DEVELOPMENT CREDIT POLICY

Effective Date: August 4, 2025

Purpose

At AR Studios, we recognize that the development phase is the creative heartbeat of every project. We are committed to ensuring that all individuals who materially contribute to the development of our projects receive proper credit and recognition, while maintaining the Company’s right to withhold credit from individuals whose conduct was unprofessional, unethical, or obstructive to the development process.

Scope

This policy applies to all projects in development by AR Studios across all formats, including television, unscripted, and scripted film, effective immediately.

It ensures that those who contribute meaningfully to the creative development of a project are fairly recognised, while maintaining the Company’s right to withhold credit from individuals whose conduct was unprofessional, unethical, or obstructive to the development process.

Policy

1. Credit for Development Contributors

All individuals who materially contribute to the creative development of a project (“Development Contributors”)—including originators of ideas, development producers, development executives, script editors, story consultants, researchers, writers’ room participants, and creative designers—will be credited in:

  • All internal documentation (development logs, trackers)

  • All pitch materials (pitch decks, bibles, lookbooks)

  • Industry-standard databases such as IMDb, where applicable and allowed

  • Any project records maintained by AR Studios

2. On-Screen Credits

Final on-screen credits for Development Contributors are subject solely to the credit policies and contractual frameworks of broadcasters, streamers, financiers, and production partners, as well as guild and union regulations. AR Studios respects these frameworks and will not impose on-screen credit requirements that conflict with partner agreements.

3. Transparency and Communication

AR Studios will provide partners and collaborators with a clear list of Development Contributors at the pitch and co-production negotiation stages to ensure transparency and proper recognition throughout the project lifecycle.

4. Commitment to Fairness and Industry Leadership

AR Studios is dedicated to championing fair recognition of creative labor and encourages industry peers and partners to adopt similar policies and practices.

5. General Principles of Credit

Development credit may be granted to individuals who:

  • Made a substantive creative contribution to the conception, structure, narrative, or treatment of the project.

  • Participated in collaborative meetings, drafting sessions, or ideation processes over a sustained period.

  • Acted in good faith, and with a spirit of professionalism and respect toward all parties involved.

  • Signed and abided by the Company’s Confidentiality & Professional Conduct Agreement.

Credit may take one of several forms, including:

  • “Developed with [Name]”

  • “Development Consultant”

  • “Co-Creator” (only under extraordinary and contractually agreed circumstances)

AR Studios Ltd retains full discretion over the wording, size, and positioning of development credits.

6. Exclusions - Credit May Be Withheld If:

AR Studios Ltd reserves the right to deny development credit to any individual who:

  • Violated confidentiality obligations or prematurely disclosed project information.

  • Acted unprofessionally, including engaging in gossip, slander, sabotage, or reputational harm against the Company or its personnel.

  • Demonstrated a lack of meaningful contribution, including minimal engagement, non-attendance, or absence of tangible creative input.

  • Displayed disruptive, aggressive, unethical, or dishonest behaviour, including manipulation, obstruction, or bad-faith tactics.

  • Was terminated from the project for misconduct, breach of trust, or failure to adhere to the Company’s standards of behaviour.

AR Studios Ltd is not obligated to explain its decision publicly or privately to award or withhold development credit, although efforts will be made to communicate decisions respectfully.

7. Documentation & Sign-Off:

To ensure clarity, all development collaborators may be asked to sign:

  • A Confidentiality & Professional Conduct Agreement

  • A Development Credit Acknowledgement Form, outlining this policy

Contributors may also be asked to submit a short written statement of their contribution to aid internal review. This is not a guarantee of credit but supports transparency.

8. Final Authority:

The CEO & Founder of AR Studios Ltd retains final authority over the awarding or withholding of development credit. This decision is non-negotiable and not subject to third-party arbitration, unless stipulated by prior contractual agreement.

9. Intellectual Property (IP) Ownership:

All intellectual property, including but not limited to concepts, ideas, formats, titles, themes, treatments, outlines, character designs, worldbuilding elements, dialogue, pitch decks, and any other materials created during the development process of any AR Studios Ltd project, shall be deemed the sole and exclusive property of AR Studios Ltd, unless explicitly agreed otherwise in a separate, written and signed agreement.

Where a co-development agreement is in place that acknowledges shared IP or originating IP from a third party, such rights shall be governed strictly by the terms of that agreement. In the absence of such an agreement, AR Studios Ltd retains full ownership and control of all development materials and related intellectual property.

If a project is not commissioned, financed, or otherwise developed to production within a defined development window (as outlined in the agreement), and if a co-development arrangement exists, rights may revert to the original creator or rights-holder upon written confirmation from AR Studios Ltd, subject to the return or retention of any development funds, attachments, or third-party obligations.

This clause is designed to ensure clarity of ownership while allowing for flexibility in genuine co-development partnerships, in full compliance with UK copyright law and industry best practices.

By participating in the development process, all contributors acknowledge and agree that:

  • They assign in full to AR Studios Ltd all rights, title, and interest in any IP they contribute.

  • No contributor shall retain, exploit, share, repurpose, or redistribute any development material, in whole or in part, without the Company’s explicit written consent.

  • Development credit is not an indicator of ownership or entitlement to future profit participation, unless expressly stated in a signed agreement.

  • AR Studios Ltd reserves the right to further develop, reassign, or abandon projects without consultation or approval from credited contributors.

All contributors are required to sign a Work-for-Hire or IP Assignment Clause prior to beginning work, as a condition of engagement.

Failure to sign this clause will disqualify individuals from participation in development activities with the Company. Breach of this clause constitutes a material breach of agreement and may result in immediate legal action, including injunctive relief and claims for damages.

Implementation

This policy will be communicated to all AR Studios employees, freelancers, and collaborators involved in development.

Credit decisions will be documented and reviewed by senior production leadership to ensure consistency.

Any disputes or questions about development credit will be addressed promptly and fairly.