I interview entertainment and new media attorney Gordon Firemark for a guide on two controversial bills in Congress and the top online video crisis of 2012 – the Protect IP Act (PIPA) and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), which are threating to censor our free expression and remove our ability to do business with online video.

The time is now to counter the troubling proliferation of socially irresponsible video online, and that starts with each of us. That’s why I’ve enlisted the help a couple of ethics and legal experts to help me with putting together what I believe is the first-ever, “Pledge for Online Video Responsibility,” which I hope can help both online video professionals and enthusiasts be more mindful and considerate of others. A Pledge For Online Video Responsibility Created by Grant Crowell with Editorial Advisors and Contributors: Professor Steven Mintz and Attorney Gordon P.

Just because YouTube isn’t legally liable for a “bad” video on its website doesn’t mean that you’re off the hook for posting it! In our “Is That Legal?” video series, attorney Evan Brown explains why featuring other adults or kids in your online video without their permission, and lying about your expressed intentions, can get you into serious legal trouble.

What if your idea for a marketing video involved creating a fictional character, telling fictitious stories, about real people?