> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.cinelaunch.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.cinelaunch.io/general-business-affairs/certificate-of-engagement.md).

# Certificate of Engagement

#### **Certificate of Engagement**

A Certificate of Engagement is a short document signed by an individual who works on a film, such as an actor, director, producer or key crew member. It confirms that their services, and everything they create, are work-made-for-hire owned by the production company, or are fully assigned to it. It’s the employment-side equivalent of the Certificate of Authorship that writers sign.

It’s usually attached as an exhibit to the deal memo or long-form agreement and signed together with it. In a loan-out structure, the talent contracts through their own company, and the loan-out company signs the main agreement. The individual then personally signs the Certificate of Engagement, often with an inducement letter, so the production holds the rights directly from the person as well as from their company.

A typical Certificate of Engagement covers:

* **Work-for-hire.** It confirms the engagement and states that all results and proceeds of the person’s services belong to the producer, as the author for copyright purposes, from creation.
* **Backup assignment.** It assigns to the producer anything that doesn’t qualify as work-for-hire.
* **Moral rights waiver.** It waives “droit moral” and similar rights to the extent the law allows.
* **Name and likeness.** It grants the right to use the person’s name, likeness and biography in connection with the picture and its advertising.
* **Originality.** It warrants that the person’s contributions are original and don’t infringe anyone else’s rights.
* **No injunctive relief.** The individual’s remedies are limited to money damages and can’t include an injunction against the film. This matters most to financiers and distributors.

The Certificate of Engagement is simple and often an afterthought, but it’s a load-bearing piece of chain of title. A missing one, particularly from a director or a producer who contributed creatively, is the kind of gap that surfaces during E\&O review or a distributor’s delivery check.