Copyright on online quicktimes

[vjvishnu]

Hey Peeps,

I understand if most of you aren't interested or willing to help but I need to pick your brains and I think any advise i get will help other newbies to make the right decisions. Also I want you to forgive my ignorance - i posted in this forum because i'm not a lawyer and i need some quick info on copywrite law.

The situation is that I am uploading my showreel as quicktime files to the web and linking it here (hopefully before i pass out tonight) and i'm worried that some VJ's will just download my clips and use them in their own mixes - as their own work. The videos don't have a copy write message in the titles and its kind of too late to change that right now as I've already spent ages coverting them and uploading them. I was wondering if I could just put a certain message on the page that holds them on my site? What is the lowdown?

I don't mind some VJs using the clips just for unpaid gigs but if they are getting paid to show my work then that will be a problem unless they have my permission. Surely this is reasonable.

Also I realise that most of you probably aren't nocternal like me so I'm unlikely to get a response before I link up my clips - and so i'll probably be well fu*cked on this level by the time you read this but maybe you can help me stop the bleeding.

Any help would be great.

Luv and warmth -

Vish.

[alangeering]

It's your work unless you say otherwise.
By putting it online and inviting people to view it... you are doing JUST that and no more.

If people use the clips beyond just watching them online then unless they're indulging in some "fair use"* activity then they are doing something illegal.

If someone passes the footage off as their own then that's obviously illegal behaviour (or at least is in US/UK/EU/etc.)

*I'm not an expert on "fair use". I know it includes parody and a few other things.

[alangeering]

It's worth putting a copyright notice anyway, just to remind people.
If you want people to sample your work the look into Creative Commons or invite people to email you with requests.

[vjvishnu]

Thanks Alan, thats great, really re-assuring.

I feel safe to make my links now...

(Also, Nice to see another night creature :)).

[Rovastar]

Also I want you to forgive my ignorance - i posted in this forum because i'm not a lawyer and i need some quick info on copywrite law.

The situation is that I am uploading my showreel as quicktime files to the web and linking it here (hopefully before i pass out tonight) and i'm worried that some VJ's will just download my clips and use them in their own mixes - as their own work. The videos don't have a copy write message in the titles and its kind of too late to change that right now as I've already spent ages coverting them and uploading them.


For me the situation has little to do with the law.

Anything you make by default (in the UK law) you have the copyright for. It does matter what you do with it it is yours.

However realistically this will not keep you work safe from others using it without your permission.

The best/easiest way of doing this is to place watermarks or better still custom content in the clips of your name/logo.

This will discourage others from using your stuff.

I would then have a link to email for requests for free clips to use if they meet your requirements e.g. It is a charity gig can I use your clip of xyz, etc.