Michael Donaldson

Executive VP & Chief Legal Officer, Eog Resources

Search every verified Michael Donaldson interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In a 2015 video, Michael C. Donaldson, an entertainment attorney and author, discussed common fears independent filmmakers have about hiring legal counsel. He stated that the primary concern is cost, but argued that consulting an attorney early in a project is typically less expensive than fixing problems later. Donaldson also noted that filmmakers often fail to obtain signed agreements from contributors, which he said can result in those individuals holding valid copyright claims over elements of the film. Donaldson promoted his book *Clearance & Copyright, 4th Edition*, describing it as a resource that provides contracts and agreements filmmakers need. He emphasized that even small projects, such as a short film made with friends or a camera operator hired from Craigslist, require signed releases to avoid complications during distribution. He added that obtaining proper releases at the time of production is easier than trying to secure them afterward.