Comments

Chienworks wrote on 8/27/2010, 10:11 AM
I'll disabuse you of the notion first. There is *NO* way to prevent people from making copies of your DVDs, except to simply not give them a DVD at all. Nothing will prevent anyone who wants to from making a copy of anything they want to copy.

That being said, DVDA (pro, not sure about the studio version) has a macrovision flag that can be set when burning the DVD. However, in order for it to be effective the discs have to be replicated at a pressing plant rather than burned, and most plants will want a minimum order of 1000 with an extra fee for the macrovision protection.

And even still if you do this, anyone who wants to can still copy it anyway.
TOG62 wrote on 8/27/2010, 10:55 AM
not sure about the studio version

This is not available in the studio version.
Former user wrote on 8/27/2010, 1:10 PM
Chienworks is right of course.

The best you can do is plaster a disclaimer at the beginning saying not to copy and then charge enough for it that if they do copy, you make your money.

Dave T2
videomom2 wrote on 9/1/2010, 3:32 PM
Thanks for the help just discovered that A Evis impersonator that I recorded as a favor , and then edited and burned all for free has been duplicating and selling the DVD. I just don't want it to happen again. Expecially since I just recorded him again this past week. Once again as favor for performing for Nursing Home residents.
MSmart wrote on 9/1/2010, 4:06 PM
In addition to what Dave suggested, end the video with your name and the copyright symbol.

Since you did it as a favor, let him know that you're willing to make additional copies for a nominal fee and he can mark it up to what ever he wants. But you should at least get a cut of what he's making on them. Otherwise, charge him a recording and editing fee from now on.
Former user wrote on 9/1/2010, 4:22 PM
If you feel he is taking advantage of you and ripping you off, I would suggest this.

Make him a DVD that has a disclaimer at the beggining with something to the effect of "if you are watching this DVD, be aware it is an unauthorized copy and the original producer..." so and so forth.

Tell him if he allows you to make the copies, the DVDs you create for sale will not have this disclaimer on it.

Dave T2
richard-amirault wrote on 9/1/2010, 4:51 PM
In addition to what Dave suggested, end the video with your name and the copyright symbol.

Yes ... while not needed legally .. it is *your* work .. and it *is* copyrighted despite lack of copyright notice .. it gives you another tool in your arsenal to convince folks to either not copy it in the first place, or to stop copying when you confront them.
Chienworks wrote on 9/1/2010, 6:26 PM
One approach that's come up quite often in the Pro forum is to cover your desired income on the recording job, not on the disc sales. For example, if you are hoping to sell at least 60 copies at $8 each, charge $500 to record the event and then toss in the first 60 copies for free. You could tempt them even more by offering a discount of the normal price for extra copies if they agree to the up front fee.
musicvid10 wrote on 9/1/2010, 7:56 PM
Thanks for the help just discovered that A Evis impersonator that I recorded as a favor , and then edited and burned all for free has been duplicating and selling the DVD. I just don't want it to happen again. Expecially since I just recorded him again this past week. Once again as favor for performing for Nursing Home residents.

Selling your DVD?
Don't mess around. This is business.
Send the guy a bill for your work at full pop.
Send a copy to your lawyer.
And get a release next time.