AMVs as fair use

[bobbias]

They're simply denying that they ever knew about it to save face. I'd like for those companies to one day simply say "you know what, go ahead, we don't care" out in the open. It's a long way away from happening, but I believe that we can make it happen if we prove that AMVs deserve recognition as an armature event dedicated to a "remix culture" who's primary purpose is to spread enjoyment, and to help expose people to new things. A culture who shuns commercial enterprise in favour or freedom and companionship. We have many of these qualities, and the only thing left is for the big companies to acknowledge us as a group they want, and care about, because personally, they enjoy them as much as we do, and they also recognize the importance of the AMV culture.

This would be quite a bit more eloquent if it weren't for the time being nearly 6 AM...

[Vlad G Pohnert]

A few years back I had a similar discussion with Jerry, the then marketing director of BANDAI America about AMVs... He actually made his own AMVs and even was a Judges for one of the AMV contests I ran... He mentioned that they staff really liked AMVs and even watched then and had several on the company server! However, in terms of company policy, the "Company's" stand was they did not exist and as such there was nothing to go after... This is pretty much the way it is... Ironically, there are a ton of FAN created stuff that companies love (including the non-anime stuff) and thus the only way the corporate legalities can stay of it is to deny they exist.

Also way back in 1991, I did a bunch of AMVs for a con that had Gene Roddenbarry's (Creator of Star Trek) executive assistant prtesent. I had a dicussion about fan made stuff and even she mentiuoned how much the staff, creative personel and even managers loved that stuff, however the corporate executives isoilated form what really goes on out there cold not understand nor see the segificance of allowing it...

Truly it is a sad thing in what we have become... I read somewhere that America has more lawyers then every other country combined. What does that really tell us about the system and where copyright issues fit in. If you think about it, "Lawyers" have to justify their existence somehow… Just some food for thought, that’s all… The way I see it, we can interpolate Fair Use one way, however it's how the legal arm of the corporates that want to stop it interpolate it that counts for more...

Vlad

[Bauzi]

Mr. Yamaga: I feel that copywriting is only for professionals. For people who are doing it for their own enjoyment as a hobby, I feel that the line is very blurry.

I´m still the point that there is a big difference between a hobby and someone who makes really money out of ilegal stuff (in thermes of copyright).

Musicbusiness:
It´s strange. It looks like "they"´re out for all the free sites. Often sites that make money with the stolen music are left behind and ignored. What´s up with that?

[bobbias]

Well, many of the sites that actually make money on stolen music/videos are located in either russia or china, because neither of those countries follow the usual rules regarding copyright. I've seen a music game based in china actually steal songs and use them in it, despite being a pay-to-play game. And in russia, they just don't have the same laws regarding copyright. I don't know exactly the laws and how they work, but something allows those sites to sell the music and such without permission.