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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 4:23 pm Post subject: Permissions for demo?

So I'm looking to spice up my reels (aren't we always?) with some Sound effects and better music. Do I have to use royalty-free or can I use anything since I'm not actually selling my demo?
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Deirdre · Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 4:31 pm Post subject:

Here's what I heard from Todd Rundgren's publisher: If it's not for broadcast, anything goes.
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Donovan · Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:10 pm Post subject:

I have a friend who just graduated law school and is doing copyright law...that being said, I asked him the very same question. He told me that while using protected material in something that is not being used for profit may present a much lower chance of being caught, it is still illegal use of that material. He said that if the owner of said material (music, copy, etc) just happened to overhear his/her stuff on your demo, they'd have full legal grounds to sue. He also acknowledged that while the chance of this happening is close to none, it is still very much a violation of that person's copyright.

All that to say...go for it, but know that there is a 0.000007% chance you could get in trouble for using copyright protected material.
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Yoda117 · Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:45 pm Post subject:

what Donovan said is 100% correct.

and while it is very uncommon, I know of two VAs who have received C&Ds for using licensed materials in their demos (one of whom was actually taken to court)
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Mike · Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 7:11 pm Post subject: Re: Permissions for demo?

Dave · Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 8:31 pm Post subject: Re: Permissions for demo?

Bruce · Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:22 pm Post subject:

If it's really popular music, such as a hit song or famous theme music, I wouldn't do it just for the cheese factor. People will know you didn't get permission and will know it's a fake spot. Demos are meant to give people the impression of what you would do or have done under real circumstances. Something that distracts them from that notion could ruin your desired effect.

Pop for some inexpensive royalty free music off the Internet. It'll be worth it.

B
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:16 am Post subject:

Thanks everyone. I was able to find some royalty-free stuff on the web.
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

Deirdre · Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 7:27 am Post subject:

Let's push this a step further:
What about using a snippet of a spot YOU DID for someone?

Copyrighted text, copyrighted music.

Can you legally use it on your demo?
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Tom Greenlee · Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 7:58 am Post subject:

Very good question D....I'm very curious to hear the answer to that.
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Yoda117 · Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 8:29 am Post subject:

The answer is... depends.

More often than not, it's no problem (although to cover your butt, asking never hurts).

That said, I've got more than a few spots under my belt that for proprietary or other reasons I am not allowed to use in my reel.

Usually though, I find this more to be an issue with industrials, rather than commercial VO.

FWIW: I just read an article about an RIAA lawsuit against a DJ who was not selling or making money on his efforts, but was using unaltered music tracks as bg for whatever kind of music he does... so apparently there is more than a little precident here to go after someone for this kind of thing.
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Voiceovers by Gregory Houser
Philadelphia based Voice Actor

Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones

sdelgo · Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 8:36 am Post subject:

Jeff, I sent you a PM regarding...

Steve
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Bruce · Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 10:12 am Post subject:

I believe using snippets of work you've done on your demo would come under of the more lenient copyright provisions, such as the ability to quote short passages of an author to illustrate your point. Plus, most of the material that you would use has been offered to hundreds and even millions of members of the public to listen to, so anyone would have a devil of a time trying to sue you for presenting short segments.

I have never heard of anyone being asked to yank something legit from their demo so I'm guessing it's a very rare occurance.

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

Yoda117 · Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 10:20 am Post subject:

bobsouer · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 8:47 am Post subject: