Using copywrited music fo your reel

[Steve Acheson]

Does anyone know what the deal is with using copyrighted music for your reel an then putting it on your website??

[Jess Haas SOC]

It is illegal without permission but I can't think of any reels that I have watched lately that didn't do it and I can just about guarantee that they didn't get permission. Of course that doesn't make it legal, or right.

 

~Jess

[Kevin M. Andersen]

Does anyone know what the deal is with using copyrighted music for your reel an then putting it on your website??

 

Last time I looked PirateBay is raging with downloadable lossless FLAC sources of copyrighted music and Big-Music is not winning that war. I doubt the Big-Music will bother to hassle you. If you have any doubts or wish to pay homage to the artist and label simply add links for them on your site. That way you are actually helping them...whether they appreciate it or not

Edited February 11, 2009 by Kevin M. Andersen

[Mike Germond SOC]

What makes it a violation of copyright laws is if it can be prooven that you make a profit DIRECTLY off of somebody elses work without paying them royalties. And a work can't be considered in violation of copyrights until it is broadcast to the masses, and fortunately for everyone, nobody owns the internet, and nobody has jurisdiction over it (as far as the FCC is concerned)..

 

So in the case of a demo reel, your not selling the reel, your selling your skills...It's a BIG grey area that ASCAP and BMI won't bother to go after you for.

[Afton Grant]

What makes it a violation of copyright laws is if it can be prooven that you make a profit DIRECTLY off of somebody elses work without paying them royalties. And a work can't be considered in violation of copyrights until it is broadcast to the masses, and fortunately for everyone, nobody owns the internet, and nobody has jurisdiction over it (as far as the FCC is concerned)..

 

So in the case of a demo reel, your not selling the reel, your selling your skills...It's a BIG grey area that ASCAP and BMI won't bother to go after you for.

 

Profit is not necessary to violate a copyright. While it's probably more likely to draw heat, legally the owner of a piece of work has full discretion over how it is used, whether it is earning someone money or not. Also, don't use the Internet as a shield citing lack of jurisdiction. I think the fellow that created Napster learned a rather tough lesson on that subject.

 

In the case of a demo reel, however, everyone has been right so far. It's just not something anyone would ever make a case over.

[Mike Germond SOC]

it really boils down to how much money you have that the artist or media owner could go after..

 

aparantly it's not profitable to take down a Steadicam operator :lol:

 

 

speaking of copyrights and trademarks, what does everyone think of that Semanoff banner that has begun periodically showing at the bottom of the page?

Edited February 12, 2009 by Mike Germond

[Mike McGowan SOC]

I paid Aerosmith about 250k for using their stuff, I gave Pink 300k and Moterhead a cool half a million... Bowling for Soup is a punk band so I only gave them 50k. :P

 

I've had real music on my reel on my website for going on 11 years. Never had anybody complain. With all the copyright issues I can't imagine anybody would ever go after a steadicam reel.