copyright and RL use of machinima

Hi im a budding machinamist(?) aswell as RL motion graphics designer.
I see great potential in SL-machinima for both SL and RL use, however
I feel the need to raise the question on copyright of objects/enviroments in machinima.
Regarding AV's there is a good thread here on photos that applies of course to video aswell
/120/4f/32753/1.html

A few questions, all regarding commercial RL use of machinima made in SL:

- If I hire a model with a purchased skin and clothes can I use the resulting material
in a RL project?

- If I make, for example, a flyby video of forrest/hills without any AV's, would this be
ok to use in RL

- If I shoot in a house/ in a car that I didnt create but payed for or have owners(not creators) permission, would that be ok?


I know intellectual property questions are never clear-cut but I would appriciate some
thoughts on this from a commercial point of view.

If anyone of the machinima specialists at LL whould put some cents in that would be very intersting in deed.

to ride, shoot(macinima) straight and speak the truth

mr Dot

Yes, yes, and yes.

Getting the av's permission is the SL equivilant to a "model release." Model releases are not required for objects, either in SL or RL.

Several SL films have been made (and even posted to the main secondlife.com page) that were shot partially on Parrot Island. We have always encouraged still photographers and machinima makers to use our ground and store levels for their projects. It is always a thrill for us to see something we made in someone's movie! I really think most people are flattered when they see something they built show up in a movie. And giving location/builder credits is always appreciated.

Since we do use the island ourselves, I did accidentally interrupted a photoshoot the other day on our beach (sorry about that Zebra!). We have made allowances for things you may need to temporarily rez, etc. You can contact myself or Kim Manilow if you need any help using our location.

More specifically to your question, if you represent someone else's work in SL as your own in your film, that is the only place I can really see you getting in trouble. For example, we would only get mad if you claimed you had built the waterfall on our island in your film.

I just found an example of a short commercial I made for a product I really liked:

An Unauthorized Video

As you can see, I was worried about Milo (the creator of the car) kicking my ass for making it, but it seemed to be well received (Torley approved!) and Milo didn't hunt me down.

Good luck with your directing career.

thank u all for putting in thoughs about this!

EDIT:
Since an update finally promted me to fully read the terms of service document*blush*
that actually answers some of my original questions I want to share this as it might be helpfull to someone.

Mainly this:
"3.4 Linden Lab licenses its textures and environmental content to you for your use in creating content in-world.
During any period in which your Account is active and in good standing, Linden Lab gives you permission to create still and/or moving media, for use only within the virtual world environment of the Service ("in-world", which use or include the "textures" and/or "environmental content" that are both (a) created or owned by Linden Lab and (b) displayed by Linden Lab in-world."

with the key words beeing " for use only within the virtual world environment of the Service ("in-world""

and i can only interpret that as its NOT ok to just shoot stuff and use it in a commercial project in RL without seeking permission from LL. In practice it would be ok for art or non-profit projects I assume. The rest of the section on intellectual property seems to be in the sprit that as the result of your still/moving images remain in-world pretty much anything goes (of course with permission from other citizens and such).

Conclusion so far: I wouldnt do a RL commercial project with SL content without
thourough permissions from LL and possibly individual content producers...
Figured so
Would be happy to see a continued discussion on this, and would love to know of
any examples of SL content beeing used in RL commercial projects.

And thanks to Alan Palmerstone for offering Parrot island as location. Might take u up on that