• Location: New Jersey
  • Joined: August 16, 2010

Topic: Are you allowed to use LEGO animations in contests/festivals?

I currently am in need of money and have been entering online video contests and film festivals.   
The problem is that the only stories/ ideas that I have are for LEGO animations. I cant think of any story I can do with live action because I only have my family for actors (and they're not good) and no ability to make sets.

My question is; can I enter animations into contests and festivals with the possibility of making money? Will LEGO company sue me for using their product?

I tried searching for a related topic but couldnt find one, sorry if im repeating a question someone already asked.

Brickfilmer a decade ago, now looking to relive the glory days mini/smile

DerTarchin's Website

  • Joined: April 26, 2011

Re: Are you allowed to use LEGO animations in contests/festivals?

I would like to know that too.

Although I think it's ok to use the minifigs and the bricks as long you don't mention Lego anywhere in the movie.
There are few guys selling their animations on DVD. I think they don't making huge bucks with it. But if your movie would sell 100.000 copies then I think the Lego corp. might get after your profits.

$15 x 100.000 = $1.500.000 minus Disk production costs your making $1.250.000 profit. Be aware they want their share.
But that's just my speculation.

YouTube :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Flickr :: Blogger
  • Joined: January 5, 2011

Re: Are you allowed to use LEGO animations in contests/festivals?

TitanPictures wrote:

Although I think it's ok to use the minifigs and the bricks as long you don't mention Lego anywhere in the movie.

Not so sure this is true. I've heard somewhere that the bricks aren't the big issue, but more so the minifigs. So I believe you could make a set out of lego, but you may not be able to use the minifigs. Not positive on this though, so I would be curious to know.

  • Joined: December 27, 2008

Re: Are you allowed to use LEGO animations in contests/festivals?

I have no idea, but I don't think LEGO would mind. These films serve as commercials for them.

http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt234/vikthebrikvikthebrik/watch.jpg
The Trip - BRAWL 2012

Pillow's Website

  • A.
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Joined: December 27, 2008

Re: Are you allowed to use LEGO animations in contests/festivals?

I don't see any problem.It's like making stop motion animation with any other product e.g. clay. It's an absurd idea to sue people for it.
I've participated in film festivals and I know, that other people did it, too. There never was a problem with the Lego company.

ブリックフィルマー
  • Location: New Jersey
  • Joined: August 16, 2010

Re: Are you allowed to use LEGO animations in contests/festivals?

Okay, thanks all! And I never mentioned selling dvds just entering it in film contests/festivaals. mini/smile

Brickfilmer a decade ago, now looking to relive the glory days mini/smile

DerTarchin's Website

  • Joined: December 27, 2008

Re: Are you allowed to use LEGO animations in contests/festivals?

Where do you find film festivals to enter? I've done some Googling before but never really found anything worthwhile.

https://i.imgur.com/IRCtQGu.jpg
  • Joined: April 26, 2011

Re: Are you allowed to use LEGO animations in contests/festivals?

NXTManiac wrote:

Where do you find film festivals to enter? I've done some Googling before but never really found anything worthwhile.

Dependens where you are, but in Holland we have two animation festivals I know of.

I'm looking to find some festivals in Germany and Poland as well

YouTube :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Flickr :: Blogger
  • Location: Welcome to Darkmoor
  • Joined: March 27, 2011

Re: Are you allowed to use LEGO animations in contests/festivals?

I've submitted Pirates Rule! to loads of festivals, I've never been in trouble. mini/smile

-Squid | Twitter | Welcome to Darkmoor

Squid's Website

  • Joined: April 26, 2011

Re: Are you allowed to use LEGO animations in contests/festivals?

DerTarchin wrote:

Okay, thanks all! And I never mentioned selling dvds just entering it in film contests/festivaals. mini/smile

Yes but you've mentioned making money of it.
I don't see how make money of having your movie screened on a festival besides selling dvds. mini/wink

YouTube :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Flickr :: Blogger
  • Location: New Jersey
  • Joined: August 16, 2010

Re: Are you allowed to use LEGO animations in contests/festivals?

TitanPictures wrote:
DerTarchin wrote:

Okay, thanks all! And I never mentioned selling dvds just entering it in film contests/festivaals. mini/smile

Yes but you've mentioned making money of it.
I don't see how make money of having your movie screened on a festival besides selling dvds. mini/wink

Online contests sometimes have cash prizes, or just normal prizes like an iPad or MacBook, which can then be sold for cash (or used...)

I use this site to find ways to gather some money- http://www.onlinevideocontests.com/

haven,t gotten anything yet, but then again I only started two weeks ago, none of the contests have finished yet.

This is what I was thinking of entering with an animation-   http://www.originaliphonefilmfest.com/

Brickfilmer a decade ago, now looking to relive the glory days mini/smile

DerTarchin's Website

  • Joined: April 26, 2011

Re: Are you allowed to use LEGO animations in contests/festivals?

DerTarchin wrote:

Online contests sometimes have cash prizes, or just normal prizes like an iPad or MacBook, which can then be sold for cash (or used...)

I use this site to find ways to gather some money- http://www.onlinevideocontests.com/

haven,t gotten anything yet, but then again I only started two weeks ago, none of the contests have finished yet.

This is what I was thinking of entering with an animation-   http://www.originaliphonefilmfest.com/

Aaaaach.. Ok looks pretty neat.

YouTube :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Flickr :: Blogger
  • Location: in nowhere.
  • Joined: January 2, 2009

Re: Are you allowed to use LEGO animations in contests/festivals?

Well, I entered a video contest through Zooppa.com for an Amazon Wireless commercial contest. And they declined my video and said:

Hi Spencer,

We love your video but we can't accept it into the contest because of copyright issues involved with Legos. We can't use branded items/logos/music unless we have teh expressed written consent of the owner.


We're sorry and hope to see more videos from ya,

Zooppa USA

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/olsonstudios/legos/bim_sig.png
::My Band [v5] | Twitter | Facebook | Youtube::
  • Location: USA
  • Joined: October 18, 2009

Re: Are you allowed to use LEGO animations in contests/festivals?

>:[ wrote:

Hi Spencer,

We love your video but we can't accept it into the contest because of copyright issues involved with Legos. We can't use branded items/logos/music unless we have teh expressed written consent of the owner.


We're sorry and hope to see more videos from ya,

Zooppa USA

D:

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/RealBrick/Sigs/base.pnghttp://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/RealBrick/Sigs/youtube2.pnghttp://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/RealBrick/Sigs/youtube.png
Sig made by RealBrick mini/bigsmile.

legostudiosplus's Website

  • Joined: December 27, 2008

Re: Are you allowed to use LEGO animations in contests/festivals?

Olsonstudios wrote:

Well, I entered a video contest through Zooppa.com for an Amazon Wireless commercial contest. And they declined my video and said:

Hi Spencer,

We love your video but we can't accept it into the contest because of copyright issues involved with Legos. We can't use branded items/logos/music unless we have teh expressed written consent of the owner.


We're sorry and hope to see more videos from ya,

Zooppa USA

Too bad, I thought your commercial was quite good.

http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt234/vikthebrikvikthebrik/watch.jpg
The Trip - BRAWL 2012

Pillow's Website

  • Location: in nowhere.
  • Joined: January 2, 2009

Re: Are you allowed to use LEGO animations in contests/festivals?

Thanks dude, yeah I was hoping I could get a prize for it. But noooooooo...

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/olsonstudios/legos/bim_sig.png
::My Band [v5] | Twitter | Facebook | Youtube::
  • Joined: August 20, 2011

Re: Are you allowed to use LEGO animations in contests/festivals?

That's too bad mini/sad

http://i54.tinypic.com/11jal2c.jpg
  • Location: Tokyo, Japan
  • Joined: December 27, 2008

Re: Are you allowed to use LEGO animations in contests/festivals?

Brick8 wrote:

Not so sure this is true. I've heard somewhere that the bricks aren't the big issue, but more so the minifigs.

This is closer to the truth. Technically, you can only use plain bricks (or other elements that are made by several building-block brands) and you can't show the LEGO logo that's written on top of every stud, or else you have to give money to The LEGO Company. If there's no way of proving it's LEGO, no one can tell for sure if it's LEGO, Mega Bloks or any other construction toy. Have a look at the music video for The White Stripes 'Fell In Love With a Girl' and you'll see what I mean.

However, it only really matters if you're making huge amounts of money from it. Speaking from experience with Megaphone playing at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, they didn't bat an eyelid at the copyright-related implications of using LEGO, and The LEGO Company even told me afterwards how much they liked it.

You'll be fine.

https://i.imgur.com/1JxY79v.png

Hazzat's Website

  • Location: On top of walking trees
  • Joined: July 8, 2011

Re: Are you allowed to use LEGO animations in contests/festivals?

Actually, if you've watched "Gay Lego", then I'm positive that the animators didn't share the profit they made. Gay Lego was a quite popular show back in the 90's I believe. So, I would say that you are allowed to use Lego Products for contests. And to all you people that think you can't, build a time machine and go back a decade and a half. Jokes mini/tongue

I'm feeling it again!
  • Location: in nowhere.
  • Joined: January 2, 2009

Re: Are you allowed to use LEGO animations in contests/festivals?

Well, here is the LEGO direct response to my question asking if I can use it.

Dear Spencer,

Thanks for getting in touch with us in regards to the stopmotion you are making.

Your film idea sounds really good. Thanks for telling us about it, but I'm sorry, I can't help you. Lots of people ask to use LEGO® sets in their films but we nearly always have to say no. We can only say yes if it's an educational film or if it's a project that no-one's making any money from. I don't think your project meets our rules as listed at www.LEGO.com/fairplay, but if you think it does please get back in touch.

Happy building!

Brittany
LEGO Direct Consumer Services

Bummer.

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/olsonstudios/legos/bim_sig.png
::My Band [v5] | Twitter | Facebook | Youtube::