Legalities of Posting Videos

[WolfpackFan]

We're heading down to the world week after next for 10 days total (including a night at HHI on the way back). We are staying at AKV Kidani. If you've followed me in the past, you know that I like to do Live TR's and usually have a link to my pictures. I thought I'd try to do something different this trip and have a "video of the day" and would post it to YouTube with a link in my TR. I'd do this rather than take a lot of pictures this time. I mean really, how many pictures of SSE do I really need. My question is - is it okay to video scenes around WDW (including random bits of BGM's, etc.) and post them on YouTube. Or does this violate some kind of Disney copyright laws?

 

[WilsonFlyer]

There has been a ton of discussion about this off and on over the years over on the Photography forum. I believe the general concensus is that as long as it's amateur and recreational and not used for commercial gain, everything's pretty much up for grabs, except where shows expressly prohibit videography and still photography.

Of course, the caveat, YMMV.

Glad I went to see Jersey Boys last night instead of watching the game. Seems I didn't miss much.

 

[drusba]

Welcome to the amorphous world of YouTube and when is it actually a copyright violation. The answer to your question is "maybe, maybe not." It is more of the maybe not a violation and instead an allowable fair use if (a) you do nothing to try to make any money off the video, (b) you record and show just bits and pieces of any shows and songs and do not try to show the whole thing or play the whole song, (c) you emphasize it is your family vacation and thus make sure you pan to family reactions and crowd reactions and thus do not just record the show itself, and even add family comments about how much they are enjoying the show and where they are (d) you obey all the recording rules for certain presentations, particularly ones indoors where they "request" (take that as a demand) that you not use video, (e) the quality of the YouTube presentation, of the songs in particular, is not professional but instead like most of us would have recorded in which the sound of the songs seems "distant' and intermixed with other sounds from the crowds.

If Disney feels it is a violation, the first thing it will do is ask YouTube to take it off, which YouTube does and that is usually the end of the matter.

 

[Sammie]

If it is illegal you have plenty of company including most every unofficial site. There have been lots of Little Mermaid Ride videos posted from beginning to end and its not even open yet. They are still up so guess Disney did not care.

There are hundreds of videos on YouTube made at Disney World.

What is BGM ?

 

[WolfpackFan]

Thanks for the replies. BGM is background music. So from reading here and looking at YouTube, if I just do a walk around the parks and resorts randomly videoing, I should be okay. Just so I don't video any shows, etc. where they say videos are not allowed.

 

[WolfpackFan]

Glad I went to see Jersey Boys last night instead of watching the game. Seems I didn't miss much.

You didn't miss a thing. Same old Wolfpack.