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Author Topic: Can I legally give a way a copy of a poster if I booked the film? Cody Martin Expert Film Handler Posts: 214 From: Edinburgh, IN, USA Registered: Jun 2004 posted 09-07-2005 07:51 AM                        Hello, I am at a total loss here. I have booked the movie The Goonies and before the showings we often give a way a prize. Well, we wanted to take a copy of the poster and shrink it down to a 5x7 size and frame it to give it away. Is it legal to do this? We are a nonprofit agency--if that makes a difference. We are using this as a way of advertising. Please any advice on this? Thanks, Cody  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-07-2005 11:44 AM                        Have you considered asking the distributor? Technically, the poster is probably copyrighted, but I can't imagine that anyone would have any issue with a theatre that wants to distribute promotional material for the film. Some promotional material (think "pressbooks" and "8x10 stills") is actually intended to be duplicated by theatres. As long as you aren't modifying the artwork, selling it, or using the poster for some purpose other than promoting the film, I doubt that anyone would give you any trouble about it.  |  IP: Logged Don Furr Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 509 From: Sun City, Ca USA Registered: Nov 2002 posted 09-07-2005 12:13 PM                     Don't ask.....Don't tell..... Don  |  IP: Logged Aaron Sisemore Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day! Posts: 3061 From: Rockwall TX USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 09-07-2005 12:15 PM                     Why not just give away the actual poster as the prize rather than going thru the motions of reducing and framing a copy? Unless, of course, the poster was borrowed and they wanted it back... -Aaron  |  IP: Logged Bill Gabel Film God Posts: 3873 From: Technicolor / Postworks NY, USA Registered: Jan 2002 posted 09-07-2005 12:22 PM                     Yes, the poster art and poster is a copyrighted work. By the studio and the artist. Some press items can be copied for printing and magazines articles, while others you have to get permission. quote: Scott Norwood Have you considered asking the distributor? That might work on films that are within a few years of their release. "The Goonies" is from 1985, thats 20 years ago. The studio does not stock pile older posters. Older Studio press materials have been seen to storage and to the University of Southern California for the Warner collection. I was assigned to Warner from 1983-1989. During that time we had Cineplex Odeon in Westwood & the Cineplex Fairfax Theatres ran special shows. They first tried National Screen Service for materials, but they were out of stock. Then they tried the studio for the one sheets or other materials. They were looking for "Blade Runner", "Blazing Saddles", "My Fair Lady", "The Music Man" & "The Shining". The department did not have any posters available on those titles anymore. My boss asked me about those titles. So they borrowed the one sheets for my collection for there engagements.  |  IP: Logged Mitchell Dvoskin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1869 From: West Milford, NJ, USA Registered: Jan 2001 posted 09-07-2005 02:29 PM                     For $14 you can buy a full size liscensed reproduction to give away... MovieGoods.Com  |  IP: Logged

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