The unofficial "official" DVD logo for your projects at DVinfo.net

Christopher Lefchik · March 3rd, 2006, 01:41 PM

As many of you probably already know, it is against the DVD Format Logo Licensing Corporation (DVD FLLC) rules to use the official DVD logo on discs you burn yourself (i.e., DVD+/-R media). In light of this situation, artofdvd.com has kindly provided, in consultation with the DVD FLLC, a DVD logo free of charge for your DVD projects. Find out more and download the logo at artofdvd.com.

Saturnin Kondratiew · March 17th, 2006, 10:34 PM

yah it might be against but that is the logo that everone knows and its not going to change anytime soon. Nothing to be to concerned about.

Boyd Ostroff · March 18th, 2006, 06:27 AM

Is there some advantage to putting a DVD logo on your project?

Edward Slonaker · March 18th, 2006, 07:32 AM

Well, for starters, it lets people know to stick the disc in their DVD drive and not the CDROM drive (do folks still use those???).

I can't imagine someone coming after you for using the "official" DVD logo. I'm sorry, but the 'alternative' looks rather cheezy.

Boyd Ostroff · March 18th, 2006, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christopher Lefchik

As many of you probably already know, it is against the DVD Format Logo Licensing Corporation (DVD FLLC) rules to use the official DVD logo on discs you burn yourself (i.e., DVD+/-R media).

The blank DVD-R disks which I have are already printed with the logo of a disk with "DVD" over it. So is it OK for the disk manufacturer to put this on a blank, but not OK for you to put a label with that logo on that same disk?

Saturnin Kondratiew · March 18th, 2006, 01:50 PM

this really isnt an issue, lol.

Glenn Davidson · March 18th, 2006, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saturnin Kondratiew

this really isnt an issue, lol.

It is an issue for me and others like me who are not comfortable with non-authorised use of a logo on a project. I see your point that no one is probably going to care, but I do not advise our clients to use the DVD logo and would not release a project with it. Same is true for copyrighed music and SFX. I know Wedding videographers do it all the time, but it is still non- authorised use of someone's property.

Thanks for the links Chris. I have a project now that will be released as audio and DVD, this will help identify the discs. It is better that the logo I made.

Saturnin Kondratiew · March 18th, 2006, 09:35 PM

yah u have a point that there isnt much difference between using copyrighted music/fx but i think using a DVD logo is less destructive. Of course if you are selling your product you wouldnt use copyright music without permission(yes i know lots ppl do) but i just dont see a big deal when it comes to the DVD logo. As it is a standard and in my view is not a copyright issue.

Hans Damkoehler · March 22nd, 2006, 03:28 AM

It costs my dup house 20,000 dollars a year in license fees to be able to print that logo on dvd's ... you may want to think twice before mass producing something with it on your media and not paying the piper ... just food for thought .... I heard of a story where some car company didn't realize their dup house wasn't licensed and the CAR COMPANY had to pay a $200,000 penatly! I guess that was cheaper than retrieving the media and having it reprinted. Again, food for thought, but assuming on ignoring copyright can really bite ya bad ....

Mark Argerake · April 24th, 2006, 10:32 AM

So just so I understand, it's up to my replicator if I can add the 'official' logo?

Webb Pickersgill · April 26th, 2006, 12:30 AM

IANAL, so read this for whatever it's worth...

I did a lot of research on this before I replicated 5000 DVD's of a project I did. After reading the documentation, it looks like the company who publishes the DVD is responsible for purchasing the necessary licensing. Not only do you have to purchase the proper licensing to use the logo, every DVD title you produce has to be independently tested and verified for DVD compatibility before you can distribute it with the logo. If I remember correctly, that testing process can be upwards of $5k depending on which independent lab you send it to. So to answer your question, (in my understanding) your replicator would not have the authorization to grant you the license to use the logo. Even if they did, you would still have to complete the testing process (at very least).

This process makes sense though if you really think about it. The people who created the DVD spec want to be sure that the "value" of that logo and trademark is upheld. What if every other official "DVD" you bought at your local Best Buy store didnt' work at all? You'd probably think that DVD's were a bunch of @#$%. If you create a DVD and use the logo without permission, and your DVD does not work properly, then you have wrongfully misrepresented the strength of that trademark.

A quick example. What if you built your own car, then put a "Lexus" logo on it and tried to sell it. Chances are, you'd be in court before the rubber hit the road.

It's crazy, but it makes sense when you have huge distribution companies that produce so many videos, it becomes very cost effective to license and use the official logo. For us smaller shops, it is completely out of the ballpark. That's why I stick to my own "DVD Video" logo for my projects... just Arial Black text.

Once again, this is what I've come to understand after much research. If someone knows different, by all means please interject!

Jeff Chandler · April 26th, 2006, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Webb Pickersgill

This process makes sense though if you really think about it. The people who created the DVD spec want to be sure that the "value" of that logo and trademark is upheld. What if every other official "DVD" you bought at your local Best Buy store didnt' work at all? You'd probably think that DVD's were a bunch of @#$%. If you create a DVD and use the logo without permission, and your DVD does not work properly, then you have wrongfully misrepresented the strength of that trademark.

I agree 100% that we should respect the law, licenses, etc. We should have the highest of ethical standards in everything we do. But at the same time I reject the notion that the use of the DVD logo implies that it is a quality product, even though I know that according to the copyright holder that is the purpose. I think to me and most others it simply identifies the product as being a DVD. I think it's silly that they chose to license it, but that is their perogative (and a lot of money in their pocket!).

Matthew Delong · April 26th, 2006, 03:57 PM

I;m going to distribute 25,000 DVDs at the end of the year. I'll probably use a company like Disk-makers. What do I need to do? Licensing fees are not a problem. Who do I need to contact for the right paperwork?

Webb Pickersgill · April 26th, 2006, 05:19 PM

Everything you need to know about properly licensing the logo can be found here: http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/

Matthew Delong · April 26th, 2006, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Webb Pickersgill

Everything you need to know about properly licensing the logo can be found here: http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/

Thanks, for the help

March 3rd, 2006, 01:41 PM	#1
Christopher Lefchik Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: US Posts: 1,152	The unofficial "official" DVD logo for your projects As many of you probably already know, it is against the DVD Format Logo Licensing Corporation (DVD FLLC) rules to use the official DVD logo on discs you burn yourself (i.e., DVD+/-R media). In light of this situation, artofdvd.com has kindly provided, in consultation with the DVD FLLC, a DVD logo free of charge for your DVD projects. Find out more and download the logo at artofdvd.com.

March 17th, 2006, 10:34 PM	#2
Saturnin Kondratiew Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: vancouver Posts: 310	yah it might be against but that is the logo that everone knows and its not going to change anytime soon. Nothing to be to concerned about. __________________ My documentaries - http://www.asphaltjunkiez.com

March 18th, 2006, 07:32 AM	#4
Edward Slonaker Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hell's 6 acres in S. Texas Posts: 203	Well, for starters, it lets people know to stick the disc in their DVD drive and not the CDROM drive (do folks still use those???). I can't imagine someone coming after you for using the "official" DVD logo. I'm sorry, but the 'alternative' looks rather cheezy. __________________ Edward Slonaker El Pilon Productions San Patricio, Texas www.elpilon.com

March 18th, 2006, 01:50 PM	#6
Saturnin Kondratiew Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: vancouver Posts: 310	this really isnt an issue, lol. __________________ My documentaries - http://www.asphaltjunkiez.com

March 18th, 2006, 09:35 PM	#8
Saturnin Kondratiew Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: vancouver Posts: 310	yah u have a point that there isnt much difference between using copyrighted music/fx but i think using a DVD logo is less destructive. Of course if you are selling your product you wouldnt use copyright music without permission(yes i know lots ppl do) but i just dont see a big deal when it comes to the DVD logo. As it is a standard and in my view is not a copyright issue. __________________ My documentaries - http://www.asphaltjunkiez.com

March 18th, 2006, 06:27 AM	#3
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	Is there some advantage to putting a DVD logo on your project?

March 22nd, 2006, 03:28 AM	#9
Hans Damkoehler Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Location: Highlands Ranch, CO Posts: 115	Think again ... It costs my dup house 20,000 dollars a year in license fees to be able to print that logo on dvd's ... you may want to think twice before mass producing something with it on your media and not paying the piper ... just food for thought .... I heard of a story where some car company didn't realize their dup house wasn't licensed and the CAR COMPANY had to pay a $200,000 penatly! I guess that was cheaper than retrieving the media and having it reprinted. Again, food for thought, but assuming on ignoring copyright can really bite ya bad .... __________________ Hans Damkoehler fcp.video.editor@me.com

April 24th, 2006, 10:32 AM	#10
Mark Argerake Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Murrieta, CA Posts: 227	So just so I understand, it's up to my replicator if I can add the 'official' logo?

April 26th, 2006, 12:30 AM	#11
Webb Pickersgill Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Louisville, CO Posts: 204	IANAL, so read this for whatever it's worth... I did a lot of research on this before I replicated 5000 DVD's of a project I did. After reading the documentation, it looks like the company who publishes the DVD is responsible for purchasing the necessary licensing. Not only do you have to purchase the proper licensing to use the logo, every DVD title you produce has to be independently tested and verified for DVD compatibility before you can distribute it with the logo. If I remember correctly, that testing process can be upwards of $5k depending on which independent lab you send it to. So to answer your question, (in my understanding) your replicator would not have the authorization to grant you the license to use the logo. Even if they did, you would still have to complete the testing process (at very least). This process makes sense though if you really think about it. The people who created the DVD spec want to be sure that the "value" of that logo and trademark is upheld. What if every other official "DVD" you bought at your local Best Buy store didnt' work at all? You'd probably think that DVD's were a bunch of @#$%. If you create a DVD and use the logo without permission, and your DVD does not work properly, then you have wrongfully misrepresented the strength of that trademark. A quick example. What if you built your own car, then put a "Lexus" logo on it and tried to sell it. Chances are, you'd be in court before the rubber hit the road. It's crazy, but it makes sense when you have huge distribution companies that produce so many videos, it becomes very cost effective to license and use the official logo. For us smaller shops, it is completely out of the ballpark. That's why I stick to my own "DVD Video" logo for my projects... just Arial Black text. Once again, this is what I've come to understand after much research. If someone knows different, by all means please interject! __________________ Webb Pickersgill Bassline Digital, LLC

April 26th, 2006, 03:57 PM	#13
Matthew Delong Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ironton, Ohio Posts: 34	I;m going to distribute 25,000 DVDs at the end of the year. I'll probably use a company like Disk-makers. What do I need to do? Licensing fees are not a problem. Who do I need to contact for the right paperwork?

April 26th, 2006, 05:19 PM	#14
Webb Pickersgill Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Louisville, CO Posts: 204	Everything you need to know about properly licensing the logo can be found here: http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/ __________________ Webb Pickersgill Bassline Digital, LLC