Interesting situation

[zim9000]

Here is something I may run into and I will try and explain it the best I can.

I'm looking to shoot my own film, with my own ideas based on someone else's song. Now I have contacted the owner of the song and was given the green light. Here is the interesting part, there is also a small clip/film someone else made based on his song, but they seemed to have collaborated together and the clip/film has fallen under the song owners copyright.

So what I'm trying to ask is, if I receive permission, from the owner of the song, to make a film about it, do I also need something from the owner of the clip/film. If the clip is under the song holders copyright?

I did email the creator of the clip/film asking if I may use his material as a reference within my film or at the end. But he replied with, "Let me know when you are about to start, and we can talk." Which I have no idea what that means or what he is thinking.

Any input would be great, thanks.

 

[Alcove Audio]

Get in touch with an entertainment attorney. If you don't have the budget for that write up a simple agreement between you and the songwriter(s) stating the specific usage and the terms and limitations of said usage.

 

[Blade_Jones]

Now I have contacted the owner of the song and was given the green light.

Make sure that's in writing. People always lie in court. "Verbal contracts don't exist".

You can't copyright an idea. But I am not sure if your script is really just an adaptation of an idea or what.