We are an uber low-budget (basically no-budget) filmmaking group that has made a couple of short films in the last few years. All of the films have screened at local festivals and in the process we've managed to author and sell dvd's of the finished product from our website.
It was recently brought to our attention that a local video store is renting one of our films. Unfortunately, they are doing so without our permission. Someone affiliated with the store bought a copy of the film from our website some months ago.
We aren't looking to get rich, but we do have an asset to protect and it seems rather sneaky go about procuring rental product in this manner.
We haven't contacted them yet as we are trying to determine the best course of action.
Anyone have experience dealing with this kind of situation or something similar or any thoughts on how to proceed?
Thanks!
All movies in all rental stores are purchased and then rented. This isn't
sneaky, it's what rental stores do.
So first you need to know exactly what you want. Do you want a percentage
of each rental? Do you want them to simply ask your permission? Do you
want them to stop renting your DVD all together?
Once you determine what you want, then your best course of action is
to speak to the owner, tell them exactly what you want and listen to their
offer. Since right now the owner isn't even aware you feel they were
rather sneaky in procuring your DVD, you really can't be too upset with them.
Frankly what they did is very standard and it shows you have a product people
will rent. But if you don't like it - tell them.
=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
Thanks for the reply!
After some feedback on another forum and some copyright law ( http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html) review it appears that the rental company was fully within their rights to buy a copy of the DVD (which they did pay for) and use it as a rental item. Illegal for music cd's, but ok for movies.
This was uncharted territory and now we are a little wiser and will try to move forward and make the best of the situation. At the end of the day I guess it is never a bad thing that people are watching our film!
I'm still interested in what you wanted?
Did you want them to stop? Did you want a cut of the rental? Did you want them to ask permission?
=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
