Copyright USC Home Page

USC Cinema Copyright Policy 1998 | 1999 | 2001 | 2004 Ethics | 2005 | 2007 | No revisions: 2008/2009
Learn something about Copyright - it's good for you
2008 USC Cinema Copyright Campaign
USC - The University of Southern CaliforniaUSC School of Cinematic Arts (USC Cinema)

USC Cinema is a highly admired bunch of thieves - like the Italian bicycle racing team
"Everybody cheats, I just didn't know."
-- Breaking Away (1979)

USC film students ought to own the Copyright to their Short Films
As it is now, USC claims to own the Copyright to student films and requires film students to sign a consent / copyright transfer form before starting classes.
USC Cinema ought to teach something about U.S. Copyright Law as part of the on-going curriculum in an effort to help students learn to register their woks with the U.S. Copyright Office and protect their Copyright to their original works of authorship: Story • Treatment • Script • Short Films.

Short Film Copyright video clip: QuickTime 7 | Windows Media | YouTube |

Fall Semester 2008 USC Film Students
As we see it, don't sign away your Copyright to your future Short Films to USC
I'd say don't sign the 2007 | consent for document. Here's a few Copyright USC videos |
You may be willing to help us get the word out to USC film students.
Contact us - send your comments and inquiries here: JL.Company@mac.com |
SOMEONE DO THIS
Here's what I say: If you were forced to sign the USC Cinema | 2007 | copyright transfer document form prior to starting classes (unlawful fraud / theft on the part of USC Cinema)... Register your Story • Treatment • Script with the U.S. Copyright Office before starting to shoot your Shot Film. Then, as soon as you have a rough cut of your Short Film include a Copyright Notice on the main title of the Short Film that says: Copyright © 2008 Your Name. Then, send off a DVD copy to the U.S. Copyright Office for Registration with your name as Author and Copyright Claimant. If you have agreed that others will share the copyright with you, include their names as joint authors on the Copyright Registration Form. WHY do that? As far as I know, USC never registers works with the U.S. Copyright Office. Later, show the Short Film to faculty members and inform USC Cinema that you registered your work for Copyright under your name. USC Cinema will be very perturbed. They may decide to bring a legal action in Federal Court. If they do, they will be perceived in the media as the overbearing thieves that they are and they will also loose in Federal Court and they may get to pay all your legal costs. If they appeal -- they will loose. That appeals court decision will end the practice of schools, colleges and universities stealing the Copyright to the original works of authorship of students all across America.
I am not an attorney. I never went to law school.
Contact me about Copyright legal advise anytime.
JOHN LONGENECKER, DGA
USC Cinema Alumni member - 800 470-4602

Here is where you can find all the answers:
U.S. Copyright Office: Copyright.gov |
Your Short Films - Hang On To Your Copyright
Learn something about Copyright - it's good for you
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JOHN LONGENECKER, DGA
USC Cinema Alumni member
800 470-4602
this site: CopyrightUSC |
email: info@CopyrightUSC.com |