New USC Cinema Copyright Policy
Supporters - Visitor Comments & Inquires
Let us know if you want film students to hang on to the Copyright to their work
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2008
John: Without looking at any of the materials, this appears to be a contract issue more than a copyright issue. USC appears to be making an argument that they feel justified their request to their students to provide their contractual consent. Of course, what student would challenge their own school? So, it appears that USC may be taking advantage of their position (i.e., superior bargaining position) to obtain the students’ contractual consent when there is really no opportunity for negotiation. For that reason, these contracts may be considered unconscionable and unenforceable by a court of law. But again, what USC film student will want to challenge their film school in court? It also appears that the other schools you cite have taken a much more reasonable position. Maybe the only way to remedy this situation at USC is to get the students involved as a group, make them aware of the more reasonable approaches taken by other schools, approach the administration as an organized group, so it’s not just an individual making the request, and possibly the student group could get a different response from USC. John Cones
John,
magine if an art or writing program
at a school tried this shit!
There’d be riots.James H
Hi John,It seems USC are acknowledging the fact that they don’t own the underlying rights (scripts, etc.) to the films that are produced using their funds & facilities, giving the original authors freedom to exploit their copyrights as they see fit.
What I don’t understand is how they could claim ownership to the copyright to the student-produced projects without it being a “work-made-for-hire.” Don’t the student’s fees/tuitions partially pay for the schools funds and facilities that are being used?
I know employers can make claim to something an employee creates/invents during their employment, but students at USC are not employees.
I suppose if it is a requirement that the students relinquish copyright to their films in exchange for use of USC funds and facilities, and then the students use said funds & facilities, then they have agreed to those terms.
Interesting stuff, but I agree that USC should be teaching copyright law as part of their curriculum.
Regards,
Mark
2007
March 2007Well, I think this is exactly right. I have never understood the rationale for a film school taking over a student film as their own property. It's like the ultimate Hollywood bad deal before you have ever matriculated into the bad deals of Hollywood. Plus, if anyone were ever to take it court it probably is illegal for the school to usurp all this property and call it their own. It's a very corporate, not scholastic approach to their students which is a shame.
Rob Durbin - St. Louis
