Who is responsible for copyright?

[Vera]

I have one question. Does anybody know a contact to someone, person or office, who is responsible for Stargate SG-1 copyright?

I am a fan of Stargate SG-1 from Czech Republic and one of the authors of the Czech website devoted to Stargate SG-1: http://www.cswu.cz/sg-1/. I have written a book about Stargate SG-1. This book contains a brief information about main actors, episodes guide (including original quotes - similar information about episodes you can find in our website) and encyclopedia (characters, planets, cultures, technologies etc.). It is only the first part at this moment (it contains an information from seasons 1. - 4.). I would like to write a second part in a near future (this part will contain the seasons 5. - 8.).
Of course my publisher knows there is a copyright and trademark question. I would like to ask for permission to publish this book. It would be a first Stargate book of its kind in Czech language. I would also like to ask for permission to publish some photos (at least one photo with main characters) if it would be possible.
I asked this question on the MGM website (http://www.mgm.com/help.do) almost two month ago, but didn't get answer.
Could anyone help me, please. Many thanks.

 

[Rowan]

Copyright

Vera, I think the chances of MGM awnsering an email are very slim. THings like this usually require physical mail. I found one place with their contact information here:
MGM Studios

Contact info:
2500 Broadway St.,
Santa Monica ,
CA 90404
United States
Telephone:
310-449-3572
Facimile:
310-449-3277

Now I know it's not the only place on the web with info, but it's a start.

ROwan

 

[Vera]

Rowan, thank you very much for the address.

Yes, I know that it requires physical mail, I only wanted info from MGM website, not that permission thing, so I wrote a mail to them. But it was useless. I didn't know, that it's so difficult for them to answer.

 

[Vera]

It seems to me, that in small countries like the Czech Republic it’s impossible to publish a book about Stargate. More than six month MGM didn’t even bother to answer to a request for permission to publish such kind a book and say YES (and how much it will cost) or NO. Maybe if it’s a very small market for them, they arrogantly didn’t bother to answer. I am really very disappointed. I wrote this book two years ago and because I don’t want to infringe a copyright and trademarks I have no chance to publish SG book here in CR. :-(((

 

[ray gower]

Do MGM have a Czech office or representative?
You will get an answer from them quicker.

Otherwise, would it be impertinent to suggest you take your book to a publisher or lawyer?
It is the publishers responsibility to arrange relevant licences, if and when applicable.

The problem is that copyright and patent laws and what they actually mean vary quite appreciably between countries.

Some, like China, it is something that happens to other people.
Anybody who takes notice of the EEC e.g. Britain (not Germany, France etc), US copyright is god.
Every where else sits somewhere in between.

From experience, the CZR, perhaps because it is an ex-USSR satellite, veer towards the Chinese philosophy, certainly in the patents arena.

Depending upon what 'Official' material you have actually used, the language and markets involved, it is possible that no fees or permissions are legally required.