COPYRIGHT question?

Question

Is it legal to make a home movie w/ music from Hollywood film scores that only friends/family will see?

My friends and I made a movie and added music from Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean ext. I burned the movie we made onto a DVD and I am giving it to only close friends and family to watch inside their homes. I added the name of the soundtrack and the composer in the credits. Someone told me to check into if this would violate copyright laws. If I'm just sharing it with friends/family for free to watch only inside their homes... I would not think it would be a problem. Is this legal? Please explain why or why not and if you can give a link to verify your answer that would be great. Thank you very much!

Answer 1

Legally no. Chances of prosecution are minor though.

The supreme court clarified that if you own a CD, you can make a copy of the CD to play in your car, or in your bedroom etc. You cannot legally lend that copy to a friend, or play it at a party.

When you mix the CD with your video, you are creating something called a 'derivitive work' which means you've used a copyrighted item to create an original work of your own. You can only do that with appropriate licensing.

In reality, if you never show this to anyone except friends and family, and you retain the copies, not distribute them, it's highly unlikely you will be persued by the license owners.

Answer 2

I had this same issue come up when doing my thesis project for multimedia film making. In general, the short answer is that it is not legal. In order to fully legally use the music on your project, you would technically need a written statement from the artist and/or record label which produced said work.

However....since your work is not being sold, or mass distributed, I doubt any legal repercussions would ever arise from your burning a dvd for a family member or two. The record companies currentl trend is to only go after people who are distributing subject material for free public access, or monetary gain.

Answer 3

No they do no longer seem to be secure by utilising copyright and that they could't be secure by utilising copyright by utilising you or everybody else. no one owns those symbols nevertheless their variety and meaning is roofed by utilising worldwide criminal treaties. there is not any such factor as 'copyrighting' something. that's a meaningless expression and exhibits an entire fake impression of the ideas. Copyright (actually the main appropriate to repeat) applies to all innovative and imaginitive works (taken to contain utility code), in spite of its advantage, from the 2nd the artwork is created. No further action is needed for the main appropriate to exist and there is not any cost in contact. the main appropriate belongs to the author of the artwork nevertheless, as with the different assets maximum appropriate, that is offered, assigned or authorized. Copyright applies whether you do no longer use the copyright image or use the interest 'copyright'. regardless of that, that is a sturdy concept to apply a suitable copyright notice (interior the variety "Copyright, the call of the main appropriate holder and the twelve months') because it serves to remind different those that they can't reproduction your imaginitive artwork .... nevertheless it would not seem to give up human beings copying music, utility or movies.

Answer 4

technically, what you are doing is not legal. However, if it is only for private/personal use, no one is going to know, and even if someone (like the copyright owner) were to find out, it is highly unlikely that you will be sued. What would the damages be?

A bigger concern for copyright owners is large-scale piracy. This is both a crime and a basis for civil litigation.

Answer 5

I'm no lawyer, but I think the music/movie industry has more important things to worry about.
I wouldn't worry about it.