New concern regarding SONY and HDV Format

[Alex Pappas]

Hi Folks,

I have a concern regarding the FX1 and Sony's unwillingness to allow for their logo's to be used.

Monday of last week, I contacted Sony Corp to tell them about a documentary the company I work for was producing. We mentioned we were shooting it on the FX 1 Camera and asked to have an official HDV logo so that we could put it in the end credits as the format of principle photography.

Sony (Peoples names won't be put here for legal reasons) were very stubborn about lending the HDV logo to productions using the FX1 Camera even though the company is established and the production budget is over $220,000.00 CDN.

I have serious concerns of the quality of the FX1 camera if SONY is waiting to lend its official logo's only to the professional version of the model...

Use of the "Pro" version is an issue for us on this project because it doesn't come out till late January.. Which is too late for us as we start shooting then.

So, I ask, whats going on here?

Any thoughts??


-alex

[Mark Kubat]

you should have said instead you were from Toronto - the only true Canadian production center.

Then they would have taken you seriously.

No probs here - about to add HDV logo to our website..

Cheers.

What? Sony is actually shipping to Canadian destinations outside of Toronto right now? Pffffffttt.... Maybe once ALL Toronto orders have been filled...


Aw, I'm just kidding, Alex!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Alex Pappas]

Ha ha ha!

Actually, your probably right Mark!!


:)
-alex

[Boyd Ostroff]

This just sounds like typical corporate paranoia and red tape to me. I can see how plugging HDV might benefit Sony, but I don't understand how there could be any value to you by including the logo in your credits. Personally I wouldn't read anything into all this, and don't see how your film will suffer if the logo isn't used.

[Alex Pappas]

Hi Boyd,

Oh I don't think the production will suffer because of it. Its just nice to have logo's for the equipment used in the production in the credits.

Ultimatly its not a big deal. But... I'm confused as to why Sony isn't jumping at opportunities to market their gear.

I've never had a problem with Panasonic or Avid or Adobe.

So this just a little strange to me. But the film itself won't be affected at all. (Obvious to say...)

[Boyd Ostroff]

With my background in live theatre we constantly have to think about program credits during our shows. I would not dream of putting something like an ETC or Rosco logo in there even though we use their lights and gels. The only time something goes into our credits is if it's contracturally required or if some consideration has been given by the company (like a discount on their equipment/services).

So that's where I'm coming from... it just wouldn't occur to me to put logos randomly into credits. When I see this sort of thing in film credits (like Panavision, etc) I always assume that it's for the reasons I mention above (required by contract or part of a discount deal).

But I agree that it's odd for Sony to refuse permission for free advertising. Like I said, I really doubt that it has anything to do with concerns about HDV quality though. Everyone in the corporate world is increasingly paranoid about liability and licensing issues anymore, and that's probably all this is...

[Darren Kelly]

There is a lot of legal trouble over the HDV logo. The term HDV is a licensed trade mark, and the company that protects that trademark is very very fussy.

One of the reasons I dropped HDVTraining was in fear of reprisals. Hense the birth of JumpStart Guides with the HDV title.

Don't take it personally.

BTW, everyone knows VANCOUVER is the hub of all production in Canada. Toronto and Montreal are just wantabees and Ottawa.....well we won't even go there!

:))

DBK

[Carlos E. Martinez]

Frankly I don't see what's the big fuss of using a logo or not.

What do you get by using it? Prestige? Any discount? What advantages?

I really don't care to use any name if I don't get something important in return.

If you care so much for showing how you did it, why not simply adding a note at the end of the film?


Carlos

[Rob Lohman]

If the Sony camera is "true" HDV how can they stop you for using
that logo? The HDV logo does not belong to them but to someone
else (as Darren also said). It is something different if you put
"filmed with Sony camera's" or something I'd imagine. Still, you
may need some rights to use it or take Boyd's words to heart.

[Donal Briard]

<<<-- Originally posted by Rob Lohman : If the Sony camera is "true" HDV how can they stop you for using
that logo? The HDV logo does not belong to them but to someone
else (as Darren also said). It is something different if you put
"filmed with Sony camera's" or something I'd imagine. Still, you
may need some rights to use it or take Boyd's words to heart. -->>>

Sony is one of th eowner as it is one of th efounder of the HDV forum. Like DVD, HDV as a logo must be licensed. This is done so that they can avoid crappy replicates from usig the HDV logo and hurting the standard.

I distribute DVD's and I had to pay a hefty price for the right to use the DVD Video logo on my DVD sleeves. If anyone of you is really an industry professional, that fact is already well known.

[Rob Lohman]

I know Sony is PART OF the HDV forum. In my view this HDV
forum should give out the license to use the logo, not Sony, right?
That's what I'm (trying to) say(ing).