My Thoughts on Technology and Jamaica: JANN to host Intellectual Property Workshop at UTECH – How Independent Animators can Make money from Animation and thwart Copyright Infringement

The Ministry of Science, Technology Energy and Mining hasn’t done much since they declared that Animation was the next big money-maker for the Jamaican Government.

So it’s nice to see that the JANN (Jamaica Animation Nation Network) have announced plans to launch an Animation Intellectual Property Workshop to educate persons on how to protect their IP (Intellectual Property) as declared in Kelroy's Blog article “Jamaica Animation Nation Network launch an Intellectual Property Workshop”.

This inaugural Workshop, which is Free, is scheduled to take place on Saturday July 26^th 2014 between the hours of 11:00am – 2:30pm at UTECH (LT10A). It's a free event being hosted by JANN with the aim of explaining to Independent Animators, Illustrators, Writers, Storyboard Artists, Comic Book Artists, and TV/Film Musicians on how to monetize their IP and protect it from plagiarism.

Based on the fact that the presentation is free and the schedule of speakers involves the Ministry of Science, Technology Energy and Mining, JAMPRO and JIPO (Jamaica Intellectual Property Office), most likely it’s no different from the information I’ve already written on JIPO in my blog article entitled “JIPO, Protectors of Jamaican Intellectual Property Rights - How Jamaican Dancehall and Reggae Artiste, Inventors and Design Engineers protect their Intellectual Property from The Book Thief”.

GOJ and Animation – Finally, some love for Independent Animators

The Ministry of Science, Technology Energy and Mining had launched their push into Animation at the Inaugural opening of the KingstOOn Animation Conference and Film Festival at the UWI Mona Lodge on Friday June 21^st, 2013 as I'd reported in my blog article entitled “InauguralKingstOOn Animation Competition a boost to local Animation Industry - StateMinister Julian Robinson give Graphic Artists the chance to Feel this MomentPitbull and Christina Aguilera Style”.

Their main focus was on the idea of making money from Animation in a Call Center-like environment where teams of animators worked on projects. This hasn’t really happened, as there’s a shortage of Animation Talent in Jamaica, due to the fact that many High School leavers don’t see a future in Animation within Jamaica.

To this end, the Governor General Sir Patrick “I Believe in Jamaica” foundation has been funding the Training of Animators with the help of our Local Universities as explained in my Geezam blog article entitled “KingstOOn Animation Festival and GG’s “I Believe in Jamaica” Animation Training – Genesis of Animation Outsourcing”.

Many aren’t aware of the fact that the majority of work in Animation is sub-contracted from Clients abroad akin to any typical Call Center. This is something that the average Jamaica may not be able to do if they never went to University abroad. Without those “foreign” connections, an independent Animator getting a foot in the door is a tricky process that involves placing your IP online, only to end up having it stolen.

This effort by JANN marks the first time that any effort supported by a Government Agency, in this case JAMPRO, is being expended to help Independent Animators. Many may have made Short Feature Films but may not have any idea as to how to protect their IP once they publish it online.

After all, it’s a fairly easy process to download any video from YouTube or any Video Hosting Website as described in my Geezam blog article entitled “How to download Videos from any website without installing software using Savefrom”. Even hosting the video yourself on your own website or blog as described in my blog article entitled “How to use Dropbox, Google Drive and Sound File Sharing Websites to Share and Promote your Content online - Sharing is Caring”, makes no difference; your IP can be easily downloaded and copied.

Thus, protecting your IP Online and making money from that IP is something that needs to be explained to many Independent Animators.

Animation in Jamaica – Independents Animators struggle to find a footing in Jamaica

Since then I've been following the developement of Animation in Jamaica with a series of articles tracking the developement of the nascent Industry that can be found by googling the phrase “Animation after KingstOOn”.

I've done articles on how to get software for Animation, both Photo Editing and Video Editing as stated in my blog article entitled “Animation After KingstOOn – Free Photo Editing Software and How to get a copy of Adobe Photoshop CS2 absolutely Free” and “Animation after KingstOOn - How to get free Video Editing Tools to breathe life into your Animation Project”.

I've even done articles on Software to properly author your finished product in Professionally Done DVD's and CD's as explained in my blog article entitled “Animation After KingstOOn - How to Author Professional DVD Copies of your Animation Project or any Downloaded Video or Audio Files”.

So far, the only major success Story in Animation has been one of three Animation Studios on the island, Reel Rock GSW, who landed a contract with Imira Entertainment of Spain in December 2013 to produce 52 episodes of Disney Channel and Nickelodeon Cartoon series Lucky Fred as explained in my blog article entitled “Animation after KingstOON - Reel Rock GSW reveals that the Imira Entertainment of Spain Contract is for Disney Channel and Nickelodeon's Lucky Fred”.

So now you’re armed with all that information, how do I protect my Animation Content and make money at the same time?

Money-Making from Animation Online – How to Monetize your Animated Works online

First you’ll need to have a Bank Account, preferably either a Scotia VISA Debit Card or CIBC VISA Debit Card. You’ll also need a PayPal Account a means of receiving funds online. These Accounts can be used as alternative means for persons to send you payment for Services via Credit card Payments or as a Cheque that Wire Transferred to your Bank Account.

You can also receive payments via MoneyGram as well as via any other Remittance Service as a means for compensation rendered as it relates to Animation Work done on contract.

Now to wrangle up some contracts!

First, set up a Website, blog or paid Video Hosting service to host your Animation work, such as YouTube any of the ones listed in my blog article entitled “UWI's planning to increase all Tuition by 5.5% come the new Academic Year 2013-2014 - How to Download ANY Video, including Facebook Videos, Convert and Free Video Hosting Online”:

1. BlipTV

2. Break

3. CollegeHumor

4. Dailymotion

5. Facebook

6. Flickr

7. HowCast

8. Metacafe

9. SmugMug

10. Veoh

11. Vevo

12. VideoJug

13. Vimeo

14. VZaar

Most of those listed in the article above have built in options for Monetization, mainly centered on advertising. However, that’s dependent on Traffic, making it your responsibility to share the shortened URL using Bit.ly or tinyurl everywhere you can via whatever means possible.

The real money as an Independent Animator comes from getting Contracts online. This is achieved via joining Websites online that act as a go-between for Freelancers and persons with work.

Be warned though; you’ll have to pay for a professional Account which has to be registered to an American Address similar to working as a Publisher online as explained in my blog article entitled “How to make US Dollars as Freelance Web Content or Blog Affiliate Writer Online in Jamaica using your Scotia VISA Debit Card or Credit Card”.

, a process best done via logging on using a Proxy Server or a VPN (Virtual Private Network) as explained in my blog article entitled “How to find Free TV online and how to Stream from Hulu or Netflix in Jamaica – Jamaican Pirate of the Caribbean on Stranger Tides Streaming Restricted US Content”.

After that check the below websites before you can get offers for work coming to your email account:

1. Elance

2. Odesk

3. PeopleperHour

4. MicroLancer

5. Fiverr

Finally, another way to get work directly on contract and cut out the middleman of Freelancer Websites is to have an Ebay Sellers Account as described in my blog article entitled “How to make money as an EBay Seller online - Everything in Jamaica from Rare Coins to Unique Craft Items”. Other websites exist, but they’re not as well-trafficked as Ebay!

Protecting Animation Online – How to Protect your Animated Works online

A Poor Man’s Copyright can be used to protect IP that was just published. You simply make a copy of your Animated Work along with the original Music score and any other related Content connected to your artwork. Along with your content, include a sealed envelope with the following declaration:

1. Name of the IP

2. Name of the Creator and co-creators

3. Date of Creation

5. The symbol “(p)” to be used to indicate that the IP Material is a Master Recording

Then to place in a large sealed Envelope or even a packaged box if it’s a lot of stuff and go to the local Postal Agency aka Post Office and have the package Registered and Sent to your home address. Once it arrives, it’s registered; do NOT open the package and make sure the keep the receipt from the Post Office in a sealed Envelope.

This should be only opened when requested as evidence by your Legal Council or during the proceedings of a Copyright Tribunal Court as proof that your IP (Intellectual Property) is indeed yours.

Next, according to the JIPO website, you need to be registered with one of the following CMA (Collective Management Agencies). CMA’s are basically Trade Associations that administer and protect Copyright for a select group of Jamaican Dancehall and Reggae Artiste, Inventors and Design Engineers. Joining one helps to protect your IP online.

There are three (3) active CMA’s registered in Jamaica:

1. JAMCOPY (Jamaica Copyright Licensing Agency)

2. JACAP (Jamaica Association of Composer, Artistes and Producers)

3. JAMMS (Jamaica Music Society)

As Independent Animators, the CMO that applies to them is JAMCOPY. JAMCOPY provides protection for Visual, Graphic, Text and Audio-Visual based IP, which basically covers Animation. If you happen to be a Musician making a music Video or your Animated Musical Work contains original Music Content and Score and you wish to manage your reproduction Rights, then the CMA for you is JACAP.

JAMMS covers IP related to Recording in a Studio and Musical Master Recordings. Thus it helps to safeguard owners of Music Studios and Producers from theft of their IP by overzealous Artiste. This may apply if you’re also in the business of owning a Record Label, as you Animation Studio may also be working in that Capacity.

As a Blogger and Administrator of my own Blog My Thoughts on Technology and Jamaica, I’d have to be registered with JAMCOPY. This I plan to do as soon as I get my blog up to speed and go Pro with my own domain as I’d explained in my blog article entitled “Strategies to mitigate against Blogspot Shutdown – How to do a backup of your Blogger Blog in case Disaster Strikes as Maintenance is key”.

To all aspiring Independent Animators, once you follow this advice as well as the advice you’ll receive at the JANN’s free Animation Intellectual Property Workshop, you’ll be on your way to making money and protect your Intellectual Property from copyright infringement at the same time.

Here’s the link:

JAMMS