Quick Question(s) about Copyright Warning... (1 Viewer)

[Mike Frezon]

I've been enjoying recently purchased discs of Last Man Standing--put out by 20th Century Fox.

And at the end of EVERY episode (on the Season 1 discs so far) there has been a copyright warning which appears. Honestly, I wish I didn't have to deal with th warning after EVERY episode, but...

It seems like pretty standard stuff: no copying, proper licensing, rental rights, no exhibition, etc.

But at the beginning it says specifically that the copyright proprietor has licensed this disc "for private home use only."

And it then goes on to say that "The definition of home use excludes the use of this disc at locations such as clubs, coaches, hospitals, hotels, oil rigs, prisons and schools."

So my questions are:

Coaches? Do they mean like taxis/limosines? Or something else altogether?

And why would they specifically single out oil rigs?

Color me curious...

Thanks!

 

[Ron Lee Green]

Coaches? Do they mean like taxis/limosines? Or something else altogether?

This particular disclaimer has been used for years on some videos.
In some areas, like the the United Kingdom, those big, passenger tour buses are called coaches.
As far as oil rigs, I guess its because the workers live off shore for weeks at time, and they need entertainment when not working, so maybe the studios don't want them to screen movies because some rigs have mini-movie theaters, as well as gyms and cafeterias..
It does seem strange to specifically mention oil rigs, but I guess they had problems in the past so they're being very specific..

 

[Mike Frezon]

Thanks, Ron!

I've heard the phrase coach buses used in my part of the world. I should have most definitely picked up on that.

And while I "get" the whole oil rig scenario (Hey! I watched Deepwater Horizon! ) it sure does seem mighty specific--when there are any number of other similar scenarios.

 

[Regulus]

I'm surprised they didn't mention airliners, I see people bring DVD players aboard all the time (I'm among them), yet nobody has gotten hassled about it (I've pacified several "seat kickers" by switching seats with an exasperated parent and placed an animated DVD in my set for them to watch!).

 

[Josh Steinberg]

There would be no copyright or licensing issue with an individual using a portable player to watch a movie on a plane, provided that they were only viewing it themselves.

The issue would be if the airline bought a commercial DVD and put it on the plane’s inflight entertainment system for all to view. The license that an individual is purchasing when buying a disc doesn’t extend to a public performance like that.

 

[Malcolm R]

I wonder what the limit is on the number of people considered a "private" exhibition? There are some members here who often talk about showing films in their home theaters to 20-30 people.

 

[Clinton McClure]

I’m certainly no lawyer but I’m pretty sure the FBI isn’t interested in “Bob” hosting movie night unless Bob starts charging admission.

 

[Vic Pardo]

Coaches? Do they mean like taxis/limousines? Or something else altogether?

"No movies in the gym! Do you want us to get sued?"

 

[bmasters9]

I’m certainly no lawyer but I’m pretty sure the FBI isn’t interested in “Bob” hosting movie night unless Bob starts charging admission.

I think that's just what it's about-- all about the money!

 

[John Dirk]

I think the warnings [disclaimers] are likely just an extension of Tim Allen's humor. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Ron Lee Green]

I think the warnings [disclaimers] are likely just an extension of Tim Allen's humor. I wouldn't worry about it.

I agree, it sounds like they're being sarcastic, but that particular disclaimer has been used for years dating back to the 1990s and can also be seen on VHS videotapes. It sounds like it was originally intended for the foreign market overseas, but worked its way into the U.S. market.
http://thefbiwarningscreens.wikia.com/wiki/CIC_Video_Warning_Screen

 

[TJPC]

I have always said that if teachers were prevented from showing movies in class, half of education would disappear. I’m not suggesting all they do is show movies, but in every English class I have ever taught the routine was to read and act say Romeo and Juliet, and then show a movie of it.

At first we used 16 mm projectors, then sets of tapes bought by the board of education, but in the hay day of DVD, movies were bought and shown all the time. I also often copied programs and movies from TV. We were cautioned about photocopying books, but never DVDs. Were we lucky we wern’t caught, or was it ok to use them for education?

 

[Ron1973]

I wonder what the limit is on the number of people considered a "private" exhibition? There are some members here who often talk about showing films in their home theaters to 20-30 people.

I was just reading an article that a movie theater was showing Dallas for free on certain nights via the DVD's. Warner Brother issued a cease and desist order even though they weren't charging admission.

I have always said that if teachers were prevented from showing movies in class, half of education would disappear. I’m not suggesting all they do is show movies, but in every English class I have ever taught the routine was to read and act say Romeo and Juliet, and then show a movie of it.

At first we used 16 mm projectors, then sets of tapes bought by the board of education, but in the hay day of DVD, movies were bought and shown all the time. I also often copied programs and movies from TV. We were cautioned about photocopying books, but never DVDs. Were we lucky we wern’t caught, or was it ok to use them for education?

I think that would fall under Fair Use.

 

[Regulus]

I watched movies galore when I was in School. In the literature classes exams often asked questions that asked the differences in the story between the movie vs the book. IIRC the copyright laws have a clause called "fair use" which often said shows could be presented "for educational purposes". I never experienced a case where a class I was in got hit with an injunction regarding the exhibition of a show in class.

 

[BobO'Link]

I’m certainly no lawyer but I’m pretty sure the FBI isn’t interested in “Bob” hosting movie night unless Bob starts charging admission.

I think that's just what it's about-- all about the money!

No, not at all. It's about the number of people *and* the money. It's been a while since I looked it up but I recall 6-8 being the magic number over which they expect you to pay a exhibitor fee.

I have always said that if teachers were prevented from showing movies in class, half of education would disappear. I’m not suggesting all they do is show movies, but in every English class I have ever taught the routine was to read and act say Romeo and Juliet, and then show a movie of it.

At first we used 16 mm projectors, then sets of tapes bought by the board of education, but in the hay day of DVD, movies were bought and shown all the time. I also often copied programs and movies from TV. We were cautioned about photocopying books, but never DVDs. Were we lucky we wern’t caught, or was it ok to use them for education?

I work for the local school and we deal with this issue regularly. It pretty much goes like this:

If the movie is part of the curricula then it can be used in a classroom situation with no fee to be paid or possible recourse. But you have to be able to show how it supports what you are teaching. English teachers are the biggest group that take advantage of this, in exactly the way Terry said. In those situations it falls under "fair use" rules. If you make a copy, you're supposed to destroy it after that single classroom use. Books can only have portions copied, not the entire work, and the portion copied must be used only for classwork. Students can use *portions* of a song or video in a school project but cannot distribute it in any method other than to turn it in to the teacher.

It's quite common for teachers to play DVDs for their class as a "reward" or on "dead days." Unless the school has purchased a license for such playback they are violating copyright. That goes for streaming as well. Most people don't think about that aspect or consider it to be a copyright violation because "It's at school and we're not charging admission". IMHO schools should be exempt unless they're charging a fee to attend a function showing a movie but they are not, so... I know the Librarians (aka Media Center Specialist) at the elementary level here purchase building licenses so they and the teachers can show movies in class. They get a break on price due to being education but they still have to obtain one to keep us from receiving a "cease and desist" order. A few years ago we *did* get one of those because some HS kid was downloading copyrighted movies using the school network. We found him, shut him down, and put some additional blocks into place to help prevent a recurrance.

I'm surprised they don't specifically mention churches. I know of several here who have monthly "movie nights" and show a movie on a big screen to a gathering of people. Some of those movies are OK to be shown that way but many are not. (surprisingly, I've found church members to be some of the more egregious violators of copyright with most not realizing they are doing so).

 

[Vic Pardo]

I have always said that if teachers were prevented from showing movies in class, half of education would disappear. I’m not suggesting all they do is show movies, but in every English class I have ever taught the routine was to read and act say Romeo and Juliet, and then show a movie of it.

At first we used 16 mm projectors, then sets of tapes bought by the board of education, but in the hay day of DVD, movies were bought and shown all the time. I also often copied programs and movies from TV. We were cautioned about photocopying books, but never DVDs. Were we lucky we wern’t caught, or was it ok to use them for education?

But when the films were on 16mm, they weren't in someone's collection. You had to rent those from Films Inc. or any of a few dozen film rental companies that existed back then. A school could buy prints from some companies for the school's Audio-Visual library, but they were pretty expensive and were not designed for home consumption.

 

[Regulus]

I'm surprised they don't specifically mention churches. I know of several here who have monthly "movie nights" and show a movie on a big screen to a gathering of people. Some of those movies are OK to be shown that way but many are not. (surprisingly, I've found church members to be some of the more egregious violators of copyright with most not realizing they are doing so).

One of the schools had a Christian Club that had a movie night every Thursday. Deer Hunting started in October on a Friday. On the day before they invariably showed Bambi. During the scene where we first see the Great Prince (That's Bambi's Father for those of you in Rio Linda! ) all the deer hunters made like they were shooting at him. . If we could have had the correct sound effects the poor Prince would seem like he was getting a barrage from an automatic assault rifle!

 

[BobO'Link]

One of the schools had a Christian Club that had a movie night every Thursday. Deer Hunting started in October on a Friday. On the day before they invariably showed Bambi. During the scene where we first see the Great Prince (That's Bambi's Father for those of you in Rio Linda! ) all the deer hunters made like they were shooting at him. deer. If we could have had the correct sound effects the poor Prince would seem like he was getting a barrage from an automatic assault rifle!

A woman I used to work with had the right attitude towards Bambi. Starting when she was very little, she taught her daughter to say "Yum! Dinner!" when Bambi or another deer came on the screen.

She's also where I got the foodie terms:

Bambilogna - Deer balogna or sausage
Bambilli - Deer chili

 

[Ron1973]

A woman I used to work with had the right attitude towards Bambi. Starting when she was very little, she taught her daughter to say "Yum! Dinner!" when Bambi or another deer came on the screen.

She's also where I got the foodie terms:

Bambilogna - Deer balogna or sausage
Bambilli - Deer chili

Until this past year I've never saw deer down this far south, especially flat country here in the Bootheel. I saw one just 3 weeks ago on this road by the ditch bank and had saw another one a few weeks before that at Cottonwood Point by the river.

 

[BobO'Link]

Until this past year I've never saw deer down this far south, especially flat country here in the Bootheel. I saw one just 3 weeks ago on this road by the ditch bank and had saw another one a few weeks before that at Cottonwood Point by the river.

You're just living wrong... I've seen them several times over the years and I live just a bit southwest of you. One of my friends has tree stands in the surrounding area and gets at least one a year. I've known several people who've hit one while driving area roads. That usually totals a car.