Copyright question at DVinfo.net

Mohammad Farooqi · August 6th, 2010, 11:21 PM

Hi everyone,

Currently I am working on a documentary about mechanic shops. A lot of the subject will be customer relations. My question is, I will be shooting customers coming to the shop and some will even volunteer to be interviewed after a release form signature. However, if I am shooting them (with a signed release form) walking around the shop and in the background and there are other customers just in the shot, do I have to sign release forms from them as well? I am trying to cause the least amount of disturbance I can in the shop while showing that the shop is pretty busy.

Thanks

Brian Drysdale · August 7th, 2010, 10:13 AM

A method sometimes used is to put up a notice at the entrance informing people that you may be filming customers inside the shop as part of a documentary and that is assumed that they will be giving permission to appear in the background, but if they do not wish to appear in the film they should inform the film maker.

Marc Myers · August 10th, 2010, 01:21 PM

I've done what Brian suggests but it's nothing my lawyer would recommend. Best, obviously, is a signed release. I favor blurring the folks in the background as insurance.

Sareesh Sudhakaran · August 10th, 2010, 10:22 PM

Blur the faces or get a signed release. There is no other 'legal' way.

Brian Drysdale · August 11th, 2010, 07:21 AM

It's the job production assistants, together with a lot of other useful things, did before budgets were so reduced that one person now does everything. I'd add that blurring looks awful and it's better to clear things if you possibly can.

Bill Currie · August 11th, 2010, 10:08 AM

The people in the store have a reasonable expectation of privacy, so it's theoretically possible someone identified in a background shot could take issue (unlikely, though).

Seeing that you haven't shot yet, a good alternative to blurring may simply be to frame your shots so customer faces aren't identifiable.

August 6th, 2010, 11:21 PM	#1
Mohammad Farooqi Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Jamaica, NY Posts: 40	Copyright question Hi everyone, Currently I am working on a documentary about mechanic shops. A lot of the subject will be customer relations. My question is, I will be shooting customers coming to the shop and some will even volunteer to be interviewed after a release form signature. However, if I am shooting them (with a signed release form) walking around the shop and in the background and there are other customers just in the shot, do I have to sign release forms from them as well? I am trying to cause the least amount of disturbance I can in the shop while showing that the shop is pretty busy. Thanks

August 10th, 2010, 10:22 PM	#4
Sareesh Sudhakaran Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 1,385	Blur the faces or get a signed release. There is no other 'legal' way. __________________ Get the Free Comprehensive Guide to Rigging ANY Camera - one guide to rig them all - DSLRs to the Arri Alexa.

August 7th, 2010, 10:13 AM	#2
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,143	A method sometimes used is to put up a notice at the entrance informing people that you may be filming customers inside the shop as part of a documentary and that is assumed that they will be giving permission to appear in the background, but if they do not wish to appear in the film they should inform the film maker.

August 10th, 2010, 01:21 PM	#3
Marc Myers Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Long Island, NY and Northeast PA Posts: 132	I've done what Brian suggests but it's nothing my lawyer would recommend. Best, obviously, is a signed release. I favor blurring the folks in the background as insurance.

August 11th, 2010, 07:21 AM	#5
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,143	It's the job production assistants, together with a lot of other useful things, did before budgets were so reduced that one person now does everything. I'd add that blurring looks awful and it's better to clear things if you possibly can.

August 11th, 2010, 10:08 AM	#6
Bill Currie New Boot Join Date: May 2010 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 11	The people in the store have a reasonable expectation of privacy, so it's theoretically possible someone identified in a background shot could take issue (unlikely, though). Seeing that you haven't shot yet, a good alternative to blurring may simply be to frame your shots so customer faces aren't identifiable.