Universal Studios say dont do it Anton

I've heard back from the licensing department at Universal Studios and in no uncertain terms, they say stop.

Follows is the email I sent and their reply. It does seem odd that they don't have a signature on their email or directions on how to do it legally.


"
-----Original Message-----
From: Lubliner, Roni (NBC Universal) [mailto:xxxxxxx@XXXXXXX]
Sent: Tuesday, 30 December 2008 4:55 AM
To: Anton Winter
Subject: RE: movie trailer copyright question
For your own legal safety, you shouldn't embark on this with Universal or any other film studio.


-----Original Message-----
From: Anton Winter [mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2008 4:17 PM
To: Lubliner, Roni (NBC Universal)
Subject: movie trailer copyright question


Hello,



I have recently set up what can be termed an “online” tv station.

www.worldtv.com/movietrailers

The system plays movie trailers for upcoming blockbusters. Many of them are from Universal.

The majority of the trailers I have found on youtube.

With regards to Universals policies, is what I am doing permitted?

If it is not permitted, what do I need to do to get permission? Please note, this is not a large commercial venture, it is simply a hobby website.

Anton Winter
"

first contact with Universal Studios

The internet tv station I have set up at www.worldtv.com/movietrailers is starting to get a few users now.

The last thing that i want is to loose my house if it is illegal to run it.

I spend a large amount of time researching copyright issues on the internet, and I have no idea if playing movie trailers via worldtv.com and youtube is legal.

So I thought i would ask the experts.

Firstly I asked worldtv.com for their opinion. basically i asked if i am going to be sued. Here is their reply

"
Hi Anton,

You should abide by the relevant YouTube Terms and Conditions and WorldTV Terms and Conditions http://worldtv.com/pages/terms/ but with many movie trailers not being copyrighted and the fact that such trailers promote the movies you should be ok.

Thanks,

WorldTV
"


My opinion on their reply is that they are probably incorrect on the "movie trailers not being copyrighted"

They may be right on the "trailers promote the movies you should be ok". However simply promoting something does not mean that it complies with copyright "fair use"


So to try and find out for sure, I have sent off my first email to Universal Studioes licensing division to get their input.

I wait with anticipation for thier reply.

Build a tv station in 20 minutes - and not get sued

One of the big challenges media companies are going to face soon is the ability for anyone to create an online tv station.

I have just launched my own online tv station that shows all the latest hollywood movie blockbuster movie trailers. Right now the video is low resolution, but as I find HD content I will add it in.

www.worldtv.com/movietrailers

I've also created a widget for it so you can put it directly into facebook or myspace.

http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/movie-trailers-puckpuckpuck

day 1 and 5 people have embedded the widget in their websites.

Video wall

Pretty cool video wall. It opens in a new browser window.