Anime Expo 2011 Anime Music Video Contest rules are up!

[XStylus]

If you want to stop being the black sheep, stop asking your attendees to essentially perjure themselves (thus voiding the contract) by entering the contest. As you have your rules written now, nobody can enter without explicitly gaining rights from all the license holders of the music and anime they use. Knowing how this community works for the time you've been here and the hundreds of threads on the subject, you have no reasonable right to assume anyone has done this without evidence. If you fail to enforce this rule with the same due diligence you enforce the others (like frame rate, resolution, etc.), you are being inherently unfair, biased, and unethical.

I'm not entirely clear on what you're getting at. Rules akin to this are standard in most contests. The rule basically says this: "You're responsible for getting clearance to use the content you used for your vid. We won't ask questions, but if any rights holder raises an issue, it's your problem, not AX's."

So what are you asking? Is it that you want AX to indemnify you or something? Because no convention will do that.

That said, AX does have an ASCAP license, plus several US anime companies are on record saying they don't object to AMVs. That doesn't alleviate 100% of the legal issues, but it's closer to being legal than posting on YouTube or even the org.

[DigitalPanther]

While I think it's awesome and all... I don't know about this...

It just means everyone is gonna be entering to win now and that just kinda turns me off....makes me feel insignificant knowing that I'll never again be able to get into anime expo and I almost don't want to enter now cuz everyone else will enter.

I also fear that if someone winning over a popular anime and not a well edited one and got the prize money, it would make the rest of us feel like we aren't worth much. It'll be like a big slap in the face, "You can't win cuz you like unpopular anime, so therefore, you suck and here's some money to rub it in your face too."

I am genuinely sorry you feel that way Kaze. Our goal was to incentivize not intimidate.

While I can potentially see how someone could feel that way I personally see that viewpoint as viewing the glass as half empty. The other side of that is it is to view/use it as an incentive to ALL entrants to step up their game. Turn in the best video you can. Pick the anime titles YOU want to use. Who cares if they are "popular" or not. If you are using a title you fear/feel is not "popular" see this as an oppurtunity to show the aspects of the anime that make it so great. Showcase that which made you want to use it in the first place. Show us in the audience why we should be watching that anime.

I have seen your work Kaze. Don't sell yourself short. NONE of you should be selling yourself short.

my .02
-DP

[BasharOfTheAges]

If you want to stop being the black sheep, stop asking your attendees to essentially perjure themselves (thus voiding the contract) by entering the contest. As you have your rules written now, nobody can enter without explicitly gaining rights from all the license holders of the music and anime they use. Knowing how this community works for the time you've been here and the hundreds of threads on the subject, you have no reasonable right to assume anyone has done this without evidence. If you fail to enforce this rule with the same due diligence you enforce the others (like frame rate, resolution, etc.), you are being inherently unfair, biased, and unethical.

I'm not entirely clear on what you're getting at. Rules akin to this are standard in most contests. The rule basically says this: "You're responsible for getting clearance to use the content you used for your vid. We won't ask questions, but if any rights holder raises an issue, it's your problem, not AX's."

So what are you asking? Is it that you want AX to indemnify you or something? Because no convention will do that.

That said, AX does have an ASCAP license, plus several US anime companies are on record saying they don't object to AMVs. That doesn't alleviate 100% of the legal issues, but it's closer to being legal than posting on YouTube or even the org.

No, the text of rule 13 as it's been written requires you assert and affirm they do do hold those rights prior to the con (at the time of submitting), which is an outright lie in the vast majority of cases. I'm sure the idea was to say "we're not responsible if you lie about that" but gambits like that doesn't exactly hold weight if there's evidence (like this conversation for instance) showing that good faith does not and should not exist on that point. Other cons get away without that exact language. Your ASCAP frees and relation with the anime industry protect you - you don't need to have the submitter falsely assert that he or she is in possession of distribution rights themselves as well. It's legally dubious at best, and with introducing money into the equation, you don't want to have the looming spectre of for-profit copyright violation hanging over things.

To clarify, most cons ignore the point completely in their rules, your rules ask you to outright state that you do hold them. There is a HUGE difference.

EDIT (sorry - formatting problems)
----
The other point, the bit about being fair and sticking to your rules if you want to be seen as credible, is a separate issue, but it's important too. If you have a rule that says no bumpers or title cards and there's a vid that makes it in that has bumpers and title cards, everyone has a right to call you on it - and most people wouldn't fault them for calling bullshit. Likewise, if you allowed videos in that violated this rule 13, everyone would have just as much right to call the selection process unfair and biased. It was mentioned earlier that this had been an issue in the past that the contest was trying to get over the image of being unfair or biased.

MONTHS LATE SUPER EDIT:

Felt it more appropriate to just add this here than bring back old threads, but the general idea of unfairness can be expressed like this (only using the first person for clarity sake):
I go out of my way to find public domain anime and music (giving me de-facto rights to use them) and make a video and submit it. By the rules as you have written them, I have every right to demand that anything i'm competing against in the pre-screening be held to rule 13 and that each editor provide you proof of compliance since this very thread proves evidence of misfeasance by those in charge (or risk lawsuit for breach of contract).

[XStylus]

While I think it's awesome and all... I don't know about this...

It just means everyone is gonna be entering to win now and that just kinda turns me off....makes me feel insignificant knowing that I'll never again be able to get into anime expo and I almost don't want to enter now cuz everyone else will enter.

I also fear that if someone winning over a popular anime and not a well edited one and got the prize money, it would make the rest of us feel like we aren't worth much. It'll be like a big slap in the face, "You can't win cuz you like unpopular anime, so therefore, you suck and here's some money to rub it in your face too."

Your attitude confuses me. This is a competition. You should be entering to compete, and you should want to compete against the best there is to offer.

You speak as someone who doesn't have confidence in their skills and feels they don't have a chance of holding their own in a competitive environment. You underestimate yourself. As a matter of fact, I bought a copy of Black Cat because of your Switchback AMV. That, at least to me, qualifies you as a capable editor.

Furthermore, using unpopular (or unknown) anime is absolutely not a kiss of death. I've seen people make vids that use shows I loathe, and in some cases they were made so well that I gave bonus points because they overcame that loathing. There are no bad shows, only bad concepts.

I also get that some people are more about the artistic aspect and create their vids toward that end rather than seeking to be competitive. Okay, but such vids are more appropriate for a non-competitive exhibition than a cutthroat competition (which I'm hoping Michael will one day allocate a video room for). That's a different topic altogether though.

This is a competition. Bring a howitzer, not a meticulously decorated ceremonial blade. I'm all for anything that makes things more competitive and this prize raises the stakes tremendously. I look forward to seeing what comes of it.

And you belong among that field of competitors.

[Castor Troy]

If you want to stop being the black sheep, stop asking your attendees to essentially perjure themselves (thus voiding the contract) by entering the contest. As you have your rules written now, nobody can enter without explicitly gaining rights from all the license holders of the music and anime they use. Knowing how this community works for the time you've been here and the hundreds of threads on the subject, you have no reasonable right to assume anyone has done this without evidence. If you fail to enforce this rule with the same due diligence you enforce the others (like frame rate, resolution, etc.), you are being inherently unfair, biased, and unethical.

I'm not entirely clear on what you're getting at. Rules akin to this are standard in most contests. The rule basically says this: "You're responsible for getting clearance to use the content you used for your vid. We won't ask questions, but if any rights holder raises an issue, it's your problem, not AX's."

So what are you asking? Is it that you want AX to indemnify you or something? Because no convention will do that.

That said, AX does have an ASCAP license, plus several US anime companies are on record saying they don't object to AMVs. That doesn't alleviate 100% of the legal issues, but it's closer to being legal than posting on YouTube or even the org.

No, the text of rule 13 as it's been written requires you assert and affirm they do do hold those rights prior to the con (at the time of submitting), which is an outright lie in the vast majority of cases. I'm sure the idea was to say "we're not responsible if you lie about that" but gambits like that doesn't exactly hold weight if there's evidence (like this conversation for instance) showing that good faith does not and should not exist on that point. Other cons get away without that exact language. Your ASCAP frees and relation with the anime industry protect you - you don't need to have the submitter falsely assert that he or she is in possession of distribution rights themselves as well. It's legally dubious at best, and with introducing money into the equation, you don't want to have the looming spectre of for-profit copyright violation hanging over things.

To clarify, most cons ignore the point completely in their rules, your rules ask you to outright state that you do hold them. There is a HUGE difference.

Bashar, I know you've never been to or entered AX (to my knowledge). Why do you care?

I always assumed you'd be one of the people who watches AX burn in flames from the sidelines.

[DigitalPanther]

If you want to stop being the black sheep, stop asking your attendees to essentially perjure themselves (thus voiding the contract) by entering the contest. As you have your rules written now, nobody can enter without explicitly gaining rights from all the license holders of the music and anime they use. Knowing how this community works for the time you've been here and the hundreds of threads on the subject, you have no reasonable right to assume anyone has done this without evidence. If you fail to enforce this rule with the same due diligence you enforce the others (like frame rate, resolution, etc.), you are being inherently unfair, biased, and unethical.

I'm not entirely clear on what you're getting at. Rules akin to this are standard in most contests. The rule basically says this: "You're responsible for getting clearance to use the content you used for your vid. We won't ask questions, but if any rights holder raises an issue, it's your problem, not AX's."

So what are you asking? Is it that you want AX to indemnify you or something? Because no convention will do that.

That said, AX does have an ASCAP license, plus several US anime companies are on record saying they don't object to AMVs. That doesn't alleviate 100% of the legal issues, but it's closer to being legal than posting on YouTube or even the org.

No, the text of rule 13 as it's been written requires you assert and affirm they do do hold those rights prior to the con (at the time of submitting), which is an outright lie in the vast majority of cases. I'm sure the idea was to say "we're not responsible if you lie about that" but gambits like that doesn't exactly hold weight if there's evidence (like this conversation for instance) showing that good faith does not and should not exist on that point. Other cons get away without that exact language. Your ASCAP frees and relation with the anime industry protect you - you don't need to have the submitter falsely assert that he or she is in possession of distribution rights themselves as well. It's legally dubious at best, and with introducing money into the equation, you don't want to have the looming spectre of for-profit copyright violation hanging over things.

To clarify, most cons ignore the point completely in their rules, your rules ask you to outright state that you do hold them. There is a HUGE difference.

I can see both sides of this argument (believe it or not I do pay attention), my personal feeling it that perhaps it is time to have the lawyers look again at this aspect of the rules. When the rule was originally written (during the previous Director's reign). We hadn't started paying ASCAP. So the ASCAP aspect came into being after the introduction of the rule. While it is too late to make rule changes for this year, many (both on and off this forum) have raised several potentially valid points. I will keep this in mind and have already set the notice to those above me that I intend to meet with our legal team to see about adjusting aspects of the rules (including the rule in question) due to circumstances having changed since the original version of the current rules were written.

I was already moving that way before the rules even went up. However time was against us and it was deemed more important to get them up and running so we didn't fall in the to trap that the previous directors commonly fell into of posting and deadlines getting later and later and later and those who remember those days know what I am referring to.

-DP

[BasharOfTheAges]

Bashar, I know you've never been to or entered AX (to my knowledge). Why do you care?

I always assumed you'd be one of the people who watches AX burn in flames from the sidelines.

I'm not sure. I find myself caring about legal/ethical issues pertaining to this hobby for some reason. If I didn't care and only wanted to see AX fail, I wouldn't have said anything and just anonymously dropped a note to the RIAA or something.

I'm glad the people running this thing seem to be reasonable folks that can take this questioning of things seriously. I applaud them and tip my hat to them for that.

[Castor Troy]

So, um.

Who needs a proxy? I call 50% of all winnings. Doki, Scintilla, buddies, pals, comrades...

[Kazemon15]

^_^ Thanks, Xstylus, thanks, DP.

It is true, I do lack alot of self confidence. I tend to think everyone is better than me. While I do want to win, as it is my dream to win with an unpopular anime, I think the best feeling is actually just getting in and showcasting the anime I love in hopes people will get interested in it and buy them (I didn't know my Switchback AMV made you buy the anime, xstylus, that makes me feel like a winner already.)

I both love and hate competition. I love it because you get to see how the audience reacts to all the vids including your own and wonder which will win. I also hate it because there's only going to be one winner technically, but feel that everyone is a winner when comments such as "I bought/saw the anime because I saw this at such and such con" on youtube or the org. Just the money issue, I feel will erase that excitement and feeling of proudness just to see it on the big screen, you know? I feel it might make people feel bitter and forget why they enjoy making AMVs in the first place.

I know I'm a good editor, but sometimes feel I'm not good enough to win. I always try to better myself each year in hopes I can get up there with Rider, Night and Castor. Even my friend Hagaren. I hope this year, I can.

I'll still enter, but my hopes of getting in will be dramatically lower, despite me making my best AMV so far this year.

[Castor Troy]

^_^ Thanks, Xstylus, thanks, DP.

It is true, I do lack alot of self confidence. I tend to think everyone is better than me. While I do want to win, as it is my dream to win with an unpopular anime, I think the best feeling is actually just getting in and showcasting the anime I love in hopes people will get interested in it and buy them (I didn't know my Switchback AMV made you buy the anime, xstylus, that makes me feel like a winner already.)

I both love and hate competition. I love it because you get to see how the audience reacts to all the vids including your own and wonder which will win. I also hate it because there's only going to be won winner technically, but feel that everyone is a winner when comments such as "I bought/saw the anime because I saw this at such and such con" on youtube or the org. Just the money issue, I feel will erase that excitement and feeling of proudness just to see it on the big screen, you know? I feel it might make people feel bitter and forget why they enjoy making AMVs in the first place.

I know I'm a good editor, but sometimes feel I'm not good enough to win. I always try to better myself each year in hopes I can get up there with Rider, Night and Castor. Even my friend Hagaren. I hope this year, I can.

I'll still enter, but my hopes of getting in will be dramatically lower, despite me making my best AMV so far this year.

As a poker player, I always feel I play MUCH better when money's involved. I love to play for fun, but something about cash always makes me focus better.

I know there's a lot to be won from AX's amv contest even without money, but with the amount this large, I think there's something that's gonna make you take it far more seriously. All you really need to do is continue what you're doing, even though you know a large sum of cash is involved.

I haven't made it into the contest for 4 years and it'll be 5 this year. I've entered every single year since AX has moved to LA and still haven't gotten in. I like your work and I think you stand a good chance.