Podcast Release – WordPress Plugin

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Podcast Release

Many podcasters who conduct interviews have started using legal releases for the use of the guest’s voice and/or likeness. Obviously this is a good idea, yet it can be a bit of a hassle faxing forms back and forth. As a result, people don’t always follow through.

A few months back I was out at lunch with Denise Howell and we got to discussing how to make the release process more user friendly for podcasters. We came up with the idea of a click through acceptance form on a website. Over the holidays I had one of my blog developers put together a plugin for WordPress to accomplish this.

It is simple and straightforward. The plugin, when installed, creates a Podcast Release page on your site and provides a link to send to your interview subjects. It also sets up an admin page in your WP admin section to enter whatever release text you require. When your guest comes to the page, they enter their name, email and check that they accept the terms. The plugin then sends an email to both you and your guest with the release text, name, email and the IP address of the submitter.

The plugin is not distributed with Release Text because it should be custom tailored for your particular use case. You can cut and paste your current release text or create your own. If you need a example, the Podcast Brothers have posted a release on their site. (It is located in the section right above the shows.)

If you want to see how it works, I have a sample page setup here.

Installation instructions:

1. Download Podcast-Release Version 0.1

2. Extract the files to the wp-content/plugins/ directory. (Just copy the whole folder)

3. Activate the plugin via your WP admin console.

4. Within the WP admin console navigate to Plugins -> Podcast Release

5. Complete the required setup information, including your preferred “Release Text”.

6. You will have a new page on your site.: http://yoursite.com/podcast-release/.

Please post any feedback, comments or suggestions.

Download: Podcast-Release 0.1

Download: Podcast-Release 0.11 (For WordPress 2.1)

Disclaimer: I make no representations or warranties as to whether or not this process of release authorization is considered enforceable. Use it at your own risk.

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Comments

  1. says

    michael
    thanks for this and more importantly the effort you have put in to extend the capabilities for podcasters. (levelator)
    I suddenly see a beer in in your future from me.
    I was talking to colette vogel about a clickthrough solution for this recently—
    nice work.
    thanks
    mike

  4. says

    Karin,

    Good suggestion about adjusting the size of the “Legalese” box. I have added text box size management to the feature request list. In the meantime, if you want to try to change it, look at lines 74-79 in podcast-release.php. Currently the width is set t0 100% which works well on this site. You might try adjusting that on your install.

  5. says

    I love it, Michael – only I have translated it into danish, and I have not been able to change into out hi-bit letters – the template doesn´t accept html or ascii – or dies it?

  6. says

    Michael-

    Thank you so much for this wp-plug-in. You work as allowed me to move my consent form formerly residing on my website to my blog where I post my podcasts.
    Podcast release form on the same blog as my podcasts. Brilliant! This is a must have wp plug-in for podcasters.

    Thank you very much.

    A loyal listener and PIT (Podcaster In Training)

  7. Bill says

    I’m not sure why, but I couldn’t get the page to load. This is a new wordpress blog, I’ve installed the plug-in, and configured it. But when I go to the /podcast-release/ page, I get a 404 error. Going to the ?p=3 page works correctly, though.

    Is this a known issue with WordPress 2.1 perhaps?

  9. says

    The 2.1 compatibility issue as a quick fix can be solved by changing $postarr[‘post_status’] to published and $postarr[‘post_type’] to page.

  12. says

    Is there a way to install this twice? Sometimes I have more than one podcast that is ‘pending’ and my legalese has specific data. Thanks.

  13. says

    Brian,

    You might want to talk with a developer to see if it is possible to develop multiple instances of the install.

  21. Sandra says

    I just signed up for WordPress.com within the past week….am I correct in assuming that I would install WP 2.1? Does it matter that I have a Mac?

    Thanks,
    Sandra

  23. says

    Is there way to install this twice? Sometimes I have more than one podcast that is ‘pending’ and my legalese has specific data. Thanks.

    • says

      Not sure. My suggestion, do what I did. Hire a developer and see if they can make it happen. Might be as simple as changing a few parameters and naming conventions. Should be easy. You can use our source code as a base, but if you are successful please donate it back and let us all know.

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Trackbacks

  1. Podcast Release Plugin for WordPress

    Michael Geohagen releases a simple WordPress plugin for having people agree to and "sign" and podcast release form. This is sometimes needed (the same way a photographer needs a model release), so the podcaster can legally use the voice and l…

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  8. […] Podcaster Michael Geoghegan has announced Podcast Release, a free WordPress plugin designed to help podcasters with getting legal releases for the use of a guest’s voice or likeness: “The plugin, when installed, creates a Podcast Release page on your site and provides a link to send to your interview subjects. It also sets up an admin page in your WP admin section to enter whatever release text you require. When your guest comes to the page, they enter their name, email and check that they accept the terms. The plugin then sends an email to both you and your guest with the release text, name, email and the IP address of the submitter.The plugin is not distributed with Release Text because it should be custom tailored for your particular use case. You can cut and paste your current release text or create your own. If you need a example, the Podcast Brothers have posted a release on their site. (It is located in the section right above the shows.)” Rate This Post: Bookmarking links:       Related Topics: No Tags Related articles: No Related Posts […]

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