Creator Spotlight with Filmmaker and Storm Chaser Martin Lisius

This week, we are pleased to introduce award-winning filmmaker and storm chaser Martin Lisius. He’s the founder of Prairie Pictures’ StormStock, and founder and CEO at Tempest Tours Storm Chasing Expeditions.

What was the inspiration behind becoming a creator? What do you enjoy most about the creative process?

I think my mother, a professional artist, had a big impact on me becoming a creator. I learned the creative process and mediums at a very early age. The thing I enjoy most about the creative process is making something out of raw materials. I like seeing my vision become real. 

Can you talk through your creative process? How long does it take?

It all starts in the mind. I see images or a movie of the final product there. I gather the tools and make it happen.

How long it takes depends on the medium. I can sketch something with a pencil in seconds. But, making a film can take months or years to complete a project.

Does everything you produce make money?

No. Not all projects make money, but some do. It all depends on the purpose of the project, and who it’s for. I have clients that need what I create because it helps them make more money. I charge for that, but not for projects for my friends and family, or for a good cause.

What do you think is the biggest misconception about your line of work?

That I chase storms with a tank car and actually drive into tornadoes. The reality is I chase with a regular SUV and stay out of the way of tornadoes. Afterall, it’s better to avoid tornadoes than try and survive one.

When did you first become aware of copyright, and why?

I first got to know copyright law starting in 1993 when I created StormStock. I had to learn it quickly for that. Some I learned on my own, and some with the help of our copyright attorney Tamera Bennett in Dallas. Tamera has helped us process multiple infringements over the years and she’s quite proficient at it. I recommend her to anyone needing help with an infringement matter.

Have you experienced copyright infringement and, if so, how has it affected you personally and financially?

Yes, I have experienced infringement many times since 1993. From the beginning, I started registering all of my significant work with the US Copyright Office for added protection. We have benefited from that effort immensely, earning much more from infringements than we expected. I reached out to other photographers and wrote articles on how they can register their works and why.

What do you do when you encounter someone stealing something you’ve invested your intellect, time, and money into?

I pursue 100 percent of the infringements I discover. That’s because my work is not worth much unless it is protected. I have to be my own police. It’s quite easy for me to go after an infringer when I think of the time and money it took to create my intellectual property. The first step is to record the infringement (the evidence). Once that’s done, I contact the infringer and tell them I want the matter resolved promptly. I listen to their response and then come up with a compensation fee. I have a base fee, which can increase depending on the time it takes to resolve and the infringer’s attitude.

What is the best piece of advice that you would give other creators in your field about copyright and how to protect themselves?

First, register all of your significant (valuable) works with the U.S. Copyright Office. Registration will make your works instantly more valuable because it provides you with more legal leverage in case of an infringement. Second, tell people that your work is copyrighted wherever it appears digitally. You can use the copyright symbol and your name, or use a statement like, “This content is copyrighted and requires written permission prior to use.” Finally, you have to monitor for infringement using a service like the one at Pixsy.com or by incorporating a trackable digital watermark.

What is your biggest copyright-related challenge?

I think monitoring for infringements is the biggest copyright related challenge. It can be very time consuming. Also, people’s attitude about copyright is a challenge probably beyond my means. Creators that work hard to create intellectual property get it, but a large part of the general public thinks that it should be free because they don’t have to do the work to create it. It’s a constant battle between creators (the doers) and the infringers that shapes the law. The foundation of copyright law is “one must acquire permission from the owner prior to use.” That can never change.

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