Any publication, whether it's a photograph, video, film, short story, poem, etc. is automatically copyrighted by federal law (in the U.S. anyway). What this means is that the original aritist, author, director, etc. has the right to sue someone who plagiarizes their work.
However, they'd have to be motivated first.
For example, if you made a video on
How to Tie Your Shoelaces Correctly, and the following week you found that Stephen Spielberg had taken your video word-for-word and scene-for-scene and made a gazillion dollars selling tickets to it in the theaters, you'd be rightfully upset and demand at least a portion - if not all - of the profits, since it was "your" video.
However, if you wrote a short story and it was passed around on the Internet (complete with your name as the author), you'd be flattered, not wanting to sue someone.
Is it the money that makes the difference? Well, yes... But that's not the biggie... It's the idea of getting credit for your work when credit's due.
My point is that the purpose of DIR is not to sell videos... It's to promote a safer form of diving. Likely, the free distribution of these videos would be encouraged by GI3. However, if someone was making bootleg copies of it and selling them at $20 each, then GI3 or whoever might not be too happy about it. Either they'd want a cut of the profits or they'd insist that their material be distributed at no charge; their choice. Of course, they're less likely to do this anyway, since they sorta "get credit" for the video simply because they are in them.
Okay, assuming that you actually did commit the crime of "copyright infringement," (better defined as "ticking the author of the material off" than anything else) then likely the very first (and possibly only) action that would be taken against you is that GI3 would contact you (probably through a not-so-polite email) and tell you to "cease and desist" ("cut it out"). Most people simply "cease and desist" immediately, and no other action is taken. Only in the cases where the offender says, "screw you" and "I'm taking all the money too" does the problem go to court. Even then, GI3 would have to prove that it was his video, etc. (That he owned the rights and all.) That can be an expensive process, and simply put, if there's no money motivation (like the recovery of the gazillions of dollars of profit from Stephen Speilberg) then the copyright "owner" isn't very likely to spend the time, effort, and money "protecting" his interests.
Bottom line: Distribute the material. If it ticks off GI3, you'll find out. Never tell anyone that it's YOUR video... Always place credit where credit's due. That way, you're unlikely to tick off the wrong people.
Then if it DOES tick him off that you distributed it, then (after making sure that it's really GI3 and not your buddy playing a practical joke) simply apologize and "cease and desist." If the owner of the material asks you not to give it out, then from an ethical perspective, you really need to "not give it out." After all, it is HIS material. Simply apologize and abide by his wishes.
...But most of all, don't try to make a profit on something that isn't yours... And that should pretty much keep your tail out of the grinder.
DO NOT talk to INTERPOL or the FBI or the CIA or the Supreme Court or God or whoever. All of those guys will simply err on the side of conservatism and tell you, "If it's not yours, don't ever give it out." Of course, by strict definition, that means that you can't watch the ball game with your buds either, as you're committing "copyright infringement." Your kid also needs to go to jail for showing his buddy the latest cool baseball card, and of course, you can't drive your car, since it says, "Chevrolet" on it and you are NOT "Chevrolet." It's one of those areas where it's not black or white, but some shade of gray. My recommendation: Distribute the video, help promote better diving skills, and possibly save a life. If someone contacts you and tells you to "cease and desist," then make sure they're serious first (and have a right to tell you to cease and desist), then abide by their wishes, since it's their material.
