Beware of copyrighted images in the background as well as ambient music. When you check the little box that says you accept our terms, you're saying that everything in your video is legit and fully cleared. So make sure before sending us your film or video. You will also need licenses to use any music in your film. So make sure the music you use is not affiliated with a label or publisher that owns 100% of the music being used. You may have to contact music agencies to get clearance and a license (like MCPS) to use a particular track. Stay away from popular and commercial music, as it can be extremely expensive to get the rights to use this music. Your safest bet is to get your music created specifically for your film or there are loads of artists, musicians and bands that would be very happy to have their music in a short film - this would be a great way for them to promote themselves.
You must have the right to use all of the images, music and data of any sort in the film or video, and must have the right to grant the licenses you do to us. By accepting our content submissions terms and conditions and entering into this agreement and providing your film or video to us, you (the publisher) warrant the following:
• You have all the necessary music performing rights, if any, and shall fulfil any and all reporting and payment obligations associated with such rights;
• You hold and will continue to hold the necessary rights, including but not limited to all copyrights, trademark rights and rights of publicity in and to the audio-visual content.
• You have the legal right and authority to enter into this agreement, to perform the acts required of the publisher under the agreement, and to grant the rights and licenses described in our agreement.
• The audio visual content and the rights and licenses granted to zzizzl (the distributor) under our agreement and zzizzl’s authorized use of your audio visual content (including the public display, public performance, distribution and reproduction of your audio visual content)
• Do not and will not violate any applicable law, statute, ordinance or regulation and
• Do not breach and will not breach any rights of any person or entity including, without limitation, rights of intellectual property, publicity or privacy, music right, or rights or duties under consumer protection, product liability, tort or contract theories.
( Legal speak here, but our lawyers have told us we need to tell you this)
If you use music, or sound recording from an artist who is registered with a rights agency (like MCPS-PRS) or similar in your country, they will charge a usage fee for the music. So if you use 4 tracks that are from registered artists or composers, this fee will be deducted four times. Currently this can be up to 8% of the retail price. Any fees due or payable to any body or rights agency will be deducted from your share of the profits. You may be billed quarterly or annually for these fees and they will be deducted from monies that are payable to you from sales of your film or video through zzizzl.
As you can imagine, this could become rather expensive and leave less profit for you. Therefore we recommend that you check that you can use the music in your film or video, have the rights to use it, and to make life easier for you, potentially look at artists who are not registered with a collection agency. You can come to your own personal agreements with artists and musicians.
Certain markets are very strict about visible and distinct product placements, corporate logos, works of art, and other unoriginal imagery shown in films and videos. You need the rights from companies, artists or private individuals if you are using or shooting something they own. You also need to be careful of storylines based on a book or another film.