Would this be legal?

Safari Tim · 12-12-2003, 08:50 PM

I put the Hands on History video on my Airstream Sightings page, thanks to Uwe for sending it to me.

You can check it out here.

I was thinking of making a Video CD of all the different airstream footage that I have on my website complete with a menu, and the vintage ads, etc.... that would play in DVD players. That way anyone who wanted could see these videos at a good quality on their TV anytime they wanted.

I would want to cover my hosting, mailing, and media costs at about $10/per copy.

1. Would this be legal to do?

2. Would anyone want one?

**Janet** · 12-12-2003, 09:04 PM

Put your affairs in order and wait for the fun police to arrive at your door step.

It is NOT legal to reproduce copyrighted material owned by others for sale - even if you are only breaking even. Protected media may be reproduced without permission for certian purposes e.g. news or educational but only in 30 second or smaller sections. All other uses you must obtain permission and work out lisencing issues.

How do you feel about stripes?

Photobitstream · 12-12-2003, 09:11 PM

As a professional photographer I am very sensitive to copyright issues. Even posting these videos on your web site is a violation of federal copyright law, but unlikely to get you in trouble because you're not posting for commercial purposes. The worst you're likely to get is a request to remove the materials.

As soon as you start charging or even distributing the materials on DVD you're far more likely to draw attention to your activities. Even if all you do is break even on distributing the videos and ads you open yourself to hefty lawsuits for copyright infringement.

http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-fairuse.html

Silvertwinkie · 12-12-2003, 09:47 PM

I'll send you a file so you can bust out after they for sure try to lock you up.

**flyfshr** · 12-12-2003, 09:47 PM

It is illegal to copy and/or distribute intellectual property without the original copyright owner's specified permission even if you are doing so without personal gain. Not recommended at any price.

FF

Safari Tim · 12-12-2003, 11:04 PM

Just thought it would be a cool thing to do....

So, should I take the videos off the website then?

Photobitstream · 12-12-2003, 11:10 PM

I agree it would be a cool thing to do, but the reality is you'd be violating federal copyright law. I can't advise you on keeping the videos on your web site, but if you do make sure they're MPEG videos and not WMV files. We Mac users might like to take a peek too.

qqq · 12-13-2003, 01:00 AM

Safari Tim,

Thanks for sharing, most interesting

Hart

53flyingcloud · 12-13-2003, 06:45 AM

Safari Tim
Janet asked...

Quote:

How do you feel about stripes?

Does this mean that your A/S will have "stripes" as well??

ciao

**Pick** · 12-13-2003, 10:12 AM

I am not trying to be a smartarse, but I have to ask this question.
I truly want to know the answer.

What is the deal with using RealPlayer and .ram multimedia files? They are the biggest pain. Every time I go to play one it says I need an update. Then they want you to pay for it. Well, not anymore, because I uninstalled Realplayer.

If it isn't an .mpg, .avi or .wmv it is, in my opinion a non standard format.

qqq · 12-13-2003, 10:14 AM

Pick

I had to update too...but it was free

Hart

donnall · 12-13-2003, 10:26 AM

Phtobitstream, what type of photogrphy do you do ??

I'm a portrait photographer myself (plus have rental property to support the toys) I have a home made web site, to see go to donnall.com

Oh, and yep, you can't even copy that stuff and give it away without getting into mucho trouble.

Don

Safari Tim · 12-13-2003, 12:35 PM

It is frustrating because all the links point you to the paid version. But they do have a free player, you just have to look for it.

The problem with posting an AVI or MPEG is the file size is huge and you can't stream it.

For example.

Hands On History file is:

AVI 6.25 Gig

MPEG 139 Meg

Real 3.5 Meg Streamable

I have experimented with wmv and just like the real one better. I guess MAC people can not see wmv either. I am not sure about Real.

-Tim

Quote:

Originally posted by Pick
What is the deal with using RealPlayer and .ram multimedia files? They are the biggest pain. Every time I go to play one it says I need an update. Then they want you to pay for it. Well, not anymore, because I uninstalled Realplayer.

If it isn't an .mpg, .avi or .wmv it is, in my opinion a non standard format.

Photobitstream · 12-13-2003, 12:41 PM

Don,

I do motorsports photography. Used to be a newspaper photographer, quit because of the low pay. Switched to technical writing then got back into photography full-time when the tech bust took my job away.

I'm retooling my web site right now, and should have the new design rolled out next month. As much as I don't want to do it, I'm going to have to post proofs for people to look at so they can order photos. I'll just make sure the proofs are too small to make decent prints, and have my copyright displayed prominently.

Tim, Quicktime is far away the best solution for posting movies, but then you get Windows people whining about installing Apple software on their computers.