Copyrighting a digital short film ? (what codec, file format?)

Randall_Oelerich

Randall_Oelerich

Veteran
I am ready to register a copyright with the US Copyright Office for my first short film. Anybody done this recently, know what digital video file format they want or require (.mov? .avi? DVD disc playable in a DVD player?). I guess I can call them, but I thought with all the digital filmmakers here someone must know the answer to this as it must be common here for users to be sending in discs of their work to be copyrighted, just wonder how to render out my short film to get it ready for sending in to the copyright office.

I am also assuming I should render only what I created, i.e. the film as I shot it and edited it, without music soundtrack, since I have yet to contract with a composer to score the film music. Is that correct?
~Randall
 
Wait until you have a COMPLETED (as in ready for your public to devour) movie. Since you will probably NOT be making a film print a DVD disk would work. (based on what I have taken the time to read on the website which is available 24/7 on the world wide web).
 
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I would not own the copyright to the music score on a completed movie, so how would that work when I see to register copyright for completed DVD? Would it work better for me to register copyright of my DVD that is complete except for the music score--I would then own all rights to that 'completed' version of the film?


Cryogenic Filmworks said:
Wait until you have a COMPLETED (as in ready for your public to devour) movie. Since you will probably NOT be making a film print a DVD disk would work. (based on what I have taken the time to read on the website which is available 24/7 on the world wide web).
Click to expand...
 
Actually I was up at 3am this morning visiting the US Copyright site, and Murphy's Law held true-- the online 24/7 document I clicked on to view about submitting / registering motion pictures was unavailable, temporarily unavailable as they are working on it. Go figure.

Cryogenic Filmworks said:
...(based on what I have taken the time to read on the website which is available 24/7 on the world wide web).
Click to expand...
 
Randall_Oelerich said:
I would not own the copyright to the music score on a completed movie, so how would that work when I see to register copyright for completed DVD? Would it work better for me to register copyright of my DVD that is complete except for the music score--I would then own all rights to that 'completed' version of the film?
Click to expand...

Why wouldn't you? You hire the composer to create the score for you, that makes it a "work for hire" (if you spell it out in the contract that it is) and you own the copyright. If you're licensing music you still own the copyright to the derivative work, the juxtaposition between music and images. Your credits would list the copyright owners of the music you're licensing so it's clear that you're not trying to claim copyright on it.
 
Regarding the items that you are not applying for copyright for but that appear in your film, the form has a space for you to declare those items (music, stock footage, etc.). You want to use Form PA.
 
cyclone said:
Regarding the items that you are not applying for copyright for but that appear in your film, the form has a space for you to declare those items (music, stock footage, etc.). You want to use Form PA.
Click to expand...

Thanks, makes sense. Tried calling the copyright office but just get recordings saying they are too busy. But I think I can just go ahead and register copyright online, then send in a DVD of completed project, perhaps waiting for it to be complete with music.

I did find something on the US Copyright office site about a Form CO, sounding like it could be used instead of Form PA, and that using CO expedites the turnaround time, whereas if you use Form PA there is a much more significant delay in the copyright registration processing.

Two documents attached from the copyright office with regards to all this, for anybody interested.
:beer: Randall
 

Attachments

Also, don't worry about turn-around. You are officially copyrighted the moment they receive the form, even though it may take months for you to get the paperwork back in the mail. Frankly, you are copyrighted immediately and automatically upon completion of your work (Commonlaw Copyright), but filing with the copyright office gives you additional rights (like being able to sue for damages and stuff like that, I think) and makes it easier to prove your publication date.
 
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