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Capture consent for interviews, video content, and case studies used in marketing or editorial.
A media release is a broader form of release covering interviews, video content, podcast appearances, case studies, and any other production involving a participant's voice, image, story, or quotes. It is the document a podcaster, documentary filmmaker, content marketer, or PR team asks a guest or subject to sign before recording.
Common situations where this document is the right tool for the job.
You are recording a podcast interview with an external guest.
A customer is featured in a video testimonial, case study, or documentary.
You are interviewing a subject matter expert for editorial content.
A recorded webinar or event will feature speakers other than your employees.
You are producing a case study that quotes a named client.
A brand ambassador or influencer is creating content for your business.
The essential provisions every media release should include.
Participant (interviewee, subject, guest) and producer (the business or media outlet).
Format (podcast interview, video, documentary, case study), date, location, and general subject matter.
Participant grants the producer the right to record, edit, distribute, and use the recording in any media, globally and perpetually (or a narrower scope if agreed).
Producer retains the right to edit, excerpt, and combine the recording with other material. Participant acknowledges they have no right to approve final cut unless specifically agreed.
Participant warrants that statements made are truthful, do not infringe third-party IP, and do not defame any person.
Participant can grant similar rights to other producers unless an exclusivity clause is specifically included.
Any payment to the participant (often nil for podcast guests and case-study subjects; sometimes an honorarium).
How the participant will be credited (name, title, company). Wrong credit is a common complaint — get this specific.
Participant indemnifies the producer for any claim arising from participant's statements being untruthful, defamatory, or infringing.
Australian state law; mandatory negotiation before litigation.
Getting consent after the fact is painful. Participants who see a rough cut sometimes change their mind or demand edits. A signed release up front establishes the producer's editorial control.
If the participant says something defamatory or uses copyrighted material (e.g. sings a song), the producer's risk is significantly reduced by the participant's indemnity in the release.
Netflix, Amazon, Spotify, and most major podcast networks require signed releases for every identifiable participant before distribution. Even YouTube's copyright and privacy processes give weight to signed consent.
Sending a release alongside the calendar invite signals 'we know what we're doing'. Professional guests expect it; amateur producers look amateurish when they don't send one.
Yes. A media release is an ordinary commercial contract under Australian law. Electronic signatures on it are recognised as valid under the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (Cth)and the state-based equivalents (e.g. Electronic Transactions Act 2000 (NSW), Electronic Transactions (Victoria) Act 2000, Electronic Transactions (Queensland) Act 2001).
Under section 10 of the Commonwealth Act, an electronic signature is valid if it identifies the signer, indicates their intent to be bound, and uses a method as reliable as appropriate in the circumstances. SignBolt captures timestamp, IP address, and signer identity — which meets this "reliable method" test for ordinary commercial signing.
Certain document types are excluded from electronic-signing provisions in some states (wills, statutory declarations in some contexts, land titles documents). A media release is not in those excluded categories — electronic signature is valid.
This page is general information, not legal advice. For high-value or unusual arrangements, obtain a one-off review from a qualified Australian legal practitioner.
Questions we get about the Media Release template.
Yes. A photo release covers a specific photograph or set of photographs. A media release is broader — covering audio recordings, video, interviews, stories, and any editorial content featuring the participant. Media releases usually include stronger editorial-control clauses because the content is more substantial and the edit more material.
Technically, implied consent is often enough for audio podcast guests, because showing up to the interview and speaking into a microphone demonstrates consent to the recording being released. However, a written release removes any ambiguity, documents editorial control, and is required by most major distribution platforms. It is a very low-friction ask of any professional guest.
It depends on the release. A well-drafted release is perpetual and irrevocable, so withdrawal is not possible unilaterally. Some producers choose to honour withdrawal requests anyway (especially for podcast guests who have had a bad experience) but that is a courtesy, not a legal requirement. For documentary and journalistic work, irrevocable consent is standard industry practice.
The producer is exposed to defamation risk even with a release — the indemnity protects the producer against the participant but not against third parties. Best practice: edit out clearly defamatory statements; require the participant to indemnify; consider media liability insurance; and take legal advice before publishing anything that might defame a named third party.
Yes. Media releases are covered by the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (Cth). Electronic signatures are valid. SignBolt's audit trail (timestamp, IP, signer identity) provides the evidentiary record that supports the producer's editorial rights if they are later challenged.
Payment is not a legal requirement for consent to be valid — consent can be freely given without payment. In most podcast and editorial contexts, guests appear for exposure and are not paid. For professional testimonial production (e.g. a paid customer case study in a marketing campaign), a small honorarium is common and should be documented in the release.
Employees generally have no personal IP rights in content produced in the course of employment — the employer owns it under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). However, a media release from the employee is still good practice because it covers the use of their image and voice (which are not copyright but are covered by privacy and publicity-type claims) and creates clarity if the employee later leaves the company.
Free plan covers 3 documents per month — more than enough to get this signed today. No credit card required.