Ethics and Technicalities of Watermarking youtube videos and re-uploading them

[Mr Tomcat]

So I know this happens alot with tube videos in general. Many videos after a certain amount of time are re-uploaded countless times making it hard to find the original uploaded video.

So what is the general opinion on re-uploading videos with your own url watermark?

I would say it is only ok with the consent of the original uploader.

What about the technicality of adding a watermark to a video. I've seen various free programs that are supposed to do this. I have yet to find one that A works and B does this with a good quality of output. Any advice?

Thanks

[pbennett]

if you have to ask an ethics question, then don't do it. Make your own videos. I don't think there's anything wrong with uploading a video, in general, because in a lot of cases it just goes back to their site on youtube if it's clicked. But, if you take a video that you did not create and watermark it with your own url, that's called stealing.

[Pipinscott]

Unless I have the rights to the video I would think watermarking someone elses work is unethical.
If it wasn't posted for marketing purposes, I would contact the originator and ask if I could use it for my purposes.
If I couldn't locate the originator I would move on to something else.

[nicholasb]

you got to be careful if you do that with copy writed content you can get hammered.

[SurviveUnemployment]

This is a joke, right? Taking someone else's work without their permission and using it to promote your own stuff is one of the most un-ethical things you could do as an Internet marketer, right up there with scamming people with (fine print hidden in far lower-right of page if you care to scroll) "$1 Google Millionaire Kits" that ding their credit cards for $39 a month until they figure it out.

[Kay King]

The excuse:

"I took it because I didn't know who it belonged to"

The truth:

"You knew it didn't belong to you."

So what is the general opinion on re-uploading videos with your own url watermark?

I would say it is only ok with the consent of the original uploader.

You would be right.



kay

[Mr Tomcat]

Hold your horses please people.
I have never done this but there is a thin line I think if you go in to detail.

I am not talking about uploading someones internet marketing video where they babble about how they made 10.000 dollars last night in their sleep because they bought the super duper extra elite power interwebs tool. They can keep that.

What for example if you make a compilation video of say 50 different funny animal videos that you cut together with the best bits. Do you contact 50 people to ask if they'd like to be included and if they give their ok for 7 seconds of Tabby their fat cat falling off a chair?

[Steven Carl Kelly]

Originally Posted by Mr Tomcat

Hold your horses please people.
I have never done this but there is a thin line I think if you go in to detail.

I am not talking about uploading someones internet marketing video where they babble about how they made 10.000 dollars last night in their sleep because they bought the super duper extra elite power interwebs tool. They can keep that.

What for example if you make a compilation video of say 50 different funny animal videos that you cut together with the best bits. Do you contact 50 people to ask if they'd like to be included and if they give their ok for 7 seconds of Tabby their fat cat falling off a chair?

If it doesn't belong to you, don't take it and modify it and watermark it -- unless you've been told by the original copyright owner that you have permission.

You have no idea where those 50 funny animal videos came from in the first place, so you have no idea whether or not permission was given to use them for your own purposes.

[Pipinscott]

Whats your purpose of the video compilation?

Are you going to use it to market something? Gees dude if you don't want to ask, go to a forum and post "I am compiling a video of cats doing silly things. If you have such yada yada yada"

If your going to sell the thing offer the ones you take a prize or honorable mention...whatever.

Bottom line for me is I would error on the side of honoring someone elses efforts.

[theimdude]

Originally Posted by Mr Tomcat

Hold your horses please people.
I have never done this but there is a thin line I think if you go in to detail.

I am not talking about uploading someones internet marketing video where they babble about how they made 10.000 dollars last night in their sleep because they bought the super duper extra elite power interwebs tool. They can keep that.

What for example if you make a compilation video of say 50 different funny animal videos that you cut together with the best bits. Do you contact 50 people to ask if they'd like to be included and if they give their ok for 7 seconds of Tabby their fat cat falling off a chair?

This is a easy one. Yes as it don't belong to you. Don't matter if my dog fell out a tree. It is my dog, my tree, my camera, my video. Ask me I will think about it but it is my decision. Just because it is funny videos does it make it free?

[Mr Tomcat]

Ok thanks all for your replies. I think the opinion is more than obvious.

I know don't do as other do if it is wrong just because they do. One just sees so many vids out there that do just that to gain visitors to their site.

But the little monkey in the back of my head has now been put to rest thanks to your replies.

Thanks

[havplenty]

Originally Posted by Mr Tomcat

Hold your horses please people.
I have never done this but there is a thin line I think if you go in to detail.

I am not talking about uploading someones internet marketing video where they babble about how they made 10.000 dollars last night in their sleep because they bought the super duper extra elite power interwebs tool. They can keep that.

What for example if you make a compilation video of say 50 different funny animal videos that you cut together with the best bits. Do you contact 50 people to ask if they'd like to be included and if they give their ok for 7 seconds of Tabby their fat cat falling off a chair?

You are right! If I download say a clip from a TV series, I don't hesitate to re-up that clip with my url. But I never, repeat never touch peoples videos that they spent time and effort to create. I wouldn't want someone to do that to me.

Hav

[Dennis Murphy]

If I download say a clip from a TV series, I don't hesitate to re-up that clip with my url.

So you're willing to steal the hard work of others, but it just depends on who produced it?

[Steven Carl Kelly]

Originally Posted by havplenty

You are right! If I download say a clip from a TV series, I don't hesitate to re-up that clip with my url. But I never, repeat never touch peoples videos that they spent time and effort to create. I wouldn't want someone to do that to me.

Wow. Are you really serious?

[Mukul Verma]

Hi Mr. Tomcat

I would suggest to take someone else video and call it your own video without permission.

Now the only time you may want to consider this is if you are a affiliate and you are directly profiting the person who made the videos. The only purpose is to sell that persons product and you make them look good. If they have a issue with it, well then they do not want to make more sales with you doing the distribution work.

You are better to make your own video, it is not that hard. Marketing them is even easier (check my sig).

I also suggest to brand anything you make. This can work wonders for you

Cheers,
Mukul

[jaiganeshv]

You will know if the content author is the one who uploaded it in youtube. If yes you should not use it. Else if its a general one and not copyrighted by the uploader, you may rethink about using it with consent from the uploader

Thank you!

[DogScout]

Nice to see mostly ethical advice given out here...
why I like this place so much.
(sorta like like an honest car dealership)

The TV clip will get you in court, BTW