Welcome to the UCAN New Media Rights Studio!

New Media Rights (NMR) is a project of the non-profit Utility Consumers' Action Network. NMR seeks to educate young and emerging artists on the legal uses of content (fair use, parody, mash-ups, sampling, re-mixing, etc) and facilitate the creation of new and exciting content that is not currently supported/funded by mainstream business models. NMR seeks to expose artists to open-source creative tools and new media distribution alternatives, while educating creators on their full rights under current copyright/IP law. These efforts are designed to contribute to new kinds of grassroots creativity that take advantage of a creator's fair use rights under copyright law, and leverage new media in their distribution. NMR believes no one should hold a monopoly over creativity, and seeks to encourage a vibrant grassroots, non-hierarchical creative community that provides alternatives to traditional, hierarchical media. Over time the use of creative commons and other open source type licensing will result in a more robust public domain.

www.newmediarights.org

What's in the studio?

NMR is offering the use of its studio, free of charge, to artists in the greater San Diego region. The studio consists of a high-end video camera (Canon XL2), shotgun and lavalier microphones, a green screen, a dual-monitor G5 apple workstation, Final Cut Studio (including Motion, Soundtrack, and LiveType), as well as open-source programs for image editing, and video and audio capturing.

In addition to the equipment, the NMR Studio provides creators with another resource: knowledge. Instead of having to hire a team or lawyers or sign over their work to a proprietary production company, creators can use the knowledge of the NMR staff to understand how copyright and other laws affect their work. NMR staff will provide information to creators regarding: fair use (if the project incorporates content from other sources), creative commons licensing (to help expand the public domain), and alternative business models (using zero to low cost Web 2.0 channels of distribution). NMR is also prepared to advocate on behalf of artists that are wrongfully targeted by production studios or other entities either with cease and desist letters or other forms of legal intimidation.

Who can use the NMR Studio?

NMR is looking for innovative projects that are outside the realm of mainstream studio-produced content. Preference will be given to projects that: contribute to the public domain by committing to creative commons or other versions of open source licensing that permit future creators to reasonably build upon existing creative works , make use of new media distribution channels, and are within NMR's current interests. The NMR Studio is available primarily for individuals and non-profit organizations, but for-profit businesses with projects that meet the stated criteria can apply to use the studio as well.

If you have a great idea, but you don't meet all the requirements, don't worry about it. Send us a form anyway! The last thing we want is to see a great idea lost for all of eternity just because you didn't have a place to make it happen!

What can I use the studio for?

Below is a list of possible NMR Studio projects to help you brainstorm. We are hoping you will propose a project that is not on the list, or that we have never even thought of!

• short-length and full-length documentary and non-fiction video

• short-length and full-length fictional video (drama, comedy, action, mockumentary, etc.)

• experimental/avant-garde video

• video editing and titling

• video mash-ups (found footage, parody, etc.)

• still photography

• digital art

• flash video

• audio and video podcasts and blogging

• Creating webcasts (particularly informative or educational)

Questions? Contact us at studio@newmediarights.org