copyright question

[HSK]

Hi Hexus - I just wanted to get some clarification on something, I'm trying to start off and put together some media work I've done - at uni I did some ADR and foley work, we used clips and sections out of chosen films. As I understand that was ok at uni, but can I put those clips on my own portfolio? Seeing that it is a scene from film, with my own effects and dialogue over it.

[Splash]

I'm 98% certain that you can't without express permission from the copyright holder, but I'm not a lawyer and I'd suggest that internet forums aren't the best place to ask for legal advice. People will be happy to give you opinions, but those opinions generally don't stand up in court so I repeat: get qualified legal advice on this.

[IBM]

Legal advice FTW

Although I couldn't see any problem with an individual using a university portfolio piece to get a job, if you were using it as a portfolio piece to sell your abilities as a consultant/self employed individual, I'd imagine you would get shat on. From a height.

[IBM]

I stand corrected. Past tense FTW.

I should probably edit that.

[HSK]

hmm I thought as much. Yea, i'll get this checked over as it might be for a bit of both.

Thanks fellas.

[Rebel]

I have the relevant copyright legislation somewhere (as does Saracen), however I will just add my 2p worth, whilst some copyright restrictions are lifted for educational purposes/use, they are strictly enforceable once out of the educational remit.

In other words to use that material you NEED written permission from the copyright holder to use their material, answer this question, if someone else used YOUR work to make money without your agreement how would you feel?

Personally I begrudge even allowing educational establishments to use my material without permission, but I have recently found out there is little I can do to stop them other than make it not worthwhile for them (That means any publically accessible image is very low resolution, very small images and has copyright notice plastered right across it).

One other thing, any potential employer/client would find it difficult to trust someone using material they did not own or have copyright permission to use, after all you might use material they owned to get your next job...

[HSK]

^ Yep those are all valid points - I've decided anyway if I'm going to showcase any foley/ADR work, I'm going to use footage I've either shot myself, or have express permission to use/been involved with.

[Barakka]

Don't know if it helps but when I was at uni there was a piece of coursework we worked on where we wanted to use a 30sec clip from an Eddie Izzard show in the final presentation. We approached the publisher to check copyright and after they considered everything like audience (<20), and number of times to show (once) they came back with £4k. We cut that bit from the presentation.