Muvipix Commercial Contest

[Chuck Engels]

Hi Cheryl, When in doubt, don't.
That is a pretty simple method for choosing music for the contest.
Make sure that the music can be used for any purpose.
Get written authorization, or a license, from anyone you get music from.

We will require copies of any agreements or licenses for music, video or photos used in the commercial from the winners before we hand out the prizes. If the proper rights cannot be proven then the entry will be disqualified.

Paul, I will leave the format question to Ron.
I don't care what format or resolution we use, just so they are all the same or close.

[Ron]

Any music from muvipix is not a problem (including shockwave-sound files). We don't plan to distribute more than 5000 copies (at this point anyway), which requires a special license.

And since the videos are only 15 and 30 seconds, and in wmv format, I would say 640x480 resolution (or thereabouts for widescreen). Watch out for the bitrate though, Anything larger than about 1 meg/sec will start pushing our upload limits.

[momoffduty]

Reading the FAQ's at Shockwave. You can get a standard lic certificate when you purchase download. Here is the description and think this would apply for the contest since it is being used on only one website. Guess it is safe to use Shockwave music and then do you want the certificate faxed or mailed or emailed?

Shockwave-Sound.com offers music licensing under two different license types: The Standard License or the Mass Market license.


Standard License:

Grants permission for most commercial uses, including products for sale or give away up to 5,000 copies, use on web site (one site)*, internet video (YouTube, MySpace, Google Video, MetaCafe etc), corporate video/presentation, educational, shareware/freeware game, single location music-on-hold, trade show/presentation, podcast, student film and film festivals. You may sell up to 5,000 physical products or downloadable products that contain the music. You may broadcast the audio on local and regional radio/TV (up to 200 miles/320 km radius).

The license lasts in perpetuity.

* (If you have a website based in the United Kingdom, please read additional “Note on UK based web sites” below).

[Chuck Engels]

I think that the standard license is fine, you can hang onto the certificate until the contest is over.
Once the contest is over we will ask the winners to provide any licenses and other materials needed for publication.

[Ron]

A copy of the license is on our site - http://muvipix.com/files/terms.pdf

It's referenced on the music start page, so you're covered (no need to send us a copy).

I don't think we need to get too deep into this. There are way too many gray areas. I would say - just don't use any commercialized music in the production and you're good to go. We just have to practice CYA.

[Chuck Engels]

CYA, a military term adopted by everyone in the general population meaning: 'Canadian Yachting Association'

[momoffduty]

A local talk show radio station had a long discussion on royalties just last week. They were saying that if it is 30sec or less then no need to worry. Think there was someone in court not too long ago on the 30 sec rule too.

On the size: Changed the settings on a WMV export to 640x480 and did not see where the bit rate was listed until after export when I looked at the file. It is 972kb or something like that. What is bit rate? Is bit depth something like resolution? Realize they are 2 different things.

[Chuck Engels]

972kb is plenty small enough so I wouldn't worry about it. I think Ron is worried more about the size than the rate, yes Ron?
You can change the bit rate on the Advanced Settings screen when you do the export. Higher bit rates = higher quality video but also larger file sizes.

[Ron]

Yes, file sizes.

But Cheryl, yours is fine (249 Kbps). And you don't have many 'moving pictures', so it looks fine too.

[cdeemer]

Been trying to upload my 2 versions tonight and getting nowhere slow ... wait forever and get an error message. Try again later.

[cdeemer]

Success! At least on my end. The Xth time is the charm.

[Ron]

Success! At least on my end. The Xth time is the charm.

How about a thumbnail

[cdeemer]

Done, thanks.

[Paul LS]

We will open the contest for entry uploads on July 1st and take entries until July 31.
Judging will start on August 4th and continue until August 31st.
Winners will be announced on September 6th

Well just over a day to get your entries in!!! If you haven't started yet you better get a move on...

[Chuck Engels]

Wow, Time sure does fly

Thanks for the reminder Paul, boy have I been out of it.

If anyone is planning on entering and needs time let us know