Wedding Videographers?
Question by mefistofeles: Wedding Videographers?
A customer asked me to put the song of a famous singer in her wedding video. I told her that I can be sued for using copyrighted materials, and I gave her the alternative of free-royalty music. She refused it. So, I explain her that if she can get the permissions to use that song and be the only responsible for any complaints I will put that in the contract and she will have the song in the DVD .She told me that since I am the one getting the copyright of the final wedding DVD the responsible is my company because the song will be in the video.
She wants me to put that in the contract. What now? I dont want to get in trouble.
It would be Ok if from now on I only offer free royalty music? It will solve all my problems. What about the other videographers? I have noticed that they put all the songs available in the market. What are your inputs about this?
I am planning to put the wedding in my website. Meaning that the song will be present too. Therefore there is an economical benefit I want to get.
Ken, thats a good solution. However, the customer just told me that she wants to put the final video in the net, so her famili in China can see it. She was thinking about those template-based- websites for newlyweds who wants to share their wedding day. If she do that, with the song of the copyrighted artist I guess I am in trouble. I told her that the DVD is for home use only, though and thats in the contract.
Best answer:
Answer by Boom Blatz
If you are truly worried about the royalties issue you have two choices. Pay the royalties and pass the cost on to the consumer or inform anyone that wants a copyrighted song that you do not offer that service.
It will be interesting to see which method costs you less money in the long run.
Edit:
If youa re videoing this wedding for a fee then the song you put on the DVD for the family is already being used for commercial purposes regardless of what you do for the website.
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