Creating a website that uses copyrighted material

[LeaningTheMoon]

i know virtually nothing when it comes to law, so i need an understanding and patient person to help me out here

the copyrighted materials are films that i've bought copies of legally, dvd's basically

i'll just start with that and if anybody replies i'll go into more detail

[Mr. Knowitall]

Do you have permission of the copyright holder to do what you wish to do?

[LeaningTheMoon]

how would i know if i do?

i purchased the dvd's at places like best buy, so they are legal copies.

and i don't intend to sell, trade, or give away a copy...

[Mr. Knowitall]

You would know because you would have written permission from the copyright holder expressing the conditions under which you were authorized to use their materials.

To date, there's no such thing as making a "legal copy" of a DVD. A DVD is encrypted, and thus making a copy violates federal law against breaking that encryption. There are people who argue that the owner of a DVD should still be able to make a backup copy, as they would with a non-encrypted medium such as a tape or CD, but so far neither Congress nor the courts have accepted that argument.

[singerplayer]

Hi, I actually can't find any info on exactly how to get permission from the copyright holder and costs involved.

I want to use a karaoke version of a song by a popular artist where I will be singing the vocals (and possibly altering 1 line to fit the content) both on my website and an instructional dvd I'm going to be creating for resale. I know there's the song itself vs. sound recording issues, so I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction.

[Mr. Knowitall]

Hi, I actually can't find any info on exactly how to get permission from the copyright holder...

You ask them for permission.

... and costs involved.

You ask what they would charge.