
Product development
Manufacturing
Marketing support
Retail distribution
International expansion
Royalty payments based on sales
Audit rights
Quality control provisions
Termination rights if sales targets are not met

The specific terms depend on the negotiations and the value of the intellectual property.

Illustrative Example: Animated Series Pitch

A creator develops:

Original characters
Pilot script
Story bible
Character artwork
Season outline

Before pitching the project, legal counsel may assist with:

Copyright registration
Trademark searches
Character review
Submission agreement analysis
Option agreement review
Production agreement negotiations

If a studio wishes to move forward, the parties may negotiate development rights, compensation, credit, royalties, and ownership.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone steal my idea?

Ideas themselves often receive limited legal protection. However, original expression, artwork, scripts, code, and other protectable works may qualify for copyright protection. Proper planning before submission is important.

Should I copyright my idea?

You generally cannot copyright a mere idea, but many materials associated with the project may be eligible for copyright registration.

Do I need a trademark?

If your project includes a distinctive brand name, product line, character name, or logo, trademark protection may be worth considering.

Should I use a nondisclosure agreement (NDA)?

Some companies will not sign NDAs before reviewing submissions. Whether an NDA is appropriate depends on the circumstances and the recipient's policies.

What is a submission release?

Many entertainment companies require creators to sign agreements acknowledging that the company may already be developing similar concepts and limiting certain legal claims. These documents should be reviewed carefully.

Can I negotiate royalties?

Possibly. Compensation structures vary depending on the bargaining power of the parties, the uniqueness of the property, market demand, and the company's business model.

What if multiple people created the project?

Ownership should be clarified before any submission. Co-creators, contractors, and collaborators may each have legal rights unless ownership has been properly assigned.

What if AI helped create my project?

Artificial intelligence raises evolving questions concerning copyright eligibility, ownership, licensing terms, and disclosure obligations. Legal review may be appropriate before commercialization.

How Modern Legal May Be Able to Help

We offer strategic legal services designed to help creators reduce risk and present their projects professionally.

Our services may include:

Entertainment IP consultations
Copyright strategy
Copyright registration
Trademark clearance
Trademark applications
Character similarity analysis
Idea submission counseling
Submission agreement review
NDA review
Option agreement review
Licensing agreement review
Royalty agreement review
Publishing agreement review
Chain-of-title review
AI intellectual property counseling
Entertainment contract negotiations
Cease-and-desist analysis
Copyright infringement opinions
Fair use evaluations
Entertainment dispute counseling

Why Work With Vondran Legal?

Vondran Legal focuses on intellectual property and technology-related legal matters, including copyright, trademark, licensing, digital media, AI, entertainment, and online content disputes.

We understand that every creative project represents significant time, talent, and investment. Our goal is to help clients identify legal issues early, develop thoughtful protection strategies, and navigate negotiations with greater confidence.

No attorney can guarantee that a company will purchase, license, or develop a submitted idea. However, experienced legal guidance may help creators avoid common pitfalls, better understand their rights, and prepare for productive business discussions.

Schedule a Consultation

If you are preparing to submit a toy, game, screenplay, television concept, film project, mobile application, digital product, or other creative work to an entertainment company, Vondran Legal can help you evaluate the legal issues before you press "Send."

Idea Submission Lawyer