Can this form be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures meet federal standards under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA laws in most jurisdictions when intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are present.

When is notarization required?

Notarization is uncommon for private press release relinquishments but may be required by policy or certain state rules; check the applicable state notary requirements before assuming none are needed.

What if the signer lacks authority?

If a corporate signer lacks authority, the release may be voidable. Verify corporate signing authority via board resolution or corporate records before accepting the form.

How do I prove the signature is valid later?

Retain the audit trail, certificate of completion, signer authentication logs, and a signed copy. These records support attribution and intent if the validity is contested.

Can a signed relinquishment be revoked?

Revocation depends on the language in the form and governing law; include revocation terms in the form. Absent such terms, dispute resolution will follow contract law and applicable statutes.

What privacy rules apply if the release involves personal data?

If releases involve health information, HIPAA applies and a HIPAA-compliant authorization plus a BAA may be required. For consumer personal data, consider state privacy laws such as the CCPA.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Press Release Relinquishment Form

Press Release Relinquishment Form

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

PRESS RELEASE RELINQUISHMENT AGREEMENT

This Press Release Relinquishment Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into as of (the "Effective Date"), by and between:

Relinquishing Party: , with principal address at ;

and

Receiving Party: , with principal address at .

WHEREAS

WHEREAS, Relinquishing Party is the originator of a press release titled "" originally issued on (the "Press Release");

WHEREAS, the parties desire to set forth the terms under which Relinquishing Party transfers, assigns, and relinquishes certain rights in and to the Press Release to Receiving Party and to establish other obligations related to use, attribution, confidentiality, and compensation.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Relinquishing Party hereby relinquishes to the Receiving Party the rights specified below with respect to the Press Release. The exact deliverables, permitted uses, and any restrictions are described in detail:

TRANSFER OF RIGHTS

Upon full execution and satisfaction of the Payment Terms described below, Relinquishing Party assigns, transfers and conveys to Receiving Party all right, title and interest in and to the Press Release to the extent transferable, including copyrights, publication rights, and the right to edit, distribute, license, and sublicense the Press Release in the Territory described in the Scope of Work. Relinquishing Party hereby irrevocably waives all moral rights, to the extent permitted by law, in the Press Release.

PAYMENT TERMS

Total Consideration Payment Schedule / Method Late Payment Fee

TERM AND TERMINATION

This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and continue until fully performed by both parties or terminated in accordance with this section. Commencement Date: . End Date (if applicable): .

Either party may terminate this Agreement for material breach by the other party if the breach remains uncured for days after written notice. Termination will not relieve either party of obligations accrued prior to the effective date of termination, including payment obligations and indemnities.

CONFIDENTIALITY

The parties acknowledge that certain information exchanged in connection with this Agreement may be confidential. Each party shall hold in confidence and shall not disclose to any third party any Confidential Information of the other party except as necessary to perform this Agreement or as required by law. "Confidential Information" includes non-public business information, drafts, unreleased materials, and any proprietary edits or unpublished content of the Press Release. Confidentiality obligations survive termination of this Agreement for a period of years.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Each party represents and warrants that it has full authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. Relinquishing Party further represents and warrants that (a) it is the original creator or has the necessary rights to assign the rights granted herein; (b) the Press Release does not infringe the rights of any third party; and (c) there are no outstanding agreements, licenses, or encumbrances that would materially impair the rights granted to Receiving Party.

INDEMNIFICATION

Each party agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the other party from and against any losses, liabilities, damages, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of any breach of the indemnifying party's representations, warranties, or covenants under this Agreement, including claims of third-party infringement or misappropriation relating to the Press Release.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Territory for use of the Press Release: .

Attribution/Credit: Receiving Party shall provide credit to Relinquishing Party as follows (if applicable): .

NOTICES

All notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses set forth below or to such other address as a party may designate by notice in accordance with this provision.

Notices to Relinquishing Party Notices to Receiving Party

GOVERNING LAW; ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of without regard to its conflict of laws principles. The parties expressly agree that exclusive venue for any dispute arising out of this Agreement shall be the state or federal courts located within the chosen jurisdiction.

This Agreement, including all exhibits and schedules referenced herein, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, proposals, and communications, whether written or oral. Any modification or amendment must be in a writing signed by both parties.

ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

Relinquishing Party - Printed Name:

By (Signature):

Date:

Receiving Party - Printed Name:

By (Signature):

Date:

What the Press Release Relinquishment Form Is

The Press Release Relinquishment Form is a written release used when an individual, contributor, or rights holder voluntarily gives up specified rights to appear in, be quoted by, or be identified in a particular press release or media distribution. It documents the scope of relinquishment, identifies the parties and materials affected, and records the effective date and any limitations. The form creates a clear record of consent or waiver for use by communications, legal, and compliance teams and reduces ambiguity about permissions for publication and reuse of quoted material or images.

Why organizations use a Press Release Relinquishment Form

A clear relinquishment form reduces legal uncertainty, documents consent or waiver, and provides an auditable record that supports compliance and dispute resolution.

Typical users and signers of this form

Signers vary by situation; ensure an authorized representative signs on behalf of any business entity and that individuals sign for personal rights.

Corporate communications teams who manage public statements and approvals for executives and subject-matter experts.
External contributors or vendors who provide quotes, photos, or case-study material for inclusion in press releases.
Legal, compliance, or HR personnel who must confirm rights clearance and mitigate publicity or privacy risks.

Core elements to include in a professional relinquishment form

A complete document makes the scope and limits of released rights explicit and records identification, dates, and signatures to avoid later disputes.

Parties

Full legal names for releasor and releasee, including business entity type and contact information for legal notices.

Scope

A precise description of the materials and permissions being relinquished, e.g., quotes, images, video, and permitted reuse.

Effective Date

The date the relinquishment takes effect and the duration or termination conditions if the waiver is time-limited.

Purpose

A short statement describing the specific press release or campaign for which rights are being released.

Limitations

Any exclusions or permitted uses, geographic or media limitations, and whether derivative use is allowed.

Signatures

Signature lines for authorized signers, date fields, and witness or notary blocks if required by jurisdiction.

Step-by-step: completing the Press Release Relinquishment Form

Follow these sequential steps to prepare, verify, and finalize the relinquishment safely and consistently.

01

Prepare Draft: Complete fields for parties, scope, and effective date before sharing the form.
02

Verify Identity: Confirm signer identity against government ID or corporate authority documents.
03

Confirm Authority: If signing for an entity, verify the signer has corporate authorization.
04

Execute and Record: Obtain signatures, notarize if required, and save copies for retention.

Typical routing and processing flow

A common workflow ensures approvals and recordkeeping before the press release is published.

Drafting: Communications drafts the release and identifies required relinquishment items.
Sign-off Request: Legal or PR sends the form to releasor for signature, often via secure eSignature.
Authentication: Signer authenticates (email link, SMS code, or stronger verification if needed).
Archive: Store signed form and audit trail in records management for retention compliance.

Configuring an online completion workflow

Set up fields, signer order, and authentication to match your organization’s approvals and compliance needs.

Field	Configuration
Signer Order	Single signer or sequenced for approvals
Authentication	Email link, SMS code, or advanced verification
Notifications	Automatic email on completion to stakeholders
Retention Location	Secure cloud storage with access controls

Digital signing and platform considerations

Ensure the selected platform can export a certificate of completion and store signed copies to meet retention rules and audits.

Document formats: PDF and DOCX supported
Integrations: Connects to CRM and cloud storage
Security: AES-256 at rest, TLS 1.2/1.3

Timelines and processing expectations

Typical timing varies by organization and whether notarization or external approvals are required; plan accordingly.

Immediate Use:

If signed and stored, the release can be used immediately upon signature.

Internal Review Window:

Allow 24–72 hours for legal and PR review in standard workflows.

Notary Scheduling:

Add 1–5 business days if in-person notarization is required.

Remote Notarization:

RON sessions may add same-day completion when available.

Record Posting:

Archive the signed document within one business day after execution.

Key milestones from draft to archived record

A milestone view helps track approvals and compliance checkpoints before release distribution.

01

Draft Completed

Communications finalizes language and identifies releasor obligations.

02

Legal Approval

Legal confirms scope and risk controls before sending to signer.

03

Signed by Releasor

Releasor signs; notarization occurs if jurisdiction or policy requires it.

04

Archive and Audit

Signed form and audit trail are stored and linked to the press release record.

Required form fields at a glance

Releasor Name: Full legal name

Releasee Name: Organization name

Material Description: Quotes, images, dates

Effective Date: MM/DD/YYYY

Limitations: Use exclusions

Signature Block: Signer, title, date

Potential risks of an incorrect or incomplete form

Unauthorized Release: May lead to breach claims

Identity Disputes: Mismatched names weaken enforceability

Privacy Violations: May trigger HIPAA or privacy issues

Reputational Harm: Incorrect use can damage relationships

Contractual Liability: May void related agreements

Recordkeeping Failures: Missing audit trail complicates defense

Common mistakes to avoid

Vague descriptions of the material create ambiguity about what was relinquished and invite disputes over scope.
Using initials or informal signatures when the document requires full printed name or corporate signatory authority.
Failing to confirm that the signer has authority to sign for an entity, which can render the release unenforceable.
Not preserving an audit trail or certificate of completion when the signing was completed electronically, complicating later verification.

Representative use cases from organizations

These examples show how different organizations rely on clear relinquishment language to publish statements while managing risk.

Martin Properties

A local real estate firm standardized a relinquishment form for agent quotes and property photos to speed approvals.

This reduced turnaround on approvals during listing announcements.
Tim Martin noted that using secure online execution allowed the firm to process and execute documents with compliance and security while enabling timely public communications.

Fertility Centers of Illinois

A healthcare provider used a tailored release to obtain patient consent for a success-story quote and photo.

It included HIPAA authorization language and limits on reuse.
John Butler emphasized that having a documented, auditable consent process made publishing patient stories legally defensible and operationally straightforward.

Sample eSignature vendor comparison for executing a relinquishment form

Comparing baseline pricing and capabilities helps decide on an eSignature vendor for form execution and secure records; signNow is presented first for parity across features.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day trial	No	No	Yes, limited	Yes, limited
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Not typically limited	Not typically limited	Not typically limited

Frequently asked questions about execution and enforceability

Answers to common concerns about signing, notarization, and legal validity for relinquishment forms.

Need help? Contact support

Can this form be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures meet federal standards under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA laws in most jurisdictions when intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are present.
When is notarization required?
Notarization is uncommon for private press release relinquishments but may be required by policy or certain state rules; check the applicable state notary requirements before assuming none are needed.
What if the signer lacks authority?
If a corporate signer lacks authority, the release may be voidable. Verify corporate signing authority via board resolution or corporate records before accepting the form.
How do I prove the signature is valid later?
Retain the audit trail, certificate of completion, signer authentication logs, and a signed copy. These records support attribution and intent if the validity is contested.
Can a signed relinquishment be revoked?
Revocation depends on the language in the form and governing law; include revocation terms in the form. Absent such terms, dispute resolution will follow contract law and applicable statutes.
What privacy rules apply if the release involves personal data?
If releases involve health information, HIPAA applies and a HIPAA-compliant authorization plus a BAA may be required. For consumer personal data, consider state privacy laws such as the CCPA.

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