copyright question
GamersRejoice
Member Posts: 817
Is it copyright infringement to use quotes from youtube videos? Anyone know?
GamersRejoice
Member Posts: 817
Comments
This is why some companies copyright proprietary code as its being programmed - incase someone jumps ship and tries to take the code somewhere else and modify it. I digress.
i don't understand the "Saturday Night Live" reference but just so you guys know, EVERYTING that gets spoken on TV "usually" gets written by professional writers. The idea is that the host rehearses the material (while being coached one every little nuance) and then performs it in front of the camera and audience.
I would think that most of the people who make a professional youtube video, would script it beforehand and then record/edit until it is releasable.
As tenddrmr suggested, an email to the copyright holder (clearly stated on youtube) would be the best way to go about it unless time has little value to you
Using a "Quote" may not be a violation of copyrights. Quoting a small part in a review, for example, is fine. A parody is also acceptable.
Other than that, a copyright is determined through enforcement of the courts. There is no cut and dry "That's a violation", although from past cases we can usually draw some conclusions.
Some of those conclusions are as followed:
An idea mentioned at a bar on a Friday night between friends is not copyrighted. Once it become written down (or on video), content begins to be protected, increasing the chances that it will be ruled protected. Adding a copyright notice and a date with your name increases it even more. Mailing the material to yourself is better. Having the paper dated by a notary is even better. Sending it off and having it registered at congress is the best. But still it would be a court that determines it.
If you wanna give a few details I may be able to point you in the right direction. No, I'm not a lawyer. I do own a couple of intellectual properties so I have some experience.
You can use anything as the personal use, without a permission. Examples of personal use:
1. You can show the movie on DVD that you own to anyone from your friends and family, but you cannot rent it, or make public (for example on the Internet or in cinema).
2. You can have someone's photo on the computer, or in the frame on your desk, you can copy it and give it to your friend, but you can't make any profit from it, or use it in any form of advertisement.
So, please remember that (shortcut):
1. Everything that is made from an idea is protected by international copyrights. It include for example: texts (but not short news), photos, drawings, paitings, sculptures, books, videos, movies, scripts, software etc. But it dosn't include things such as: furniture (but not a unique pieces of art furniture), short news etc.
2. Copyrights are valid, and protected by international law even if the creator doesn't write anything about it (for example: he doesn't have to write that his photo XXXX is protected and he own the copyrights). Copyrights are valid always.
3. You can use anything that is protected by international copyrights if you use it in the personal use. I wrote few examples above.
4. Copyrights are valid till the creator dies (I don't remember how many years have to past after his death). After that, his works belongs to everyone. So you can publish for example all books wrote by Shakespeare and make profit from it. Of course there are exceptions.
5. If the law cannot identify the creator of (for example) a painting or book, the copyrights are no longer valid (see the 4th point).
6. You can make quotes, but you HAVE to write an author and a source.
7. You can make a parody of anything, but it could be tought to protect it in the court.
That's all I think... But if I remember anything else, I will write it.
I would suggest staying away if you are making a "for profit" type of app. (And by "Profit" I mean anything over 1 cent.)
You probably won't get sued to have it removed. But, Apple is likely to reject it. (They are very big on protecting intellectual rights with regards to media.) If they don't reject it, if the person says it complains to Apple they will pull your app with nothing more than a written statement of copyright infringement, making it you who would be fighting an uphill battle to get it back in the app store. It's probably not worth the hassle.
Remember the little game Plants vs. Zombies? They had to pull their "Dancing Zombie" because it danced like Michael Jackson and they didn't want to deal with it. (In reality, they stood a good chance of winning had it gone to court. The is a joke, a parody. Not important to game play. Historically these are not copyright infringements... Saturday Night Live would be out of business if it was.)
If it is just a game for fun or an app for fun and there is no profit to be made give it a try if you want.