Post
by Kionon » Sun Oct 07, 2012 7:31 pm
It might have been smarter if you had presented this as a multi-editor project, called it something fitting your theme and giving a deadline for proofs of concept, betas, and final videos. Depending on how you cut the tracks, I think there might be people willing to work on it for free, assuming the music is yours, that's an interesting MEP concept which isn't (often? ever?) done.
The two problems I see with paying for "just the time," and the reason why "commissioning amvs is a touchy issue" is because we really, really, really don't want to piss off the anime companies. And I am primarily concerned with Japanese companies. The US companies allow amvs for noncommercial purposes with a wink, wink nudge, nudge, but Japanese companies don't respect AMVs (or homegrown M@Ds) the way they respect doujinshi. It's a shame, but it's true. On the flip side, it's a genuine political debate here. The LDP has argued for a specific "safe space" for fan creative works which includes doujinshi and amvs/M@Ds, but the DPJ (as evidenced by the recent download law change) is very strict and the DPJ are in power (and ultimately, my own views are that the DPJ is generally the party more in line with my own views, but they suck at copyright reform).
The second is that is if you're showing this MEP-like vide at a location where someone is getting paid for someone (you're being paid to DJ, you're at a club being paid for drinks, etc) then you've gone from noncommercial to commercial, and if you've actually paid an editor (or editors) to complete the video used, this will support the argument that you made a financial investment in copyright infringement with the intent to profit later at your shows, etc. Heck, if you even support yourself/your music based on donations, if the video seems to be a part of an increase in donations, again this could be seen as using the video for commercial purposes. In that case, even the American companies might have to come after you because of how current (shitty) copyright works and the requirement to "use it or lose it" in case of protection.
I'd be very, very careful about how you proceed with this, and as much as many of us would love the spare cash, especially those of us who or are have been paid for editing, I think you're walking into a potential minefield.
