[Ben Barker]

What are the rules on this? Say I wanted to add some spice to an animation, or perhaps my demo reel, with a movie/game soundtrack?
Are you allowed to do this as long as you give full credit, and make no money off of it?
I heard different answers, including "yes", "absolutely not", and "only under 40 seconds". What is the deal?

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Ben Barker

[Visigoth]

Uhm, as far as media liscensing...

If the work is for educational purposes, and will not impact sales of the media being liscensed, yes, it's OK (U.S. copyright law, fair use clause) -- But, if you're intending to make a demo reel, for use in getting you hired with a company... That's a no-no, and a real quick way to get sued... =\

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Your car is a fiberglass penis extension.

[dEATH.Tool]

Ohoo! Definitely a no-no! I wanted to do the same thing back in school (traditional cel reel).....had my hopes high too! But as Visigoth said if it's to get you hired....your better off leaving that road alone. Not to mention if your potential employer is on to the tune...that may be a reason in his/her eyes not to hire you. And my nephew believes he's gonna use a Matrix sample to get him hired

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.we all have fallen victim to the evil which is ourselves.

[Ben Barker]

Hmm. I was wondering because I was on Steve Ogden's site (lunaentertainment.com), and he wanted to get a job with Cyan. He had a piece on his reel of some old man doing lip synching. In the background was Riven music.
He did get hired by Cyan, so they obviously didn't care.
I guess it depends on the employer. Come on, who didn't for instance, warez their first paint program when they were 14? But if you mention that to some people they freak out. Other, more realistic people, go "yeah, me too... when can you start?"

[dEATH.Tool]

Hey I have a few friends who've ripped warez once or twice. You rip warez..hey fine with me! Personally though I never have....I don't believe in stealing....just a childhood thing with my father I guess! The only true reason to steal is to feed your family or yourself....that's with me to death! But hey like I said to every his own...fine with me.

Question though.....why not just use demos?

[soLkana]

if you really want to use the music/sample, i suggest u get in contact with the band/artist, record company, etc and find out. depending on who u contact i guess, it would most likely cost money which a lot of us can't actually afford.

or alternatively find someone/friends willing to make music/samples along the lines of wot u want and hope for the best.

[Nex]

Ben:

Generally you are not allowed to use this music for 'public performance'.
So if you use it to get a job as background for a demo reel I don't know if that counts as public performance..
The secure way would be to contact the label/artist and ask them for permission maybe promise them to send them demo to them.

Another way would be to get into contact with a musican you know and let him make a track similar to the one you want in the background.

[Ben Barker]

Yeah. Good points everyone. I guess clearing it with the publisher/band first is the best way to go. If they are reasonable, they probably won't charge you. If they want a lot of money, hell it doesn't matter that much.

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Ben Barker

[Visigoth]

Nex; Excellent point about the public performance part... Here's an exerpt from the FBI warning pertaining to the U.S. Copyright law...

Duplication in part or whole is strictly prohibited. This is intended for private use only. Commercial or public use is strictly prohibited.

So take it this way; You have a CD of a popular band...You can play it on your stereo, at home...And you can invite your friends over for a party and play it... but if you decide to have a party in a public place, and charge an admission fee for this party...It becomes a violation. Same with the demo reel. You're taking the music out of the confines of private use, and displaying it with the intent to generate profit.


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Your car is a fiberglass penis extension.