|
READ THIS ENTIRE PAGE BEFORE YOU BEGIN. IF YOU SUBMIT A VIDEO THAT DOESN'T FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES YOU ARE WASTING YOUR TIME. PRINT THIS PAGE OUT AND KEEP IT FOR REFERENCE.
You probably want to know as little about copyright law as possible, and we can sympathize with that. Yet, if you want to work in any creative or commercial field, you'll have to deal. So try not to look at these guidelines as a big hassle to getting your stuff on MTV. Think of it as a crash course in stuff they don't teach in school.
MUSIC | PEOPLE | PLACES | THINGS | IDEAS | DO's/DON'Ts
MUSIC
Your best bet to get your MPEG on air is to use the music provided in the MPEG Us Music Library. These tracks are specially licensed for your use in this project. You can chop them up and remix them any way you like.
DO NOT USE ANY OF THE PROVIDED TRACKS FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE. We are lending them to you, which means they are not free, not in the public domain, and not yours to keep. Even if it's a complete remix, and even if you add your own tracks, it still doesn't belong to you. So, if you go off and use a track for something else, you are likely to be sued by the original publisher. Believe us, it's not worth the hassle.
DO NOT USE RECORD LABEL MUSIC FOR YOUR MPEG. Anything off of a CD is off limits.
You may suggest an alternate music choice when you submit your MPEG. Enter it into the “notes” field of the Upload Your MPEG form. It may be a song you heard on MTV, or it may be another song from the MPEG Us Music Library. If we like your suggestion, we may inquire with the publisher about using it. Do not, however, use this song as the soundtrack of your MPEG. We will discard it immediately.
About your band's music . . . Unless you're published and have your publisher's permission, we won't use your band's music.
DO NOT send a video of your band performing. We won't use it. We want visual art, not audition tapes.
Feel free to create and record original sounds. If you bang on pots and pans, tap dance, do the human beat box, chant, or pluck at strings, we need to be positive that you are the originator of the sound, composition and/or lyrics. For example, DO NOT play "Wipe Out" on your sink. You may not sample or recreate anyone else's music or lyrics. If we have any question about where your composition came from, we will discard your MPEG.
Be aware that at all times MTV reserves the right to alter your piece in any way we see fit. This includes changing the music.
MUSIC | PEOPLE | PLACES | THINGS | IDEAS | DO's/DON'Ts
PEOPLE
You may not use the image or likeness of any person, celebrity or not, without their written permission.
Don't film people without them knowing it. Anyone who is recognizable in your video must sign an MTV Release Form. By 'recognizable' we mean that you can clearly see the person's face. Once we are interested in your piece, we will ask to see your signed Release Forms. We will then contact the people and confirm that they signed them. If we are unable to contact and confirm every person in your piece, sadly, we won't be able to use it. Our advice is that you get everyone to sign releases before you film anything.
Don't use reproductions of people without their permission. An image of a person is an image of a person, whether it's 2D or 3D. That means no posters, pictures, paintings or puppets without the person's signed release. Reproductions carry a double-whammy in the rights department, because if the reproduction was made by someone other than yourself, they own it and you would need a signed Release Form from them as well.
MUSIC | PEOPLE | PLACES | THINGS | IDEAS | DO's/DON'Ts
PLACES
It's easiest to film in places that you or your family own, rent or squat in.
Don't film private locations without asking. Just as people must sign release forms, the owners of any recognizable locations must sign an MTV Premises Permit. The definition of 'recognizable' in this instance is more subjective. In general, things that make a location recognizable are signs with the name of the place on it, wide shots and panning shots. Close-ups usually don't give away the location. Regardless, ALWAYS get the Premises Permit signed before you shoot anything.
You may shoot in public spaces, such as parks or on the street, without any need for a Premises Permit. However, be aware that people in public places still retain the rights to their image. In other words, you will need a signed Release Form from any strangers you happen to film. If you are unsure whether you are in a public or private space, assume it's a private space and seek out the owner.
Don't film logos in public or private places. For instance, a wide shot of Times Square would be no good.
MUSIC | PEOPLE | PLACES | THINGS | IDEAS | DO's/DON'Ts
THINGS
Products are owned by companies, who are very protective of their images. Everything you see on TV is generic. If you see a logo or a product in an episode of your favorite show, you can be sure that money changed hands.
DON'T film logos, including MTV logos (MTV, MTV2, or MTV.com). If we can read a logo in any of your shots, we can't use your piece. When you are setting up your shot make sure there are no visible logos anywhere in the picture. However, you may be surprised at just how many logos there are in the world. If while editing you find you've accidentally filmed a logo, blur it out in post production. If you don't know how to do that, learn.
Don't film recognizable product designs. Like private locations, 'recognizable' in this context is subjective. Basically, if you can tell from the design who makes the product, don't use it as a prop. Look for a generic version instead. For instance, an Imac is clearly an Apple product, while a PC could be made by anyone.
Make every item in your MPEG generic. If you need to show a book, CD, soda, cereal box, or any other product, you must film it in such a way that no logos, titles or labels appear. This can be done by repositioning the item or by covering or removing the logo/title. If that's impossible, you must make what is known as a 'mock up' of the item, a fake. For example, a mock up of a soda can wouldn't read 'Coke', it'd read 'Soda' or something more clever.
Don't film works of art. If you or your friends didn't make it, we don't want to see it. That means no posters, paintings, pictures, sculptures, or any other type of visual art without a signed Release Form. If you want to film a projected image, either on a wall or through a television set, the projected image must be your own. In other words, don't film a TV while it's on unless it's playing a video that you made.
MUSIC | PEOPLE | PLACES | THINGS | IDEAS | DO's/DON'Ts
IDEAS
Think "PG-13" and use your common sense.
NO: Gratuitous gun imagery/gestures.
NO: Hard liquor placement.
NO: Nudity.
NO: Materials which endorse or condone illegal drug or alcohol abuse.
NO: Materials containing explicit, graphic or excessive sexual activity.
NO: Materials which contain derogatory characterizations of any ethnic, racial, sexual or religious groups.
NO: Materials which contain gratuitous violence.
NO: Language which is vulgar or offensive.
NO: Phone numbers.
NO: Web addresses (URLs) or e-mail addresses.
NO: License plates.
Any Materials which do not conform to these guidelines will not be accepted. MTV reserves the right to reject any Materials that it deems, in its sole discretion, to violate any of the policies of the MTV Networks Standards and Practices Guidelines. MTV may modify or edit any Materials, or request submitters to do so, so that the Materials meet the accepted guidelines.
MUSIC | PEOPLE | PLACES | THINGS | IDEAS | DO's/DON'Ts
DO's AND DON'Ts
This is a quick reference to major things you should keep in mind, but it is NOT meant to replace the Guidelines.
DO: Read and understand the Technical Specs and Guidelines before you begin.
DO: Be prepared to get signed MTV Release Forms/Premises Permits for people and locations.
DO: Gather contact information as you go.
DO: Download music from our MPEG Us Music Library.
DO: Make and record original sound.
DO: Be original and creative.
DO: Be safe and sensible.
DO: Send as many as you like.
DON'T: Film strangers or private locations without asking.
DON'T: Use music from CDs or MP3s that you have, popular or obscure.
DON'T: Send a video of your band. We won't use it.
DON'T: Attempt Jackass or backyard-wresting-style stunts.
DON'T: Send us anything we can't put on TV.
DON'T: Accidentally film logos, product designs or works of art.
 Have you read the Technical Specifications?
Make your MPEG.
|
 |
|
|
