System Requirements
Videos Not Playing
Free Membership
Upload Videos
Uploading Videos with Maximum Quality
Legal Tips
Share Videos
RSS Feeds
Mature Rating
Contact Us

System Requirements
Flash Player:
- Flash 9.0+ is required to watch videos and animation on Atom. Get the latest version of Flash Player - it's a free download from Adobe.

Operating Systems:
- WindowsXP, Vista, Windows7
- Mac OSX

Browsers:
- Internet Explorer 7.0+
- FireFox 3.5+

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Videos Not Playing
If you're experiencing trouble watching content, you may have an outdated Flash Player on your computer. We recommend you get the latest version of Flash Player - it's a free download from Adobe.

Ad blocking software (eg: Norton Anti-Virus Software) can prevent the Atom player from loading. Please temporarily disable ad blocking.

Firewalls (eg: Norton Internet Security) can sometimes keep videos from playing on atom.com. Make sure to have www.atom.com listed as a trusted site in your firewall settings.

Check to make sure JavaScript and cookies are enabled in your browser's preferences.

Browser security settings & privacy settings should be set to default.

*After following any of the troubleshooting tips above, please clear your browser's cache before trying to play videos on Atom.

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Free Membership
Atom offers social network functionality from MTV Networks, one membership will allow you to access all MTV Network properties (eg: comedycentral.com, jokes.com, mtv.com, vh1.com, etc...)!

What is Social Project?
Social Project (formerly known as "FLUX") is a networking platform from MTV Networks that supports key community functionality for Atom.com.

What do Atom members get?
- All members are eligible to upload videos into Atom's Tournament - where user videos win cash prizes, swag, and a chance to be on Comedy Central!
- Access to our entire video library in glorious, DVD-quality full-screen
- Use your profile to manage your uploaded videos, favorite videos and connect with friends.
- Comment and rate videos you love... or hate...
- Create and join Groups on atom.com - be sure to check out our Creator's Group.

How do I sign up?
- Click on "Sign Up" link in the upper navigation bar on Atom.com.
- You can either use your Facebook account to register with Atom.com, or you can fill out your information and click "Sign Up".

How do I change my account information?
- Click on "Log In" link in upper navigation bar on Atom.com, enter your Email and Password and click Log In button.
- In the upper navigation bar, mouse over the "My Pages" dropdown menu and select My Account > Edit Account.

I forgot my password
- Click on "Log In" in the upper navigation bar.
- Click on "Forgot your Password" link below the password field.
- Type in your email address and press the "Request Password" button. PLEASE USE THE EMAIL ADDRESS YOU PROVIDED WHEN YOU SIGNED UP WITH ATOM.COM
- A password reminder email will be sent to the email address you provided when you signed up with Atom.com

Privacy Options
- Click on "Log In" link in upper navigation bar on Atom.com, enter your Email and Password and click Log In button.
- In the upper navigation bar, mouse over the "My Pages" dropdown menu and select My Account > Edit Account.
- Click on the "Privacy" tab

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Upload Videos
We support the following file types - File must be under 1000MBytes (1GByte)
- Video: .3gp, .avi, .flv, .mov, .mp4, .f4v, .mpeg, .mpg, .wmv
- Audio: .mp3, .wav, .wma, QCELP, AMR-NB

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Uploading Videos with Maximum Quality
Using your best available source file, create the highest quality file that fits within the 1000MBytes (1GByte) size limit. If you upload a highly compressed video, there is little quality left for the second encode.
Atom converts everything that is uploaded to Flash video at 640 x 480 (640 x 360 if 16:9)
Use any application or encoder that exports to QuickTime H.264 video. (.mov is best)
Export your sub-master (the best file under 1000MB video you created) to:
- H.264 video
- 640 x 480 (640 x 360 if 16:9) video size (deinterlaced /one field)
- Audio uncompressed or AAC with at least 128 Kbit/sec
- Frame Rate - Current (or at least 24(23.98) frames per second.) 30 (29.97) frames per second is best.
- Best Encoding Quality (mulitpass/2 pass if possible)

Legal Tips
If you are making a short video or animation, and plan on releasing it commercially, there are a number of legal issues you should consider. Here is some helpful information that will make the process easier. This information is not exhaustive and certainly does not cover all of the situations that may arise in connection with any particular video. Rather than guess about how to handle a particular problem, or what to do if the information below doesn't quite seem to fit, you should consult an attorney. And, if you don’t know whether you got everything you need while producing your video, feel free to submit it anyway. If we would like to sign your video, we will let you know what you need to provide us in order to clear it for online broadcast and distribution.
DISCLAIMER:All information herein and the resources given below are offered as a courtesy and for illustrative purposes. You may or may not use them at your discretion. Atom Digital, Inc. is in no way making any legal representations about the type or content of releases that you as an individual videomaker should have for your project nor does Atom Digital, Inc. make any representation about the sufficiency of the forms that may be supplied through any of the resources listed below. The videomaker remains fully responsible and obligated to obtain all necessary releases, licenses, and agreements, and the fact that Atom Digital, Inc. has provided this information in no way shifts that responsibility to Atom Digital, Inc. All videomakers are encouraged to seek their own legal counsel for advice on all clearance matters.

Copyright
One of the most important things you can do is register your video for copyright protection.
You can get information about applying for US copyright protection and download the necessary forms here: http://www.copyright.gov
Keep in mind a copyright application may take a few months to process. Make sure you keep a few copies of your application for your records.

Releases / Licenses
All releases should be acquired before or during the production of your video - it’s much easier to get all of the permissions you need at the beginning of a production rather than afterwards when everyone has moved on their way. Below are some examples of common releases you will need to secure in order to distribute your video. Keep in mind that every video is different and might require additional releases that are not listed below.

Materials Release
- Just as you would like to enjoy all of the benefits of copyright protection for your work, other creators feel the same way.
- If you would like to include certain materials in your video such as such as paintings, photographs, art objects, articles, book covers, magazines, newspapers, and even items of décor such as wallpaper, images (either still or moving), logos, trademarks or other audio / visual representations (and the list could go on for pages) you need permission from the copyright owner (not the owner of the object) to do so.
- Each such item included in your video should have a corresponding materials release that gives you permission to incorporate that object into your video and exploit your video in any way.

Location Release
- A location release from the owner of the property grants permission for you to enter the property and video on the property. Every location you use in your video should have a corresponding written location release.

Actors Release / Appearance Release
- If you are working with actors or voice over artists (in the case of animation or narration) on your video, you need to get their consent in writing in order to distribute your video commercially. Typically these releases should give you the right to record someone’s likeness, name and/or voice (including, without limitation, speaking, singing and/or musical performance); to edit at your discretion; to incorporate the recordings into your video, and to use or authorize the use of their likeness, name, and voice in connection with the production, exhibition and exploitation of the video, in all media, throughout the universe in perpetuity and in connection with advertising, publicizing and promotion of the video.

Writers Release
- If someone other than you worked on the script for your video, you need consent from that writer to base your video on their material or an agreement with that writer which gives you ownership of the material they’ve written.

Music Rights
- Music can help bring your video to life. Can you imagine "Garden State" without The Shins? Well, if you also can’t image your opening scene without The Shins, think again. Unless you are related to the band, you’re probably not going to get permission to use it. The good news is that you probably already knew that and found someone else to do your music. Below are examples of some of the most common music agreements that might be necessary to distribute your video.

Composer Agreement
- Master Use / Synchronization License
- Music Cue Sheets

Resources
There are numerous resources out there that will give you more information. Below are a few examples of where to look:

Forms:
- http://www.perfectlylegalforms.com/
- http://www.findlegalforms.com/forms/entertainment-contracts-and-forms/
- http://forms.lawguru.com/entertainment-contracts-and-forms_c.html
- http://www.musiccontracts.com/?gclid=CKep8p66mpMCFQKaFQodg3nu3g

Music Information:
- http://www.ascap.com
- http://www.bmi.com

Books:
- "Clearance and Copyright: Everything the Independent videomaker Needs to Know" by Michael C. Donald
- "Getting Permission: How to License and Clear Copyrighted Materials Online & Off" by Richard Stim
- "Contracts for the video and Television Industry" by Mark Litwack

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Share Videos
We offer a bunch of powerful ways to share your favorite Atom videos. On every individual video page, you'll find the following:

Video URL
- Copy the URL link from the video's player page and paste it into an email, IM or Twitter to share with your friends and family.

Embed Code
- Copy the video's embed code into your personal blog or anywhere else you'd like to embed the video.

Share Tools
- Share Options - We support sharing with Facebook, Twitter, Stumbler, Reddit, DIGG and Tumblr!
- Community Options - Members can add videos to their favorites feed on their profile or share a video with a group. - Comments & Rating - When you comment or rate videos on Atom.com, you'll have the option of sharing this on your facebook profile.

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RSS Feeds
RSS is a great way to stay up-to-date when new content launches on Atom. Many newer web browsers and free software allow you to subscribe to RSS feeds. Stay tuned, our feed is on its way.

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Mature Videos
There are videos on Atom that aren't appropriate for everyone. These videos are labeled as "Mature Audience" across the site, and they are intended for mature audiences only.

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Contact Us
If you need support regarding site-related issues, please visit our Contact Us page.

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