Roger Bunce
Owing to my total inability to understand computery Social Meedja stuff, I’ve only just discovered (by which I mean, my wife has just discovered) a months-old message from Keith Jacobsen (thank you, Keith), that a company called ‘Procokit’ is now marketing mugs bearing images from "Cameraman: the Movie". In fact they now have one of my illustrations as their ‘Facebook’ Profile Picture.
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[Ed: not all images were available at this time -15 Nov 2017]
(Puzzlingly, the third picture wasn’t actually used in the movie – Hmm.)
While I’m deeply flattered, and if they’re only selling a handful as individual commissions, I don’t really mind (the YouTube movie has only had 6,846 views over the past 5 years, so I can’t imagine they have mass-market appeal!) – but I was wondering where I stood with regard to copyright. (Not that I’ve paid copyright on the music in the movie!, but then I’m not making money out of it.)
Anyone understand these things? (Where’s Mike Figini when I need him?)
Bernie Newnham
Having been got at by various copyright holders down the years, I can assure you that the pictures are your copyright. And from the government – "Generally speaking, in the UK copyright in images lasts for the life of the creator plus 70 years from the end of the calendar year of their death ". See – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/copyright-notice-digital-images-photographs-and-the-internet . So your grandchildren can make millions.
The magic of Whois? gives us all the details of the man concerned – https://www.whois.com/whois/procokit.com
Paul Davies
Phoenix Crew & Production Ltd
38 Ridgeway Road
Long Ashton
Bristol
BS41 9ES
(moved on 25 May 2016 see
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/09799472/filing-history)
And here’s a basic Cease and Desist letter to send – Change as appropriate
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Tony Lennon
"Cease and desist" is the right place to start, and there are plenty of template letters on the internet.
Be aware that the term of protection for artistic works changed in April 1989 from 50 years after publication, to 70 years after death of creator (probably not an issue here?).
You could also try using Facebook’s internal disputes resolution process (https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/937027619679465?helpref=faq_content).
Martin Ridout
More copyright info here http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/p01_uk_copyright_law
Roger Bunce
I’ve phoned them – (number first discovered by ace detective Peter Neill) and got through to Nicky Clarke, Make-Up Artiste, (as already deduced by other ace detective Richard Stevenson). She was very apologetic.
They thought that, being on YouTube, it was already in the public domain, etc. Apparently they haven’t actually sold any mugs yet (so she says – but it doesn’t really surprise me; they’re of rather limited interest – only for TV Centre Cameramen for the mid-1970s, who can remember what an EMI 2001 was!) and are thinking of cancelling the whole thing (which would be a shame. I was more flattered than angry). But we’re going to chat further, when she’s not at work.
Thanks for all the advice, everybody.
Peter Fox
Of course, you could negotiate a 20% cut and get a sale or return order and sell them to us at the next (next) disorganised?
Barry Bonner
Procokit aren’t very good at spelling either!
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Mike Jordan
The PTA (Powered Transmitter Aerial) vehicle we had at KA – basically a Fire Engine – had a side that opened up and on site we were always being asked if we sold tea and cakes!
It did have the advantage of a generator driven off the road engine to power the scanner in an emergency.
