Originally posted by alebeard42
There is indeed a difference between stealing some product and its fair use, this is where copyright fails in my opinion
An example
In making my little smut films, here are potential problems
I certainly cant put on a music CD in teh background, even if I have bought the CD.
What about the clothing worn? if my jeans have a levis logo visible am I allowed to wear them in my film? what abotu the art on my walls? I have bought it all, but a poster maybe copyrighted, the shoes I am wearing? that the model wears?
what about if there is a call for drinking in the film? can we show the label on the bottle? what about a package of cigerttes
Do I have the right to use the products I have already paid for?
Ale


You do, for the most part.

I know in American television, it is legal for one company to use another company's products for comparison without permission or payment. It's covered under the laws for competitive advertising. This practice, however, is not legal in Canada unless one company has contractually agreed to allow another company to use their poducts in its ads.

As for films, that is another story altogether. Product placement in films and television shows is advertising. Corporations pay mega bucks to get their products into films and on television. If someone in a movie drinks a Coke, you can bet your butt that The Coca-Cola Bottling Company or Coca-Cola Foods has paid the executive producer of the film at least a couple of hundred thousand dollars to get the can of Coke in that actor's hand.

It's not the makers of the films that pay to get products placed into the films, it is the companies represnted by the products that pay for it. Therefore, I doubt many companies would have issues with you showing their products in your films. If it gets people to smoke Marlboros or drink Coke, they're all for it, usually