Copyright Infringement

JTyner said:
From what *I* understand this sentence (and believe you me.....copyright issues can be TREMENDOUSLY confusing .....and I think sometimes for a reason).....the minute one of the two above scenarios happen you have violated the initial agreement if you have not requested and more importantly SECURED that liscense.
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I understand your point, JTyner, but, well, I modified the models, changed colors and wasn't the only one who used imagery from movies.

Who's completely free?
Do the Greys From "Close Encounters of a Third Kind" have copyright? :)

alien.jpg


Just joking, JTiner, but the line is not so clear

Cheers,
Pablo
 
I have to explain, though, that I had the models prepared for a parody about Starwars. Besides, modelling all the props I needed for this script would've been absolutely impossible in this short time, I'm working on my own robot and city for the long version.

Anyway, we didn't expect to win, just being about the top ten, so we had no commercial intentions :).

I'm only dissapointed by the fact that Special FX didn't count for the final score. There were too many nights sleeping three hours to get it done. Now, 60% of my body is coffee :)
And Kaz's work was my second favourite, I wish he'd won with the help of FX score.
Pablo
 
Pablo,

Im not trying to point a finger....promise! :) Im really adding to the convo in generalities.

Unfortunately, there are SOOOOO many grey areas when it comes to copyright, fair use, licensing, distributing etc.... and when ya throw in the fact that they may end up on DVD's and sold.....that makes it even greyer.
 
JTyner said:
Im not trying to point a finger....promise! :) Im really adding to the convo in generalities.
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JTyner, I understood it, don't worry :)

JTyner said:
Unfortunately, there are SOOOOO many grey areas when it comes to copyright, fair use, licensing, distributing etc.... and when ya throw in the fact that they may end up on DVD's and sold.....that makes it even greyer.
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When I said "the Greys", I meant the alien race represented with that mask, they're called like that.

I hope my words didn't sound defensive, I'm not that kind, but I knew you were talking about my short and wanted to add my point.

In Spain we say "Buen rollo", it means something like "friends, OK?"
:)

Pablo
 
JTyner said:
... and when ya throw in the fact that they may end up on DVD's and sold....
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If there was a DVD, the profit wouldn't go to my pocket, am I wrong?
So it keeps being with non-profit intentions :)
Pablo
 
Look, as JTyner already said, copyright law (and licensing) gets a bit confusing. It doesn't matter if YOU are getting money or not... letting someone else make money off it is the same thing... it's commercial use (for example, you give Jarred permission to put your film on the DVD and you've essentially given HIM permission to sell your movie, which includes artwork that you do not have permission to use for commercial purposes). Now whether it's significant enough for the original artist who made the 3D model to sue you, or for LucasArts to come after you is open for debate, but it's still a violation of the agreement... and copyright law.

I know you meant it good-heartedly, but just FYI, as per a friend of ours (who is obsessed with horror and sci-fi films), he had that mask custom made for him... and I don't think the term "greys" is copyrighted by anyone :happy:

Back to the original point... if you cannot make a movie about Batman without being into the area of copyright infringement, I don't think you can make a movie that includes Gotham City without being in the area of copyright infringement. I could be wrong, but I think it's pretty safe to say you'd need the permission and licensing from DC comics, and whoever the artwork came from.
 
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Aram Bauman said:
Besides, how hard can it be to come up with your own superhero.
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I've been thinking for days with three other people and we've got bupkiss, so, for me at least, it's hard!
 
I don't know how original we're being (though we're trying!) but we have a basic outline, structure, and props, location and actors list going already. Actually bought our first wardrobe prop tonight :shocked: hehehe
 
EditPhish said:
Look, as JTyner already said, copyright law (and licensing) gets a bit confusing. It doesn't matter if YOU are getting money or not... letting someone else make money off it is the same thing... it's commercial use (for example, you give Jarred permission to put your film on the DVD and you've essentially given HIM permission to sell your movie, which includes artwork that you do not have permission to use for commercial purposes). Now whether it's significant enough for the original artist who made the 3D model to sue you, or for LucasArts to come after you is open for debate, but it's still a violation of the agreement... and copyright law.

I know you meant it good-heartedly, but just FYI, as per a friend of ours (who is obsessed with horror and sci-fi films), he had that mask custom made for him... and I don't think the term "greys" is copyrighted by anyone :happy:

Back to the original point... if you cannot make a movie about Batman without being into the area of copyright infringement, I don't think you can make a movie that includes Gotham City without being in the area of copyright infringement. I could be wrong, but I think it's pretty safe to say you'd need the permission and licensing from DC comics, and whoever the artwork came from.
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Maybe you're takin' this a little far?
 
Matt,

Well, when the rules and mods say NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT, and it's possibly going out on a DVD to be purchased, I think the terms need to be clear. Trust me, I've no intention of violating any copyrights, but not everyone understands what that means. Don't mean for any of it to come across snotty at ALL (if that's how you're reading my tone)... but if you see above, not everyone realized you can't make a movie about Batman (for example) without being in the area of copyright infringement.
 
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MattC said:
I've been thinking for days with three other people and we've got bupkiss, so, for me at least, it's hard!
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Matt, I just watched After the Gig. There's your character, by night a jazz musician, after the gig Super Crime fighter noir style. :thumbsup:
 
EditPhish said:
Trust me, I've no intention of violating any copyrights, but not everyone understands what that means. Don't mean for any of it to come across snotty at ALL (if that's how you're reading my tone)... but if you see above, not everyone realized you can't make a movie about Batman (for example) without being in the area of copyright infringement.
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I don't know who you're thinking of :), but, as you can read above, in LucasFilms they are very liberal about fan films which use their characters and props, why aren't you? They are the creators of it. You can see tons of fan films about StarWars Universe with its characters represented.

I'm trying to be kind, but this beguin to look like a kind of prosecution. You haven't said anything to kaz, who uses the three-legged ships from "War of the worlds". Did I do something to you in other life? I haven't even critisized your short.

Somebody has even asked you if your not taking this too far.

Anyway, you don't have to worry anymore, I draw comics since I was 14, so I've created over 50 ORIGINAL characters with super-powers since then. I can even give you one or two, for free, you can choose.

Pablo
 
MattC said:
I'll take one.
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A girl, I guess :) Super-Heroine or Super-Villain?

I got Palsy, a super-villain girl who can accelerate or decrease your hart beat by touching you :)
Or Spiritist, a boy who can invoke the spirits at his will (not allways the spirit he wants)

I'll have to take the dust off my old books...
Pablo
 
pabloabad said:
I don't know who you're thinking of :), but, as you can read above, in LucasFilms they are very liberal about fan films which use their characters and props, why aren't you? They are the creators of it. You can see tons of fan films about StarWars Universe with its characters represented.

I'm trying to be kind, but this beguin to look like a kind of prosecution. You haven't said anything to kaz, who uses the three-legged ships from "War of the worlds". Did I do something to you in other life? I haven't even critisized your short.

Somebody has even asked you if your not taking this too far.

Anyway, you don't have to worry anymore, I draw comics since I was 14, so I've created over 50 ORIGINAL characters with super-powers since then. I can even give you one or two, for free, you can choose.

Pablo
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Those shortfilms aren't being sold for profit, as far as I know. And if they are, I'm sure that a few people whom would LOVE to know about it DON'T.

Can't wait to see your entry, though. Especially if you've been drawing and such since fourteen. I'd reckon your style and concepts got a lot better since then.

=)
 
pabloabad said:
A girl, I guess :) Super-Heroine or Super-Villain?

I got Palsy, a super-villain girl who can accelerate or decrease your hart beat by touching you :)
Or Spiritist, a boy who can invoke the spirits at his will (not allways the spirit he wants)

I'll have to take the dust off my old books...
Pablo
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Hey Pablo,

You should post a thread stating all the chracters you've got available. Seriously ... work out a simple licensing agreement with the film makers, and you've got potential credit in a LOT of films ... if some of them do very well, there could be cool things ahead for you.

You've got some good ideas, from the sounds of it.
 
Pablo,

I DID say something to Kaz... I said in my original comments to him that his "tripods" looked a bit too wars-of-the-worldish -- but he also modeled them himself, he didn't use fan art from a fan site. And I don't think he set out to "copy" War of the Worlds.

I've got no problem with the fact you used Stars Wars models, and it ISN'T a prosecution -- but don't change the facts. Your download agreement said you couldn't use the models for commercial purposes. Letting someone sell it on DVD (if it is picked) is a commercial purpose. There's a really shady grey area about film fests, since, in theory, they can be considered an avenue for furthering your career -- hence, possibly commercial. I've seen a million Star Wars fan films, and know Lucas Arts is pretty darn liberal -- but I'm talking about the rules HERE.

When the mods are yelling NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT in this thread, THIS is why I bring it up. Honestly Pablo, I don't really care that you used Star Wars models, but personally I also don't think it's fair to compare models you downloaded from a website/famous movie vs. someone who created everything themselves (Kaz). I also think that since it's from a HUGE movie, it doesn't matter if Lucas Arts is okay with Fanfilms or not... it seems to me it goes against the "no copyright infringement" rules here... but maybe I'm wrong.

Please mods... do correct me if I'm off base! It's why I'm ASKING. Please be really specific about the no copyright infringement rules. I am NOT trying to be snotty here, I really just want the clarification. If a concept like a character can be copyrighted, isn't the same true for movie-specific/comic book locations (such as "Gotham City")? If someone offers a 3D model of Gotham City on a website for a film maker to download, and their download agreement says "go ahead and use it however you like, except for commercial purposes" does that mean it's okay to used here? And when does it cross into becoming copyright infringement?
 
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