Rules, Regulations and Videotape

~Anna Fri, Nov 29, 1996 (17:41) seed

Is anyone familiar with the copyright regulations for videos? I use some videoconferencing equipment which will make bitmap stills from a video input. I suspect it might be much like scanning in photos from a book; theoretically illegal, but practically ignored. However, I don't want to become a test case.

~terry Fri, Nov 29, 1996 (18:05) #1

Did you get the idea for the title to this topic from the movie Sex, Lies and Videotape?

~Anna Fri, Nov 29, 1996 (18:52) #2

Plagiarism? Me? Terry, how could you think such a thing! (yes)

~terry Fri, Nov 29, 1996 (20:00) #3

parody not plagriarism. Clever!

~amy2 Sun, Dec 1, 1996 (14:47) #4

Anna, I work in the film business in Hollywood, and let me tell you: ANYTHING contained in a videotape is the property of the releasing studio, and you can't make & distribute stills publicly (though if you do it for your own amusement, that's OK). Let me tell you -- the industry is really serious about film piracy, and some entities, like Disney, would be only too happy to sue you for the smallest infringement. So I would recommend absolutely NOT dissementing any copyrighted material on the net withou getting permission first.

~Anna Mon, Dec 2, 1996 (02:16) #5

Thanks Amy2 - I feared it would be something like that. I'll restrict the decorations to my home pc..

~amy2 Tue, Dec 3, 1996 (10:42) #6

Yeah, I would. They're so paranoid out here they practically handcuffed my friend to a print of EMPIRE STRIKES BACK when he was going around the country to show it to EXHIBITORS.