Using Facebook, Twitter, etc. logos in videos?

Daniel J

Daniel J

Well-known member
I am making some show openers and I am running into this issue. I know their aren't any lawyers searching the dvx forum, but anyone out their able to give some general guidelines? I have done a lot of research on copyright over the years, but not for this type of situation. Google didn't help. Any thoughts? Links? :dankk2:
 
Daniel J said:
I am making some show openers and I am running into this issue. I know their aren't any lawyers searching the dvx forum, but anyone out their able to give some general guidelines? I have done a lot of research on copyright over the years, but not for this type of situation. Google didn't help. Any thoughts? Links? :dankk2:
Click to expand...

Copyright might apply to the graphics elements in the logo but essentially you're dealing with trademark issues, not copyright. While if a logo just appears in the background you usually don't have much to worry about, if it appears prominently or is a story point the general rule would be to get permission or don't use it.
 
The current project would feature 3-4 big names such as twitter, facebook, etc. but they would be among 100 other text elements or keywords. A previous project I featured twitter/facebook/and youtube next to their address (i.e. twitter/pandamotion). Hmmm...
 
Yeah

Yeah

I'm wondering also how I'd get permission to use some of those things because I have a definite need to show a character creating various fan pages and it'd make sense that he'd do something with Facebook, etc. Maybe a company like that would be willing to allow use of their logo in a scene like that, I'm not really sure. It's free promotion and really doesn't hurt them, but who knows.
 
Those logos and such are the intellectual property of the companies in question and while, yes, they, "... Might not mind...", you may not be able to distribute or exhibit your work without written permission from the companies saying that you can use the logo. Every film festival I have every submitted a film to, and every distribution contract I have ever seen has a provision in their releases mandating that any trademarked or copyrighted material used in the piece be covered by signed agreements of use.

Shoot, even the YouTube terms of agreement have this provision, but we know about that....

Contact the companies and ask them, but don't be surprised if they say, "No". You probably would be better served to make up your own social networking sites and logos, that are similar to, but not too similar, to the popular sites and use them.
 
Yup

Yup

Yeah David is right, well that's what I'm most likely going to be doing, because it's a huge part of my film, basically it's essential, so we'll have to pay Web designers and graphic designers to develop some of this stuff. Doesn't need to be functional but needs to look good enough for the screen.

If you've noticed, even shows like Dexter have fake browsers, I think they called it like Netscope or something like that I can't remember, but you can see it's a fake browser.

What I'm wondering basically is why isn't there a company that just does this? You could make a LOT of money catering to the entertainment industry and making barely functional software that could be used on screen, royalty-free. Indie filmmakers would eat that up, studios would use it because it's just easier and cheaper. You make something resembling an OS, basically a shell for something like that, just a graphical shell that's different, you make a version of Word or Pages that is a basic typing program, but has its own brand name. Same with a browser, etc. It all should be available and doesn't seem to be. In today's society, that niche should be filled.
 
Daniel J said:
The current project would feature 3-4 big names such as twitter, facebook, etc. but they would be among 100 other text elements or keywords. A previous project I featured twitter/facebook/and youtube next to their address (i.e. twitter/pandamotion). Hmmm...
Click to expand...

Its a bit unclear what kind of project you're talking about and in what context these names/logos would appear.

If you're talking about promoting your own facebook/twitter/youtube page (or anything else 'journalistic' in nature) - then there shouldn't be any issues.

As far as using their logos - that could get a little dicey.

Some more details and/or context would probably help get you a clearer answer.
But of course, keep in mind we're not lawyers here.

(well, not most of us anyhow)
 
JonathanLB said:
What I'm wondering basically is why isn't there a company that just does this? You could make a LOT of money catering to the entertainment industry and making barely functional software that could be used on screen, royalty-free. Indie filmmakers would eat that up, studios would use it because it's just easier and cheaper. You make something resembling an OS, basically a shell for something like that, just a graphical shell that's different, you make a version of Word or Pages that is a basic typing program, but has its own brand name. Same with a browser, etc. It all should be available and doesn't seem to be. In today's society, that niche should be filled.
Click to expand...

Jonathan, looks like you have come up with an alternate revenue stream for your project. Why don't you pitch the graphic design house you hire to make the graphic elements you need as templates that you both can market for other filmmakers with this need? With this back end upside, it may cut your front end costs, and maybe, just maybe, make both you and the graphics house some cash. Just a thought. I am a big believer in the, "Two birds with one stone" philosophy of effort, ya know?
 
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