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Horhiro
Draconis Combine
Samurai
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1625
Location: United States
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 Posted: 26-Oct-2009 20:51 Post subject: BattleTech Copy-right question |
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Hi gang,
Totalcon is having a contest to make a video for the con (or your own event).
totalcon.com/ViralTotal.html
However, they state:
"Must have permission to use any copy-righted materials in the video clip including music and images"
They later state:
"You may use photo’s from past TotalCon events available at www.photobucket.com/totalcon"
So if I use a picture that has people at the con playing a published game, such as players around a table of mech minis, am I violating copy-right laws? It would seem so.
If that is true then no picture of any game material could be used correct?
Thanks.
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"I have lived my life trying to be a virtuous man. The Dragon admires tenacity, and the code of the samurai upholds it as well." -Minobu Tetsuhara
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Horhiro
Draconis Combine
Samurai
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1625
Location: United States
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| Posted: 26-Oct-2009 20:53 Post subject: BattleTech Copy-right question |
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And how does the great Mordel get permission to use the Grasshopper pic and others on this great site?
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"I have lived my life trying to be a virtuous man. The Dragon admires tenacity, and the code of the samurai upholds it as well." -Minobu Tetsuhara
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Kraken
Federated Suns
Marshal
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 2755
Location: United States
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| Posted: 26-Oct-2009 21:26 Post subject: BattleTech Copy-right question |
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Long and short of it?
If the purpose of a photograph is to depict people standing around a table playing a game, then it's inevitable that you'll include shots of the game.
As such, you'd most likely squeak on through via the "Fair Use" clause.
I honestly can't think of an RPG or CCG company petty enough to even bother with a lawsuit over something like that anyway unless you were overtly trying to argue that the photo was proof you guys created the game or something.
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"I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat." -Edgar Allen Poe"I knew there was something special about you, but I never realized you were really a cat." Wolfwood to a random cat (Trigun)
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ralgith
Blighted Sun Battalion
1st Company
"Ralgith's Renegades"
Colonel
Joined: 18-Aug-2003 00:00
Posts: 2021
Location: United States
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| Posted: 27-Oct-2009 13:39 Post subject: Re: BattleTech Copy-right question |
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| Kraken wrote: | Long and short of it?
If the purpose of a photograph is to depict people standing around a table playing a game, then it's inevitable that you'll include shots of the game.
As such, you'd most likely squeak on through via the "Fair Use" clause.
I honestly can't think of an RPG or CCG company petty enough to even bother with a lawsuit over something like that anyway unless you were overtly trying to argue that the photo was proof you guys created the game or something. |
That sums it up quite succinctly. I was at a Magic tournament where someone asked if they could post the photos they were taking and the DCC judge gave them almost the exact same answer. Kinda funny really. That wasn't you, was it Kraken? 
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Colonel Ralgith t'Mayasara
Blighted Sun Battalion
1st Company 'Ralgith's Renegades'
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Kraken
Federated Suns
Marshal
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 2755
Location: United States
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| Posted: 27-Oct-2009 14:05 Post subject: Re: BattleTech Copy-right question |
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Nope; I don't do CCGs outside of the odd game with friends.
Generally speaking, anyone wishing to go into business or the creative arts needs to have at least a vague idea of how the Copyright Laws work - especially the Fair Use clause. In fact, the college I'm going to for my BS Business Admin degree requires a minimum of two semesters' worth of business law before allowing anyone to get their diploma.
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"I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat." -Edgar Allen Poe"I knew there was something special about you, but I never realized you were really a cat." Wolfwood to a random cat (Trigun)
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Horhiro
Draconis Combine
Samurai
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1625
Location: United States
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| Posted: 27-Oct-2009 21:37 Post subject: Re: BattleTech Copy-right question |
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| Kraken wrote: |
you'd most likely squeak on through
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Thanks for the response, but that's not a response that gives me any confidence. I'm looking for something solid.
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"I have lived my life trying to be a virtuous man. The Dragon admires tenacity, and the code of the samurai upholds it as well." -Minobu Tetsuhara
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Mordel
Mordel.Net
Administrator
Joined: 03-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 6061
Location: United States
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| Posted: 27-Oct-2009 23:00 Post subject: Re: BattleTech Copy-right question |
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| Horhiro wrote: | | And how does the great Mordel get permission to use the Grasshopper pic and others on this great site? |
Well, I do put the little copyright thingy at the bottom and give credit where credit is due (though I may need to update it, who the hell owns BT now?).
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Karagin
Imperial Karagin Army
Imperial General
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 4120
Location: United States
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| Posted: 27-Oct-2009 23:06 Post subject: BattleTech Copy-right question |
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Right now I believe Catalyst Games Labs has the rights to put out the stuff and I think TOPPs actually owns the rights since they bought WK...so really who owns it is a good question...
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Karagin
Only the dead have seen the end of war. - Plato
"Wasted trip Man. Nobody said nuthin' about lockin' horns with no tigers." Oddball
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Horhiro
Draconis Combine
Samurai
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1625
Location: United States
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| Posted: 28-Oct-2009 13:30 Post subject: Re: BattleTech Copy-right question |
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| Mordel wrote: | | Horhiro wrote: | | And how does the great Mordel get permission to use the Grasshopper pic and others on this great site? |
Well, I do put the little copyright thingy at the bottom and give credit where credit is due (though I may need to update it, who the hell owns BT now?). |
Ahhhh, yes I see that now. So "giving credit" would give me a solid defense against legal copy-right infringement? One doesn't actually need "permission"?
I really want to make a cool video, but I can't afford to make any gross mistakes.
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"I have lived my life trying to be a virtuous man. The Dragon admires tenacity, and the code of the samurai upholds it as well." -Minobu Tetsuhara
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Mordel
Mordel.Net
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Joined: 03-Feb-2002 00:00
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Location: United States
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| Posted: 28-Oct-2009 18:38 Post subject: Re: BattleTech Copy-right question |
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| Horhiro wrote: | | Mordel wrote: | | Horhiro wrote: | | And how does the great Mordel get permission to use the Grasshopper pic and others on this great site? |
Well, I do put the little copyright thingy at the bottom and give credit where credit is due (though I may need to update it, who the hell owns BT now?). |
Ahhhh, yes I see that now. So "giving credit" would give me a solid defense against legal copy-right infringement? One doesn't actually need "permission"?
I really want to make a cool video, but I can't afford to make any gross mistakes. |
Have you tried emailing the folks at TC for clarification? You don't have anything legal to worry about because you aren't making a profit, so no one is gonna bother you. Based on TCs definition, the worst thing that could happen is your video is disqualified,
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Horhiro
Draconis Combine
Samurai
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1625
Location: United States
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| Posted: 28-Oct-2009 20:50 Post subject: Re: BattleTech Copy-right question |
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Yeah, I'm gonna bag it.
Quote:
"Participants further release TOTAL CONFUSION LLC, its affiliates and assigns from any and all liability, claims, or
damages arising out of or relating the participant's submission"
Thank you for all the responses, this looks like a bigger pain-in-the-arse than it's worth.
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"I have lived my life trying to be a virtuous man. The Dragon admires tenacity, and the code of the samurai upholds it as well." -Minobu Tetsuhara
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Mordel
Mordel.Net
Administrator
Joined: 03-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 6061
Location: United States
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| Posted: 31-Oct-2009 12:12 Post subject: Re: BattleTech Copy-right question |
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| Horhiro wrote: | Yeah, I'm gonna bag it.
Quote:
"Participants further release TOTAL CONFUSION LLC, its affiliates and assigns from any and all liability, claims, or
damages arising out of or relating the participant's submission"
Thank you for all the responses, this looks like a bigger pain-in-the-arse than it's worth. |
I don't think so. I think all you're reading is the standard mumbo-jumbo lawyer speak to cover their asses. You could do a full 1 hour video and I can gaurantee you that no one is gonna come after you.
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