power rangers fan film question

N

NatalieOshea

A few of my friends and I are planning on making a short Power Rangers Jungle Fury fan film. I'm wondering if it would be okay if we were to use GekiRanger footage in our film. We were going to get the footage from dvds and from YouTube... as long as it's footage without the clock and no subs. Thanks

I don't wanna make this film and then we end up being smacked with a lawsuit.
 
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You are violating copyright by producing a fan film in the first place. You could find yourself facing legal proceedings, regardless of whether you use that footage or not. Either way, technically, you are not okay using footage from those shows.

But…

If it’s just for YouTube, you’ll probably be okay.
 
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NatalieOshea said:
It doesn't matter if we're not making any profit off the film?
Click to expand...

Not sure if that's a question or a statement.... But, yes, it does matter. It's copyright violation. The copyright owners can take any action they like against you, if you choose to violate the copyright that they hold over their property.

Realistically, if it is just for YT, the worst that's likely to happen is that they ask for the video to be taken down.
 
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Copyright is the right to copy. It has nothing at all to do with making a profit.
The owner of the copyright has the right to decide how their product is used.
Fan films are a grey area - some owners turn a blind eye, some encourage
them.

The chances are you will not be sued but your are doing the wrong thing
when you use someone else's work without permission. If you present your
finished product to the public you could be told to cease and desist. It's too
bad that what concerns you is being sued - not violating someones rights.
 
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NatalieOshea said:
It doesn't matter if we're not making any profit off the film?

How about NO Sentai footage?
Click to expand...
Profit motivated or profit realized are irrelevant.

Yes/no: do you own the rights to the Power Rangers or Senate intellectual properties?

Honestly, most intellectual property rights owners just don't want anyone defacing their property, and they can file a lawsuit against u for that, as well.


Any particular reason you cannot fabricate your own unique characters inspired by the Power Rangers?
 
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I guess at this point I'm wondering what aspect of Power Rangers is it that you feel most compelled by and why you cannot fabricate a similar story?



You know there's a precedent for PR, right?

When I was a wee kid Ultraman was VERRRRY cool.
Created by Eiji Tsuburaya
Produced by Tsuburaya Productions
Original run July 17, 1966 – April 9, 1967​

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraman
http://ultra.wikia.com/wiki/Ultraman_Wiki
http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130730110154/ultra/images/4/48/Gan-Q_02_v_Ultraman_Gaia.png


Gan-Q_02_v_Ultraman_Gaia.png


Later I discovered 'Space Giants' which had a very similar set up.
Written by Osamu Tezuka
Studio P Productions
Original run July 4, 1966 – September 25, 1967​
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Giants

4PABE.jpg



A few deacdes later MMPR shows up by another creative team.
Creator Toei Company & Haim Saban
produced by Toei Company
Debuted on August 28, 1993​
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_rangers

90.jpg



So, the precedent for the type of supernatural activities seen in MMPR has been well established.

You can make up your own stuff - unless you just really wanna try to ride MMPR's coattails with a "fan film", in which case you run the risk of first having your video pulled by YT or Vimeo followed by a cease and desist letter from the attorneys for Toei Company.
 
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If you're uncertain, contact the company in charge. Or, better yet, have a lawyer who's your friend contact their legal department - this should be relatively routine, and, if the lawyer is your friend, he'll do it pro-bono.

I remember "Space Giants". :)
 
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