copyRIGHTS?

Question

I am a highschool student and I want to participate at a movie contest and will probably use sountracks from world-wide-known singers and composers. Will I need any copyrights for that, considering the fact that it is a non-profit activity (I will not be selling the film, or something like that) (ofcourse, the contest involves money :D ) ??? Or is it enough to mention the singer, composer, album and others at the end of the movie?

Even if it is sort of a school contest?

Answer 1

Here is what you need to know.

Ascap, Bmi and Secac are performance rights, which you as a producer do not pay. The contest operators will have to pay this if they display the entries to the public. This is why most all video contest rules prohibit copyrighted music, they are too cheap to pay the performance rights.

To use the music as part of a school project is well within the scope of "fair use".

If you intend to show or distribute your product, free or otherwise, outside of an academic venue, including internet, then you will need sync rights. You can get these from Harry Fox Agency for most composers. They have a minimum charge of 500 units, so think big if you are going commercial with this.

However you just can't take music off a CD to sync with your video. The recording label has rights to the recording so you would have a cover band play it for you or try and get rights from the label. Independent and small labels will be cooperative, big names will not. For broadcast only, the recording rights is exempted, which is why MTV has unlimited music videos to show.

you other options are to create/invent your own music track or to go with public domain recordings/compositions. public domain stuff is available at http://www.music4tvandfilms.com

hope you take first prize!!

Answer 2

there is a provision in copyright laws for fair use of material in academic work. Since this is for a contest with prize money, the first two people might be correct. I would ask your teacher or someone at school about it. A librarian at the public library should be well-versed in copyright law, also.

Alternatively, you can look up the copyright laws yourself and see if you can figure them out.

Answer 3

well, there are a couple of issues here, there is the whole concept of copyrights, of which you're aware, and appear to want to do the right thing. and then there is licensing, which is what you actually need to address. it's possible to USE someone else's copyrighted material, IF YOU PAY LICENSING.
you'd have to actually find out to which of the three licensing organizations the owner of the copyright belongs (it's not always the songwriter(s)) contact the organizations, with a list of particulars - name of the material, composer, date of copyright (if you can find it), your proposed use...

they will administer the actual contract you'd need to be legally able to use that material.

if this isnt' what you wanted to hear, sorry.... it's just how it is

good luck!!!

btw.... of course you're going to credit whom ever you use for the soundtrack. why would you think that you wouldn't HAVE to do that?

Answer 4

You would be performing/publishing the person's work in your work. This is a violation of their copyright. See www.copyright.gov for details.

Think about this as a matter of fairness. Why should you be allowed to use someone else's copyrighted work, potentially make money from it, and they get nothing?

P.S. You should also discuss this with the contest organizers, to make sure that others who misuse copyrighted work will be disqualified.

Answer 5

I suggest you try and get rights to copy the stuff to protect yourself in case. If this is some small thing for a small non-profit and people there won't have access so they can copy the movie or the music no one is likely to worry much about it. Be advised that they are going afer pirates with a vengence these days. Be careful.

Answer 6

Unless you are using the soundtracks for your own personal use, like a project for school, you have to get permission. That includes contests.