City Permits required prior to sale of Indy film?

I just re read the form... they want a copy of the film and synopsis if un published.... didn't mention anything about the script....unless the film is not completed, then I guess the script is good protection.

Thanks for the eye opener.
 
PimpDaddyDA said:
??? The copyright PA form only requested a copy of the movie... I'm supposed to send the script and synopsis???
Click to expand...
In Step 2, when you click on Motion Picture you get the following:

"Motion Pictures Deposit Requirements

Submit a copy and a description of the work being registered. The nature of the copy and description may vary, depending upon the factors indicated below.

For All Published Motion Pictures

A separate description of the nature and general content of the work, for example, a shooting script, a synopsis, or a pressbook; and One complete copy of the work. A copy is complete if it is undamaged and free of splices and defects that would interfere with viewing the work.

For motion pictures first published in the U.S.:

One complete copy of the best edition.

For motion pictures first published abroad:

One complete copy as first published or one copy of the best edition.

For Unpublished Motion Pictures

a separate description of the work and a copy of the work containing all the visual and aural elements covered by the registration. An alternative deposit option is available for unpublished motion pictures. See 37 CFR 202.21 (g)(1).
Requirements for Motion Pictures That Cannot Be Viewed by the Copyright Office Staff

The Examining Division does not have equipment to view motion pictures in certain formats, including 1-inch open reel videotapes, D-2 and other digital videocassettes, and 8mm videocassettes. If you send one of these formats, please include the credits in the separate written description. If the work was first published before March 1, 1989, the Copyright Office must examine the work for the required copyright notice. In this case, please send the best edition copy and a copy that the Examining Division can view, for example, a 1/2-inch VHS videocassette.

For information on deposit requirements for works published before Jan. 1, 1978, and for special exceptions to the normal deposit requirements, please see Circular 45, Copyright Registration for Motion Pictures Including Video Recordings."

You'll notice that each type of motion picture requires a separate description of the nature and general content of the work which is then defined as a shooting script, a synopsis, or a pressbook
 
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NON Lawyer disclaimer...

My understanding is that works of art are copyrighted the minute they are finished. BUT you have to make that known. So for instance you NEED to have a copyright notice on ALL copies of your film. Failure to properly mark all copies can end up making your work "public domain". You can also be more official (highly recommended) and register the film with the copyright office.

As for logo's and such. It's complicated, but as a rule no you can not show anything trademarked with out permission. It gets complicated in situations like streets where the trademark is part of the landscape - i.e, car emblems and such. If there is any specific reference to a make of car I believe that you need permission but if it's just the BG no. In a store??? it's set so the assumption I think would be that you had total control so you would need permission. I know that anything shown on a set, like posters in a bedroom, need releases.
Depending on your film it might be no problem to get the releases. Now if you work it right ahead of time you can sometimes get them to pay something to show the product..
 
:violin:Actually, ALL work is copyrighted from the minute it is made. You ARE NOT required to put a copyright notice on anything.

HOWEVER, even though anything you write/make/ etc is copyrighted from the time it's made, you MUST register it with the copyright office before you can sue anybody for it's illegal use.

So in a since, your work is copyrighted at ALL points along the way, meaning the script from the time you start writing it, the film from the time you shoot frames of film, and edited film once you start editing it. HOWEVER, if someone was to use that edited clip without your permission, there is NOTHING you could do unless you registered that copyright with the US copyright office.

As for logos and trademarks... I'm not a lawyer, so take this with a grain of salt: As long as you can prove that there was no way to shoot the footage without having the logo / trademark in the background, its probably ok. So for instance, if your shooting a film is downtime times square, I highly doubt that any of the business's or trademark holders could sue you for use of there trademark, since shooting ANYWHERE in times square would require that trademark in the film.

NOW, however, if you shoot a guy drinking from a pepsi can, or shoot a picture of Jack coming out of the local Mcdonalds, and you make it known he's coming out of McDonalds, then you need permission to use that location AND trademark.

SO pretty much, If you CAN'T avoid getting there trademark in the film, you probably don't need permission. HOWEVER, if it can be avoided, and you use it anyway, then you need to clear the rights.

Remember however, that depending on HOW you use there product image, they might be willing to give you permission to use there trademark, if it means extra publicity for there product. This works better with smaller companies, but It cant hurt to try. Worst they can say is "NO!".

****Disclaimer: I am no lawyer: anything said in this above post is purely my idea of the way the law works. At no time to I endorse any of what I said as fact. Please contact a lawyer for actual legal advice.****
 
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