What licenses do I need for a Movie Reviews Website?

Discussion in 'Legal Issues' started by iDotya, May 12, 2009.

  1. #1
    I am looking to get some licenses but I'm not sure where to go or which ones I will need. Thanks
     
    iDotya, May 12, 2009 IP
  2. Nonny

    Nonny Notable Member

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    #2
    You need permission - a license - from a movie's copyright holder.

    In some cases that's easy. For example Hulu.com has movie trailers with embed codes that have been provided by the movie owners, so you can legally embed those trailers on your web site (the drawback being that I believe they can only be viewed from US IP addresses). Also, many official web sites for movies (particularly indie pix) have video or other multimedia content you can embed. And once you establish yourself as a significant review site, movie publicists may hook you up with content, which is what happens on sites like Aint It Cool News and Bloody-Disgusting.com.

    But notice that even on those popular sites, many of their reviews aren't illustrated with trailers. Until you are established, you may have to limit yourself to just linking to trailers of the movies you are discussing.
     
    Nonny, May 12, 2009 IP
  3. browntwn

    browntwn Illustrious Member

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    #3
    You do not need permission of any kind to write a review of a movie. To have access to promotional materials, like posters, images, and trailers, you should contact the companies distributing the movie to get rights to use those materials.
     
    browntwn, May 12, 2009 IP
  4. wanderinglex47

    wanderinglex47 Active Member

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    #4
    You don't need any permissions to review movies. It's your personal opinion, and I think they will even make money from you if you put up advertising for their DVD's or whatever. If you get big enough (like making hundreds of thousands of dollars per month), then you may try and get licenses or make a contract...
     
    wanderinglex47, May 17, 2009 IP
  5. iDotya

    iDotya Active Member

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    #5
    Does anyone know what license I would get to protect my reviews?
     
    iDotya, May 18, 2009 IP
  6. AdscendFehz

    AdscendFehz Member

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    #6
    Reviews are personal opinions, I would imagine you don't need a license for reviews. Like stated, you'd only need one in a instances where you use actual material from a movie.
     
    AdscendFehz, May 18, 2009 IP
  7. iDotya

    iDotya Active Member

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    #7
    Well if I dont other people to take credit for my reviews I can copyright my material correct? How would i do that?
     
    iDotya, May 18, 2009 IP
  8. CMS Tandoori

    CMS Tandoori Peon

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    #8
    as usual nobody ever mention PHOTOS.

    the OP will jump on his seat when he'll discover that he needs to BUY an RM licence for each of the movie-cover posters from macrostock sites that means from 5$ up to 300$ each.

    yes, you heard it well, it's not free and it's not cheap.

    then open up any movie blog and not only they steal movie covers but even screenshots of the movie itself...

    the web is 99% piracy ! fact.
     
    CMS Tandoori, May 19, 2009 IP
  9. jpippy

    jpippy Active Member

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    #9
    How is anyone supposed to believe what you said with a statement like that?
     
    jpippy, May 19, 2009 IP
  10. CMS Tandoori

    CMS Tandoori Peon

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    #10
    try to find me one single blog that PAYS for the images they use and then see by yourself.
     
    CMS Tandoori, May 19, 2009 IP
  11. jpippy

    jpippy Active Member

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    #11
    But the web isn't made up of 99% blogs.. :confused:
     
    jpippy, May 19, 2009 IP
  12. iDotya

    iDotya Active Member

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    #12
    Well I am not just interested in copy writing my content.
     
    iDotya, May 19, 2009 IP
  13. CMS Tandoori

    CMS Tandoori Peon

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    #13
    copyright is yours in any case in the moment you CREATE an opera.

    if your content is just scraped article, stolen images, links, and user generated junk, well i guess there's nothing to copyright about it.

    by opposite if you wrote long reviews for each movie and signed them all with your name and surname (no nick names!) it IS your (c) copyright and always will.
     
    CMS Tandoori, May 19, 2009 IP
  14. iDotya

    iDotya Active Member

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    #14
    My reviews are written by my one writer (I hired) and I.
    Copyright?
     
    iDotya, May 19, 2009 IP
  15. brightknight

    brightknight Peon

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    #15
    There is a question about fair use. If you use a publicly promoted image for your review, it's arguable that fair use might apply. Moreso, there is little motivation for the studios to sue. Once you go beyond a story, then you've got issues. For the most part, these reviews and the content used are innocuous. Nobody will argue the issue if what you're doing doesn't involve ripping someone else off from money they hope to recover.
     
    brightknight, May 19, 2009 IP