Contest Copyright Conflict

[Keviano]

We were gonna enter some of our films into the many film contests, but we're aprehensive when we noticed a copyright disclaimer saying that once submitted, the film is copyright-owned by the contest host. When I took still pictures and entered them in competitions and things, I knew it as a big no-no to enter anything where you lose the copyright. Does anyone have any thoughts or comments on this subject?

Keviano http://www.catdogfilms.co.uk

[Gurdeep Samra]

That's fucked up.

That's all I can really say.

[eddie]

That sounds like bad news.
Try other festivals.

[Xendar]

Generally I think this is just so that they can use your film to publicise the festival, show it as many times etc. Whether they actually have full copyright is a different matter. If you copyright your work first then they can't take that away from you. However, I don't know how easy (or expensive) copyrighting something is though. Does anyone have any ideas?



------------------
Mark Smith
Neon Films - Low / No budget films in West Yorkshire
www.neonfilms.freeserve.co.uk

[Ralph Snart]

It depends on your stuff. Are you working on something new or using proven techniques to get your point across. If you are worried about getting your ideas and concepts stolen by a profiteer, but want to test the waters anyway, give them your c material and keep the good stuff in reserve. If you have a point to make with your production and are not concerned with who has the rights, then land with both feet.
Just my opinion.
What do these Icons mean anyway?

[Nigel]

I am no lawyer--So everything I say is not to be used as legal advice!!!! In the USA if you create something--Like a film it is automatically copyright protected as soon as you put "your name ?2000" on it. Some countries require "All Rights Reserved" as well. You can get real advice on this from a lawyer--if you can't afford one call a lawyer's for artists organization. Good Luck

[Keviano]

It's true that you own copyright as soon as you make a film. It's covered under the Artistic Copyright Law 1986 (something like that) But like any copyrighted material, the copyright can be sold or 'forfeited'. This seems to be the case with these comps. After some research, I've decided any competition bearing a copyright disclaimer we're gonna avoid like the plague.

In regards to concepts and ideas, there is no copyright law protecting ideas contained in a film. These are free to be copied by whoever wants them. The copyright comes into effect if the party imitating your work tries to pass it off as yours (i.e forgery), or uses your music or anything else that contains a subject copyright.

Thanx for all your replies
Keviano
ReelRaine Films