Copyrights and 911 Recordings

We are in the process of producing a series of videos on various construction practices and in one segment which involves working around utilities (electric, telco cable etc) I wish to emphasize the necessity of calling for utility locates by using as an audio bed under the graphics and clips a couple of 911 calls based on an actual electrical accident.

Now obviously I have edited the audio clip to remove any names and address’s but was wondering if there are any Copyright issues with using a 911 call for a commercial video?

This is the final product which I will be using.

http://www.channel1ima​ges.com/Assets/911fina​l.mp3

Wayne

You could avoid any hassles by simply creating your own mock call.

Grab a couple of friends and do a voice session. Post-processing to create a phone-like quality is pretty easy. Just roll off the low-end frequencies and add a little noise.

Gives you complete control over content and you own it all without worrying about copyright, releases and such.

A 911 that will make you, well have a


www.youtube.com/watch?​v=SbX_I_lrmIc


Creating your own call sounds like a good idea.

Channel One wrote in post #12371186
We are in the process of producing a series of videos on various construction practices and in one segment which involves working around utilities (electric, telco cable etc) I wish to emphasize the necessity of calling for utility locates by using as an audio bed under the graphics and clips a couple of 911 calls based on an actual electrical accident.

Now obviously I have edited the audio clip to remove any names and address’s but was wondering if there are any Copyright issues with using a 911 call for a commercial video?

This is the final product which I will be using.

http://www.channel1ima​ges.com/Assets/911fina​l.mp3

Wayne

Well, now, what's the deal? Yes, they are copyrighted. However, I would think that to get your hands legally on actual 911 calls, you'd have to go through enough red tape to work out copyright as well as a number of other legal issues.

Freedom of Information Request would be your starting point...

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #12371210
You could avoid any hassles by simply creating your own mock call..

Good idea but I doubt we have the time or the resources to pull that off.

Hence the reason to use the actual 911 audio we have.

Wayne

RDKirk wrote in post #12371724
Well, now, what's the deal? Yes, they are copyrighted. However, I would think that to get your hands legally on actual 911 calls, you'd have to go through enough red tape to work out copyright as well as a number of other legal issues.

911 calls are as routine released by the various PIO’s of the 911 centers as such there really no hoops to jump through or red tape to download them, thanks though.

Wayne

Channel One wrote in post #12371997
911 calls are as routine released by the various PIO’s of the 911 centers as such there really no hoops to jump through or red tape to download them, thanks though.

Wayne

The PIO would be able to tell you, then, what further use you're allowed.