Usage Rights Regarding Free Loops

[Syntax]

Many VJ's and artists offer their visuals, loops, and files for free. They either post them online, bundle them with dvd's, or accompany software.

What do you think is acceptable usage of these free loops?

For instance, I recently recorded a vj mix and after reviewing it, I really liked what I created and would like to put it on dvd. The problem is, I noticed that I used a couple of free loops that I had acquired. I would say that the free loops I used take up about 4 minutes (throughout the mix) out of the entire 1 hour mix. They are the free loops that came with the LightRhythm Visuals DVD's. The back of the DVD says "Contains Quicktime clips suitable for software applications". Does that I mean I can use the clips that I purchased for my own mixing???

The dvd I want to make isn't for profit or anything. Just somthing cool that I'd like to share with others. Would putting credits to the free loops be acceptable?

[makemassair]

Dunno matey. If it's not for profit the really there is no issue, but why don't you email LightRhythm just to confirm. Can't see them saying no tbh.

[Rovastar]

Email to make sure. Many free or boughts clips are allowed for live use but not for distrubtion. It is down to the individual licenses.

[PilotX]

yep - email to be sure.
the key phrase is "royalty free" - which means that you can use them without paying any more money for any purpose, except reselling the file. This means it could be used as part of a dvd that you were going to sell..

I very much doubt they would have any problem with it being used for, I would guess, a promo/demo dvd, especially if they have credits somewhere. They may have a licence on their site if it's not on the dvd so look there.

[Amukidi]

Copyright issues also include distribution, they may be happy enough for you to use it, but not so happy if you re-distribute it to all and sundry, which puts it out of their control. As the others say, email them and make it quite clear what your intentions are.

[deepvisual]

I have a lightrhythm DVD and it says very clearly on the menu page.
? LRV / all rights reserved / lightrhythmvisuals.com

[PilotX]

ok, I actually went and looked at their site.. from the op I thought this was like a vjloops or dandelion type of dvd, not album releases.
I'd be surprised if they would let you use it, even with accreditation..

actually.. rereading the OP these were bonus clips included with the album, not stuff ripped from them.. so maybe they will. I can only think they included these clips so that (a) people who bought their album and though "the visual side of things looks like fun" they could use the loops as a starting point, and not have to invest so much time, or (b) becuase they want VJs to use them as a marketing ploy for the label..
email them.. the clips can be (c) lightrythmvisuals but still be royalty free for use.. the point of royalty free is to retain copyright whilst allowing kind of unlimited use (the ways you can use it will be limited, but not the number of times) from a single payment.

[sleepytom]

read the license - this tells you what you can and cannot do with the footage...

I'm getting increasingly fed up with people ignoring the license on the clips that i share; "attribution non-commercial share alike" means that the clips i give away cannot be used commercially (eg on a DVD that is for sale) and it also means that any derived works (eg a re-edit of the clips) HAVE to be shared with the same license.

I have thousands of downloads of my clips yet afaik nobody has ever shared a re-edit or a mix containing my clips??

the concept of open-source is "share and share alike" - it is not "here is a load of free stuff for you to do what you want with"!!

[holly]

I have thousands of downloads of my clips yet afaik nobody has ever shared a re-edit or a mix containing my clips??

the concept of open-source is "share and share alike" - it is not "here is a load of free stuff for you to do what you want with"!!
:poke:Have a contest, Tom.

Hey, gang! Let's all remix Tom's footage! There will be all sorts of restrictions on your final mix -- just like corporate, only without the prizes or recognition! Yay!:lol2:

For the record I offer my *free* content on a "Do as thou wilt and harm ye none" license. Might be a little Wicca-poo, but really the spirit of giving is no strings attatched.
:wizard:

[sleepytom]

it's not like i made up the licence i use specially - it is the very same licence that *most* VJ stuff on archive.org is on. The concept is simple - encourage the pool of shared footage to grow by requiring people who use shared footage to share their own footage. Thus everyone who puts stuff in benefits from having a growing archive of footage to use.



Hey, gang! Let's all remix Tom's footage! There will be all sorts of restrictions on your final mix -- just like corporate, only without the prizes or recognition! Yay!
you can do what you want with my footage - so long as the results are shared... this doesn't mean its just like corporate only without prizes or recognition. Everyone gets a prize and everyone gets recognition. (the prize is the increase pool of footage to use - the recognition is others downloading your work to resample and add to themselves)

The "share alike" concept is the only reason that opensource is successful. If people took the creative commons license seriously then it would be a much more significant contribution to our creative lives.

[holly]

Yes, I agree. The idea is nobel. I'm not criticizing it.
...but the internet is not nobel. Most people are not at your level, technical or moral. We live in an ADD compulsive-download world. You can't expect anything back -- that's just not Christmas.

Maybe you could try an Exquisite Corpse?

[Syntax]

I'll contact Ben or Grant about this. The clips I used are somewhat remixed. If anything I'll just edit those out and put my own stuff in post production.

Thanks for all the help. I'm glad there is a discussion about this that can clear up any muddy water.

[Sheppee]

Just thought Id end this post - Use the loops in people - thats why were putting them out.

And if any of you people wanna email us - shopkeeper@lightrhythmvisuals is fine.

Enjoy playing the content - Its a long post - you guys should spend this time making content.

Out .... Benske

[PuRu]

What if you make a showreel with some free loops?
Is that allowed in most cases?

[famouswhendead]

Showreel with someone elses loops HAHA.
A showreel is usually to showcase your talent.

If it is a live mix sure just put a credit note at end.
We have had exactly 3 people that I can find that have credited use of our loops.

Ces't la vie.

In regard to the first question:
You could of course at a live event shoot the screens and release that since they are allowed for live use.
Copyright slippery slopes etc...

[PuRu]

Showreel with someone elses loops HAHA.
A showreel is usually to showcase your talent.

If it is a live mix sure just put a credit note at end.
We have had exactly 3 people that I can find that have credited use of our loops.

Ces't la vie.

In regard to the first question:
You could of course at a live event shoot the screens and release that since they are allowed for live use.
Copyright slippery slopes etc...

By showreel i mean live recorded performance.