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Compare 2257 Compliance Services

Plenty of products are sold as "2257 compliance." Most of them cover one part of the job. Federal law asks for seven things, so start there and score anything you are considering against all seven, including us.

What 28 CFR Part 75 Actually Requires

Miss one of these and the records are incomplete, no matter how polished the software is. The liability sits with the producer, which is you, not with the tool you bought.

Federal requirementSignature toolsCollect a signature on a release form and email you a PDF.Storage platformsHold your documents in an account, with you still named as custodian.Easy2257Third-party custodian service covering the full record-keeping workflow.
Performer and production records28 CFR 75.2Legal name, every alias, date of birth, government ID, and the date of production for each performer.sometimessometimes
Indexed, cross-referenced records28 CFR 75.2(a)(2)-(3)Organized alphabetically by legal name and cross-referenced to every alias, title, and URL, so a record can be produced on demand.
A copy of the depiction28 CFR 75.2(a)(1)The content itself has to be retrievable alongside the paperwork, not just the signed forms.sometimes
Records held separately28 CFR 75.2(e)Compliance records kept apart from your general business files.sometimes
Retention for the full statutory term28 CFR 75.5Seven years from production, or five years after you stop producing, whichever runs longer.sometimes
A custodian statement with a real address28 CFR 75.6A named custodian and a street address published wherever the content appears. This is the line that puts a home address on the internet.
Records available for inspection28 CFR 75.5(c)Someone has to be able to produce the records at that address when they are asked for.

"Signature tools" and "storage platforms" describe categories of product, not any specific company. Products vary, and some cover more than the category typically does. Score the one you are actually considering, using the questions further down this page.

Five Questions to Ask Any 2257 Provider

Including us. If a provider cannot answer these plainly, that is the answer.

  1. 1

    Whose name and address goes on the compliance statement?

    If the answer is yours, the service is not acting as your custodian, and your address is public wherever your content appears. Ours goes on the statement instead.

  2. 2

    Do you store a copy of the content, or only the paperwork?

    28 CFR 75.2(a)(1) asks for a copy of the depiction. A signed release on its own does not satisfy it.

  3. 3

    Can you produce every record for one performer, across all their aliases, on demand?

    That is the cross-reference index in 28 CFR 75.2(a)(2)-(3). It is the requirement most often skipped, because it is the one that takes real engineering.

  4. 4

    What happens when an inspector asks for records at your address?

    A custodian of records is a role with obligations attached, not a field on a form. Ask what the process is.

  5. 5

    What do I walk away with if I cancel?

    Your records are yours. Ask for the export format before you sign up, not after.

Our answers are on how it works and the live statement is at /2257-statement.

Cost, Privacy, and Effort

If you have decided the records have to be kept properly, the remaining question is who keeps them: you, a lawyer you retain, or a service.

FeatureDIY (Self-Manage)Compliance LawyerEasy2257
Custodian of RecordsYou (your home address)Their office addressEasy2257 address
Your address stays private
Monthly costFree (+ office risk)$300-500/monthFrom $10/mo (solo) or $39.95/scene
ID verificationManual (you check IDs)Manual or outsourcedAutomated bank-grade verification
Fraud detection
Digital signaturesVaries
Record storageFiling cabinet / your computerTheir office filesAES-256 encrypted cloud
24/7 record accessOnly when you're availableBusiness hours only
Audit-ready reportsManual preparation
Returning talent carry-over
Automated reminders
Talent self-service portal
Record durabilityYour responsibilityVariesEncrypted storage, SHA-256 verified, 7-year retention
Setup timeHours/daysDays/weeksUnder 10 minutes

Option 1: Do It Yourself

You can designate yourself as Custodian of Records, collect IDs manually, and store records on your own. It's free - but the hidden costs are significant.

  • Your home address becomes public - displayed on every piece of content
  • You must be available during business hours to produce records on demand
  • Manual ID checks can't detect sophisticated fakes
  • If records are lost or damaged, you're non-compliant

Option 2: Hire a Compliance Lawyer

Some producers hire attorneys or compliance professionals to serve as their COR. This keeps your address private, but comes at a steep price.

  • Your home address stays private
  • $300-500/hour for attorney time, $200-500/month for ongoing service
  • Records only accessible during their business hours
  • ID verification still manual or outsourced at additional cost

Option 3: Easy2257 (Recommended)

A complete COR service with automated ID verification, digital record-keeping, and encrypted cloud storage - all for a fraction of the cost.

  • Your home address stays private - our address goes on your content
  • From $10/mo for solo creators or $39.95/scene for collaborations
  • Bank-grade ID verification with facial comparison catches fakes
  • Records accessible 24/7 digitally through your dashboard - not limited to business hours
  • AES-256 encrypted cloud storage, SHA-256 integrity hashing on every record, retained the full 7 years
  • Set up in under 10 minutes

The Choice Is Clear

Replace a $2-5K/month records office or $300/hour lawyer with automated compliance from $39.95/scene.

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