If I filmed a sunset in hawaii without a permit and want to sell/publish a DVD with that footage, is it legal?
145417
I would think so unless you could find someone that could lay a vaild claim to the Sun...
97665
No -- in general there is a First Amendment right to free speech even about illegal activities.  You should not cross the line into conspiracing to break the law -- which just talking about it or reviewing wouldn't do -- nor should you encourage nor induce people to break the law.  That is a fine line, and some such activity will be protected as free speech.\n\nIn general it is not illegal to possess or buy a cd or dvd made in violation of copyright -- but it is to make another copy or distribute it.  You should know, though, that when you download you are making a copy, and so downloading a cd you do not have the rights to is a copyright violation in a way that simply purchasing a hard copy would not be.
540021
That's cuz it's illegal to burn copyrighted DVDs.
940152
sure it is *possible*....easy, even. \n\nyou would, however, be violating the intellectual and trade property rights of the studio that funded the production if you did this.
1048883
I want filming rights - I can sell that movie
117298
If you use DVD Decrypter or even DVD Shrink, that would do the trick.  You'll need a burning engine as well, such as Roxio or Nero (or you can probably download a free one). My understanding is that you are allowed to make one copy under the "Fair Use" provision of the law. Although this is still a contentious issue.
1065988
It is fine.  People are often confused about the copyright thing, because they don't know about a tricky little thing sometimes known as the "First Sale" doctrine.\n\nWhen you buy a book, you own the book.  You own that copy of the text.  You don't own the text itself.  That is why you are not permitted to reproduce the text, make the text into a movie, put it up on billboards, and so forth without violating the copyright.  Your copy, though, you can sell, lend, or rent just like you could with a lawnmower or anything else you own.  As long as you aren't making copies of your copy, you're ok.\n\nThe same thing goes for CDs and DVDs.  When you buy the CD or the DVD, you own it but not its contents.  You are allowed to sell, lend, or rent the disc; you would not be allowed to make a music video with the disc's contents.  Get it?\n\nThe one big exception would be if you were knowingly providing the books and discs to people who you know (or should know) are going to be violating the copyright by making reproductions, distributing the reproductions, and so on.  That could make you vicariously liable, meaning that you are basically responsible for the bad actions you knew might take place and for which you were paid (a rental fee, in your case).  Your rental agreement should include an agreement by the renter to obey all relevant laws, including copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.  If you cover that gap, you should be good to go.
199102
Well talking to the DVD producer was the right thing to do, and because it is their footage they can control the pricing.  If you use their footage, and you didn't have permission/pay fee's, then they could sue you for copywrite infringment, which with legal costs could outweigh the profit's you made off the film.\n\nI would try to find a local film director/producer that lives in the areas you are looking for, and pay them a fee for their films instead of using that directors footage.  There are a lot of amateurs out there that could provide footage for cheaper I'm sure.
432662
Of course not! \n\nConcerts are always protected by copyright, and they can´t be retransmitted like a TV concert without a copyright permission.\n\nForget it my friend
348095
it's possible but not legal..
911259
If you are in a public place, then it's fair game.\nEspecially if the club has posted anywhere a disclaimer ... but even if not ... I don't think it is illegal.\nConsult an attorney if you want to know absolutely for sure.  (Many will give you this info for free, or a minimum amount, or consult the city attorney).\n\nAs a photographer myself, I often take photo's of people in public places, and while I usually try to take non-identifying angles, sometimes the people in them can be identified.  I don't use such photo's for commercial purposes (i.e. sell the photo), but I do use them in my portfolio, my website, and have entered them in contests.  When I can, I get a waiver signed by the person, but most of the time in the situations, that is not possible.  Most magazines and other places won't publish or purchase a photo without a waiver ... but beyond that ... they are often not used.  This is a bit of a gray area.
24685
Yes, you are legally allowed to make an archival (backup) copy of DVDs, CDs, software etc for your own use.\n\nIt only becomes illegal if you share those copies with anyone else, even if they are not paying you.\n\nThat said, many publishers of DVDs and software are making it very hard to make useable copies.  There is always a way, but it may be difficult.  Like the last answerer said, DVDShrink is probably the best for copying DVDs
195946
Assuming you mean 'Copyright' a DVD disk...\n\nCopyrights are always implicit when you create any original work.  Meaning, you automatically retain all copyrights on any original work you create yourself (like home videos, etc) without filing anything.\n\nHowever, if you want to officially place a copyright on file with the government, you'll need to visit the copyright web site, download some forms, file a copy (or copies) of the DVD disk you want to copyright and the type of copyright you are applying to get (compilation, content, etc) along with filing fees.\n\nClick on the FAQ link below for more details on how to go about this and the types of things you can copyright.\n\nFiling with the government proves that the work you created is yours.  If you use implicit copyrights, these can be more easily challenged unless you have some compelling way to prove that the work was truly yours and is original.\n\nGood luck.
843608
NO.\n\nIt is NOT legal.\n\nBut it still seems to thrive - not just in Japan, but all over the world!
981034
Probably not unless you get permission from the various establishments, especially if you are planning to make money from them. They may have let you take the photos but using them for personal financial gain is a different kettle of fish - the establishments themselves may be using similar images to make money in their shops and these would be covered under copyright. Always get permission first.
278549
Legally, yes. However, he would need a signed model release to use the photos for any commercial (non-journalistic)venture.\n\n(Decency, however, would dicate that he/she ask for permission. If you are concerned, simply confront him/her. A photographer may have simply found the scene very artistic (kids having fun are a joy to photograph) and decided to take a few shots. If you talk to him/her, chances are that he/she would even share some of the resulting shots with you.)
107797
Probably can, but please don't. It's theft, pure and simple and just makes prices on DVDs higher for everyone else who obeys the law.