Clarification on Dreams using Videos

from WinCustomize Forums

I recently made a few dreams from videos that I made in Half-Life 2: Episodes 1 and 2 and turned then into a Dream wallpaper. However when I uploaded them I received notification (in my old email, different story) that the video could be no longer than 15 seconds if I "didn't make the entire graphics".

Does this mean that in order for me to use the entirety of the videos I recorded, I would also have to fully recreate the game's engine, textures and map, and THEN record it?

 

It was my understanding that as long as I wasn't causing the company (Valve) to lose money, or using them for monetary gain, that it was alright.

To quote the General Guidelines:

Fair Use allows for the limited reuse of copyrighted material so long as it is not done for financial gain of the person reusing the work, nor does it financially harm the original author by denying them sales etc.

 

And I thought the 15 second limit was only for videos that you did not create.

In the case of Dream animated wallpapers, users can make limited use of video files created by other authors provided they meet the following requirements:

 

Does Valve count as the 'other' author?

I'm not trying to be rude, I just want to be sure I understand properly.

 

Here are links to the three videos in question:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aey9l9gT9aw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LNgw6N7ss0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZTfS7LOhQE

 

Thanks for your time,

-Major

1,895 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Dreams

Being video files have a slightly modified set of fair use rules.  Fair Use allows for the limited reuse of copyrighted material so long as it is not done for financial gain of the person reusing the work, nor does it financially harm the original author by denying them sales etc.

In the case of Dream animated wallpapers, users can make limited use of video files created by other authors provided they meet the following requirements:

  • The animations used in the .Dream file is either 15 seconds in length of shorter OR less than 25% of the original video file in length (whichever is shorter).  So if you found a 20 second video you want to use in a Dream, you can use no more than 5 seconds of that video.  Anything else, you are limited to 15 seconds.
  • You must provide credit to the original author in the skin comments AND provide a link to your original source.  Understand that if the original owner of the work asks us to take it down, provided proof of ownership, we will comply immediately.

Try reading this slowly inorder to digest it.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I'd likely refuse them more for the fact they are GENERATED during a game....based on copyright......they ARE NOT fair use videos as there is no "video" the poster can link back to.

Copyrights/Trademarks

Images taken from other sources cannot be accepted without permission, including but not limited to pictures taken from movies, television shows, games,

CursorFX - Customize your Windows cursor
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I have read that, many times now, but it still doesn't answer my questions. I, myself, made the videos, they were not taken from anywhere else. If it's the content that is in dispute then I could contact Valve for permission. Would that clear up the matter?

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I could contact Valve for permission. Would that clear up the matter?
End of quote

Yes

The permission must be in the form of an email, copy of a PM, IRC log or screen shot from an IM. Please include the permission in a zip file with your submission.

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Lantec, reply 4

I could contact Valve for permission. Would that clear up the matter?

Yes

The permission must be in the form of an email, copy of a PM, IRC log or screen shot from an IM. Please include the permission in a zip file with your submission.
End of Lantec's quote

 

Thank you, I will send an email asking their permission then. I'm sorry I was such a hassle to all of you.

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Most companys view videos of their games as free advertising,ID software and Valve software even include tools in their games for people to make videos and activly encourage it.

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Most companys view videos of their games as free advertising,ID software and Valve software even include tools in their games for people to make videos and activly encourage it.
End of quote

If that's the case then all we'd need is for the poster to link to the part of their TOS that states that. The burden is on the person submitting the file to show that he/she has permission to do so. We can not scour the net for references to each upload that does not meet the criteria specified in the upload guidelines. There's just not that many hours in the day.

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Most companys view videos of their games as free advertising,ID software and Valve software even include tools in their games for people to make videos and activly encourage it.
End of quote

Yes, just as most games enable some form of screen-capture [if not just via the prnt-scrn button] but it becomes an issue of what is its 'intended use'....that is, is it for personal use of the gamer - on HIS system, or for him to subsequently re-distribute to others - perhaps commercially?

As Lantec stated....the onus is upon the uploader to ascertain the legality of THEIR intended use of the content....;)

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

:thumbsup: