Copyright question

[Kurono_Kei]

Hello!
I have one simple question about copyrights. I plan to build site on topic X and I have a lot of original material covering that topic.
However, there are several movies with similar theme.
I would like to write review about them.
So I is it legal to use posters/covers and pictures from those movies?
And what should I write for copyrights?

[LifeinAsia]

Join an affiliate program like All Posters that has graphics of movie posters. That way you can use the image and possibly get some sales at the same time. Join Amazon and include a link to the video/DVD for more potential sales.

[mack]

You can ask the movie companies if they will allow you to use movie promotional material. In many cases when a new movie is released they issue a press release. The release will contain media that is designed for just this situation. In many cases this media may still be available.

Mack.

[Kurono_Kei]

@LifeinAsia
Interesting idea...
However, my problem is slightly different...
I forgot to say, thay I would like to write about comics and books not just movies, that covers topic I'm working on.
Also, several of those movies, are 50 or more years old.
Movie/comics/books reviews will be just "bonus", not the main subject of site.

I have read several articles about problems with movie reviews here, but I could not find anything useful (to me).

BTW I'm planing to use AD Sense. Does that count's as commercial site?

[Beagle]

IMHO, both LifeinAsia's and Mack's ideas would have some merit. I have a site with movie and book reviews (also not the main content of the site), and use affiliate links to Amazon to have some pictures. I'm also in AllPosters' affiliate program, but need to get to work on that yet. Amazon and AllPosters already have the licensing worked out, so you don't have to worry about that. Seeing what the studios have available in their "press" or "media" areas of their websites can also find some things you might be able to use.

Some older movies are now in the public domain (seen them on DVD in cardboard wrappers, selling for a couple of bucks?). And don't count out the affiliate programs when it comes to old movies; you'd be surprised what's finding its way onto DVDs these days. AllPosters is now part of Art.com and they share the same affiliate program, so some classy old movie posters (or classy posters of old movie stars)may be available there. AllPosters would most likely have some comic book characters/series pictures available, too (and if it can be classified as a "graphic novel" Amazon probably carries it).

On using other material - that is, copyrighted pictures - you get into the fair use question, which has guidelines but no hard-and-fast rules, so if it ends up in court it's decided case by case. Whether your site is commercial is only one of the factors looked at (and, yes, Adsense would count, at least if you have it mixed in with the other content). If you're using copyrighted material with your reviews, you want to make sure that your commentary is the main part of the review, and that the pictures you show directly relate to what you're saying. Think of it along the lines of using short quotes from a book in a book review. You wouldn't throw in just any quote from a book in the review, but would want one that illustrates the point you're making. The idea would be to do the same thing with the pictures you use.

On copyright: You, of course, hold the copyright on all the commentary that you write. If you get permission from the studio(s) to use some pictures, by all means put "used by permission of..." - not only a good thing to do professionally, but shows you have "contacts." For copyrighted material that you're using under fair use, it's good to have a clear statement of your fair use policy somewhere on your site, and credit whoever holds the copyright.