Footage theft question at DVinfo.net

Dale Guthormsen · May 24th, 2011, 05:23 PM

I just had a PBS program link forwarded to me and the one hour film has footage of mine being used in it. No acknowledgement or credits or anything.

what to do?

Edward Carlson · May 24th, 2011, 10:17 PM

First, talk to a lawyer. I am not one.
That being said, here are my suggestions. First, send them a bill for the use of your footage. Include the exact time, program it was used in, etc. They might just pay. If they don't, have that lawyer I was talking about earlier send them a letter. Letters on law firm letterhead tend to get noticed more. If that does't work, use that lawyer to sue them.

Pete Bauer · May 24th, 2011, 11:40 PM

Dale, any idea how they came to be in possession of your footage?

Gordon Hoffman · May 25th, 2011, 08:37 AM

Dale I would think contacting PBS would be my first move. I would think that they would be a bit concerned if somebody produced a program for them with out having all the rights to use the footage.

Gordon

Dale Guthormsen · May 26th, 2011, 06:14 PM

Thank you for the ideas!!

Doug Bailey · May 27th, 2011, 02:42 PM

Sorry to hear that. Firstly, download the movie if at all possible. You need the footage in your possession otherwise it will be whipped away and you will have nothing to talk about, or will with great difficulty.

Chris Hurd · May 27th, 2011, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Hoffman

Dale I would think contacting PBS would be my first move.

I disagree. I think you should have an attorney do this for you
rather than contacting them yourself.

PBS has a legal department to handle issues like this. You need
*your own* legal department, therefore you should consult an attorney
immediately (one that specializes in intellectual property and media law).

Thread moved from UWOL to TCB.

Gordon Hoffman · May 27th, 2011, 05:36 PM

Chris you may very well be right. Depending on how much footage is involved it might cost more to hire a lawyer than it is worth. My thinking was if contacting PBS didn't work out than get a lawyer invovled, but then I'm pretty easy going.

Gordon

Chris Davis · May 27th, 2011, 06:09 PM

Geez, you guys all think lawyers are free?

I'm sorry this happened. Unfortunately, getting a lawyer involved means writing a check. Are you ready to do that? First ask yourself what you want. Money? Credit? PBS to cease and desist? A simple apology?

Honestly, if this happened to me at this point in my life, I'd probably call PBS and simply ask how this happened. You're not going to give up any of your rights by doing that.

Just because they're PBS doesn't mean they don't screw up. Unfortunately, PBS is not a single monolithic production company, they air programs from many sources including independent producers and podunk little public stations staffed by minimum wage folks who don't know any better.

Get more info, then get a lawyer if you feel it's necessary and worth the money.

You want to talk about huge corporations stealing footage? Microsoft used my cousin's footage in one of their game promos. Took it right off the internet without so much as a "please may I?"

Gordon Hoffman · May 27th, 2011, 06:30 PM

Chris D. Nope I don't think lawyers are free and that's why I suggested what I did. I don't see the problem with contacting PBS and as I mentioned in my first post I would think they would be concerned if somebody produced something for them without having the rights to all the footage.

Gordon

Rick L. Allen · May 28th, 2011, 06:00 PM

1. Get a copy of the program.
2. Figure where they got the footage if possible. (If you posted it on YouTube or the web then you're probably screwed).
3. Send the production company and PBS an invoice pointing out the exact footage they used and that they stole your footage and violated your copyright.

4. If they don't respond have your attorney write them a letter threatening a possible lawsuit and turning the copyright infraction over to the FBI.

Good Luck

Bill Thesken · May 28th, 2011, 07:55 PM

Dale, is that footage anything you have posted on youtube or vimeo etc. for your UWOL entries?

Chris Davis · May 29th, 2011, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Hoffman

Chris D. Nope I don't think lawyers are free and that's why I suggested what I did.

I was referring to the guys who said "get a lawyer first".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick L. Allen

If you posted it on YouTube or the web then you're probably screwed

Not true. You don't give up your rights simply because you put video on YouTube or your website. Certainly that makes it easier for people to get your footage, but it does not give them the right to use it.

David W. Jones · May 30th, 2011, 10:51 AM

Read on... YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

Chris Davis · May 31st, 2011, 08:32 AM

Is there something specific we're supposed to notice?

May 24th, 2011, 05:23 PM	#1
Dale Guthormsen Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 3,048	Footage theft question I just had a PBS program link forwarded to me and the one hour film has footage of mine being used in it. No acknowledgement or credits or anything. what to do? __________________ DATS ALL FOLKS Dale W. Guthormsen

May 24th, 2011, 10:17 PM	#2
Edward Carlson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: North Hollywood, CA, United States Posts: 807	Re: Footage theft question First, talk to a lawyer. I am not one. That being said, here are my suggestions. First, send them a bill for the use of your footage. Include the exact time, program it was used in, etc. They might just pay. If they don't, have that lawyer I was talking about earlier send them a letter. Letters on law firm letterhead tend to get noticed more. If that does't work, use that lawyer to sue them.

May 24th, 2011, 11:40 PM	#3
Pete Bauer Wrangler Join Date: May 2003 Location: Eagle River, AK Posts: 4,100	Re: Footage theft question Dale, any idea how they came to be in possession of your footage? __________________ Pete Bauer The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. Albert Einstein Trying to solve a DV mystery? You may find the answer behind the SEARCH function ... or be able to join a discussion already in progress!

May 25th, 2011, 08:37 AM	#4
Gordon Hoffman Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Pincher Creek, Alberta Canada Posts: 619	Re: Footage theft question Dale I would think contacting PBS would be my first move. I would think that they would be a bit concerned if somebody produced a program for them with out having all the rights to use the footage. Gordon

May 26th, 2011, 06:14 PM	#5
Dale Guthormsen Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 3,048	Re: Footage theft question Thank you for the ideas!! __________________ DATS ALL FOLKS Dale W. Guthormsen

May 27th, 2011, 02:42 PM	#6
Doug Bailey Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Jupiter, FL Posts: 164	Re: Footage theft question Sorry to hear that. Firstly, download the movie if at all possible. You need the footage in your possession otherwise it will be whipped away and you will have nothing to talk about, or will with great difficulty.

May 27th, 2011, 05:36 PM	#8
Gordon Hoffman Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Pincher Creek, Alberta Canada Posts: 619	Re: Footage theft question Chris you may very well be right. Depending on how much footage is involved it might cost more to hire a lawyer than it is worth. My thinking was if contacting PBS didn't work out than get a lawyer invovled, but then I'm pretty easy going. Gordon

May 27th, 2011, 06:09 PM	#9
Chris Davis Trustee Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Willmar, MN Posts: 1,400	Re: Footage theft question Geez, you guys all think lawyers are free? I'm sorry this happened. Unfortunately, getting a lawyer involved means writing a check. Are you ready to do that? First ask yourself what you want. Money? Credit? PBS to cease and desist? A simple apology? Honestly, if this happened to me at this point in my life, I'd probably call PBS and simply ask how this happened. You're not going to give up any of your rights by doing that. Just because they're PBS doesn't mean they don't screw up. Unfortunately, PBS is not a single monolithic production company, they air programs from many sources including independent producers and podunk little public stations staffed by minimum wage folks who don't know any better. Get more info, then get a lawyer if you feel it's necessary and worth the money. You want to talk about huge corporations stealing footage? Microsoft used my cousin's footage in one of their game promos. Took it right off the internet without so much as a "please may I?"

May 27th, 2011, 06:30 PM	#10
Gordon Hoffman Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Pincher Creek, Alberta Canada Posts: 619	Re: Footage theft question Chris D. Nope I don't think lawyers are free and that's why I suggested what I did. I don't see the problem with contacting PBS and as I mentioned in my first post I would think they would be concerned if somebody produced something for them without having the rights to all the footage. Gordon

May 28th, 2011, 06:00 PM	#11
Rick L. Allen Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 536	Re: Footage theft question 1. Get a copy of the program. 2. Figure where they got the footage if possible. (If you posted it on YouTube or the web then you're probably screwed). 3. Send the production company and PBS an invoice pointing out the exact footage they used and that they stole your footage and violated your copyright. 4. If they don't respond have your attorney write them a letter threatening a possible lawsuit and turning the copyright infraction over to the FBI. Good Luck __________________ "The good thing about science is that it's true whether you believe it or not." Neil deGrasse Tyson https://www.nautilusproductions.com/

May 28th, 2011, 07:55 PM	#12
Bill Thesken Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: HI, USA Posts: 622	Re: Footage theft question Dale, is that footage anything you have posted on youtube or vimeo etc. for your UWOL entries?

May 30th, 2011, 10:51 AM	#14
David W. Jones Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Little Rock Posts: 1,383	Re: Footage theft question Read on... YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. __________________ David W. Jones www.joneshdfilms.com

May 31st, 2011, 08:32 AM	#15
Chris Davis Trustee Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Willmar, MN Posts: 1,400	Re: Footage theft question Is there something specific we're supposed to notice?