Who'll give me free legal advice? at DVinfo.net

Josh Bass · April 4th, 2003, 12:56 AM

Spike and Mike, the animated film people, have decided the would like to pay for the usage of my animated movie, "The Ninjews." I have not seen the contract yet (I believe they're going to mail it any time now), but over the phone, one of the told me they'd "want it all, and take what they can get." I'm wondering if one of you kind gentlemen, or ladies, with knowledge of media law could help me not get screwed and still make some decent scratch, none of which, of course, will go to you personally.

What I'd like is a list of the rights you can sell, and what they entail. I can't remember jack from my media law classes in college.

Dylan Couper · April 22nd, 2003, 10:00 AM

Josh, how long have you been out of college for? If it's recently, I'd go back and talk to your media law professor for free legal advice.

Richard Alvarez · April 22nd, 2003, 10:58 AM

Josh,

Here in Houston you get free legal advice from Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts.

Call them

Bill

Robert Poulton · April 22nd, 2003, 03:14 PM

Did they want to buy it from you or just have the right to distrubute your works? It is something that is key to think about. Do you want them to own it or do you still want to own it.?

Rob:D

K. Forman · April 22nd, 2003, 03:44 PM

Way to go Josh!

Josh Bass · April 22nd, 2003, 06:46 PM

The original contract asks for everything. I told 'em they weren't getting the copyright, and I meant to tell them they wouldn't get anything else exclusively (not sure if I did, though). One of the things they wanted was merchandising rights, for Tshirts, videos, DVDS, etc. I told them they would have to pay me part of whatever they made off of those sales, and the guy said they'd never done it like that before, that it had always been a flat payment for the ancilliary rights. Now he wants a counter offer, and I have no idea what to tell him.

John Locke · April 22nd, 2003, 06:51 PM

Josh,

Run...do not walk...to the Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts.

K. Forman · April 22nd, 2003, 07:18 PM

Where is Paul Tauger when you need him? Probably in a phone booth changing into SuperLawyer!

Anyways, on a more serious note, you need to get royalties for this gem. In fact, I would love to watch it again... and again... Is it still online somewhere?

Josh Bass · April 22nd, 2003, 09:05 PM

Paul should still have it on his site. I will run, but not till tomorrow, when they're open. Believe me, I want to milk it for everything I can.

By the way. . .this post went up weeks ago. . .how come everyone's just now noticing it? Maybe I live in a time warp.

The movie was up on Paul Sedillo's site before, but now it appears not to be. I tried sending it to ifilm, but when I registered with them, I could never figure out what my ID number was, so oh well.

Dylan Couper · April 23rd, 2003, 12:40 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Josh Bass : By the way. . .this post went up weeks ago. . .how come everyone's just now noticing it? Maybe I live in a time warp.
-->>>

I moved it back to the top when I saw no one had replied to it after a while.

Josh Bass · April 23rd, 2003, 01:09 AM

You sweet thing! If I was a woman I'd kiss you.

Ken Tanaka · April 23rd, 2003, 01:37 AM

Oh, Josh, never say something like that before you get a good look at the target.

Josh Bass · April 23rd, 2003, 02:36 AM

Works for me.

K. Forman · April 23rd, 2003, 05:37 AM

Wow! Ken... I knew you were an old man too... but, hanging out with a group that young always makes you look older! :)

Ken Tanaka · April 23rd, 2003, 10:47 AM

Keith, did I ever tell you about my Sachtler Seniors tripod that converts to a walker? It's pretty cool.

April 4th, 2003, 12:56 AM	#1
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Who'll give me free legal advice? Spike and Mike, the animated film people, have decided the would like to pay for the usage of my animated movie, "The Ninjews." I have not seen the contract yet (I believe they're going to mail it any time now), but over the phone, one of the told me they'd "want it all, and take what they can get." I'm wondering if one of you kind gentlemen, or ladies, with knowledge of media law could help me not get screwed and still make some decent scratch, none of which, of course, will go to you personally. What I'd like is a list of the rights you can sell, and what they entail. I can't remember jack from my media law classes in college. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

April 22nd, 2003, 10:00 AM	#2
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Josh, how long have you been out of college for? If it's recently, I'd go back and talk to your media law professor for free legal advice. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

April 22nd, 2003, 06:46 PM	#6
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	The original contract asks for everything. I told 'em they weren't getting the copyright, and I meant to tell them they wouldn't get anything else exclusively (not sure if I did, though). One of the things they wanted was merchandising rights, for Tshirts, videos, DVDS, etc. I told them they would have to pay me part of whatever they made off of those sales, and the guy said they'd never done it like that before, that it had always been a flat payment for the ancilliary rights. Now he wants a counter offer, and I have no idea what to tell him. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

April 22nd, 2003, 06:51 PM	#7
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	Josh, Run...do not walk...to the Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts. __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

April 22nd, 2003, 09:05 PM	#9
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Paul should still have it on his site. I will run, but not till tomorrow, when they're open. Believe me, I want to milk it for everything I can. By the way. . .this post went up weeks ago. . .how come everyone's just now noticing it? Maybe I live in a time warp. The movie was up on Paul Sedillo's site before, but now it appears not to be. I tried sending it to ifilm, but when I registered with them, I could never figure out what my ID number was, so oh well. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

April 22nd, 2003, 10:58 AM	#3
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Josh, Here in Houston you get free legal advice from Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts. Call them Bill

April 22nd, 2003, 03:14 PM	#4
Robert Poulton Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 245	Did they want to buy it from you or just have the right to distrubute your works? It is something that is key to think about. Do you want them to own it or do you still want to own it.? Rob:D

April 22nd, 2003, 03:44 PM	#5
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	Way to go Josh!

April 22nd, 2003, 07:18 PM	#8
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	Where is Paul Tauger when you need him? Probably in a phone booth changing into SuperLawyer! Anyways, on a more serious note, you need to get royalties for this gem. In fact, I would love to watch it again... and again... Is it still online somewhere?

April 23rd, 2003, 12:40 AM	#10
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	<<<-- Originally posted by Josh Bass : By the way. . .this post went up weeks ago. . .how come everyone's just now noticing it? Maybe I live in a time warp. -->>> I moved it back to the top when I saw no one had replied to it after a while. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

April 23rd, 2003, 01:09 AM	#11
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	You sweet thing! If I was a woman I'd kiss you. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

April 23rd, 2003, 01:37 AM	#12
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Oh, Josh, never say something like that before you get a good look at the target. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

April 23rd, 2003, 02:36 AM	#13
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Works for me. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

April 23rd, 2003, 05:37 AM	#14
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	Wow! Ken... I knew you were an old man too... but, hanging out with a group that young always makes you look older! :)

April 23rd, 2003, 10:47 AM	#15
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Keith, did I ever tell you about my Sachtler Seniors tripod that converts to a walker? It's pretty cool. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com