Using TV c;ips in a movie?

A

Asianfanatic

New member
Hi, I'm currently writing my second movie (the first got commercial distribution) this film is a black comedy and I want to include a scene where two of the characters are watching 'Walker Texas Ranger', do I need permission for this, even if I only show less than 10 seconds of the TV show?

Thanks.
 
I think you already know the answer. And even if someone in this forum says you don't need permission I don't think this would be persuasive if it ever got to court. Must you have someone else's show? Can't you just patch something in? If you must have "Walker" its pretty straightforward to write to the producer and ask for clearance.
 
If you ever watch the credits after a big movie where they use a tv clip from Family Guy or any other tv show you can always see a permission grant somewhere in there - I'd say that spells it pretty obviously that you need one too.
 
Of course you need clearance unless you're utilizing it in parody and even then you'd have to be prepared to go to court and make your case. You're using someone else's copyrighted material - not any different than if you had a song playing on the radio in a scene, you'd have to get clearance for that song.
 
No question you do. it would be copy right infringement otherwise. Shouldn't be too difficult to get clearance.
 
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