[Jim Harvey]

Ken, take a look at the upper right hand corner. See that blank area with the button that says “SEARCH” on it? That’s really all you need to find something here at the COW.

Why you would want to go to another site to seacrch for content on THIS site escapes me.

Kind of like frying the fish twice isn’t it?

Jim Harvey
JHV Digital

[Jim Harvey]

Their only requirement is that if you use copyrighted material, you make sure and don’t sell it or use it to make profit in any way. I’m being very careful of that, am aware of the possibility of legal ramifications, and am not too worried based on Lucasfilm’s past record regarding these things.

But you ask for donations on your site which could easily be construed as attempting to profit from your film. You clearly put in your post heading that you are “hesitant to post” and clarify that by admitting to worrying about using copyrighted content. If ever there was an “open and shut case” you just made it.

Not worrying about legal ramifications based on past behavior is a risky attitude. Of course, that’s your prerogative. It is, however, totally disingenuous to post copyright notices on YOUR work and ignore them on other’s work based on “past behavior” from a studio. If you can’t see that, or take umbrage to my pointing it out, then I am wasting both your time and mine.

I hate to see people who have a lot of talent get sidetracked by making avoidable mistakes. I hate it even more when they are financially ruined by companies who suddenly decide to make and “example” of them. Just for laughs, you might ring up your attorney and get a ball park figure on what it would cost you to defend yourself against a copyright infringement suit (again one that you would most definitely lose).

I think that you would be less cavalier in your attitude when you realizes that even though it may have never happened before, if YOU are the lucky one to be chosen to go on the block, your life will change dramatically. All the “Fun” goes out of a project that lands you in court.

Best of luck in future projects and remember, Talent and common sense don’t always go hand in hand and sometimes the person who doesn’t shower you with roses is giving you the best advice.

[Jim Harvey]

I’m not as laissez-faire as DSE is so I’m not at all happy to see you spend so much effort to produce your film and then render it totally useless by including copyrighted work. If you think that you are somehow immune to being prosecuted for this gaffe, you are sorely mistaken. If you have any real love for your financial position in life, you would be well served by removing your film from the server it resides on, at least until you either;

A) Pony up the rights fees for the music and effects you purloined (which is unlikely as the agencies make little distinction between a “Home Movie” and a Major production)
or
B) Re-Edit your opus and use royalty free music and effects which are readily available and relatively inexpensive (and sometimes totally free)

If you think that you can make the excuse that you are only a “home movie” (which it is fairly clear that this is just that), I think that you will be very surprised to find out that THAT idea won’t hold any water as you have your film available at “Fiddlerstudios.com” which ironically has a very clear copyright posting on the home page. If YOU expect to be protected from those who would take your work, you can’t expect to claim ignorance when you take someone else’s property. Fiddler Films being promoted as a “Division of Fiddler Studios” certainly lends the image of a fairly well established and financially stable entity. I’d bet you a coffee at 7/11 that you don’t have the assets to fight a copyright infringement suit that you are sure to lose.

So with that bit of sunshine out of the way. I would suggest that you rethink your position. Yes, there are many people who make films and use copyrighted content without permission. Very few of them are foolish enough to promote it and broadcast it on one of the Largest PROFESSIONAL WEB FORUMS in existence.