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 Most
of this information is UK-specific. Laws and customs may be different in
other countries
COPYRIGHT AND LICENSING -
avoiding problems |
FAQs |
IAC Licensing
What did you steal for your film?
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Where did the music come from?
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And that nostalgic scene from an old newsreel?
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That clip from your child's favourite movie?
For most of us the answer is "a download, a CD or a DVD we own."
The tricky word here is "own". What you own is the physical CD or DVD
but not their contents. On a download you don't own anything! |
What you have bought is the right to play that track or watch that film
in private. Here "private" means so that only you or your immediate family
can enjoy it.
You cannot even legally copy it - not to another computer, an MP3 player,
a backup DVD ... or your film soundtrack.
To play it to other people or to copy it legally you need permissions. |
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What you do at home is rarely a problem.
If you copy music and movie clips to a film and show it to friends you
have broken the law but no one is likely to find out - or to worry
about it.
But any showing at a club, competition or to another group needs several
permissions. |
The laws of copyright allow artists, writers, composers
and film makers to treat their work rather like possessions which they can
sell or rent out to others.
They can also refuse anyone else the right to use it. Almost anything you
might include in a movie may be copyright: a picture, poster, product label
or film clip. So is most music. |
| Products are rarely a problem
For non-commercial films casual glimpses of posters in a street scene, pictures
on the cover of a book, a product label on something in the background are
no problem. No one minds those appearing in that way.
If, however, the poster / book cover / product is featured as a key
part of the movie there may be objections, especially if the film seems
to bring the product into disrepute - like the toy that becomes a murder
weapon.
It does not matter that you bought the picture, DVD or product ...
that still does not allow you to feature it in a movie. |
Film clips and music are a problem.
Even casual background use of music or film may cause their owners
to object.
If someone sings Happy Birthday in a party scene, the rights owner
(Warner/Chappell Music Inc) expects to be paid. If a passer-by
whistles a pop song in the background of your documentary, or a brass band
plays a tune on camera - the copyright holders expect to be paid.
If the tv in the corner of a shot has a movie running the owners of
the film rights expect a fee. |
 If your video features anyone else's work
- make sure you have permission to do so ... IAC can help
For film makers copyright and the licences required for any public show are
a real pain. But how would you feel if someone else exploited your work for
profit without permission or payment?
(In reality most of us would be flattered that our work was considered
good enough! But if we made our living by making films, it would feel
as if someone was stealing the bread from our mouths.)
IAC can help with its licensing schemes ... read on ... avoiding problems |
Most of this information is UK-specific. Laws
and customs may be different in other countries.
Any copyright owner can refuse permission without explanation.
This can happen, for example, if the managers of an artist think a film brings
the artist into disrepute.
Pictures on this page come from
Stock.XCHNG - top by Billy
Alexander, bottom by Philippe Ramakers.
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