What's with all these commentary track disclaimers lately? (1 Viewer)

[Craig_T]

I just picked up Simpsons Season 2 and Star Trek II today and both discs (from different studios) have some moronic disclaimer at the start, that you can't skip, that says somthing like "The commentary here doesn't reflect the views of Paramount." I've never noticed this before. Is this idiotic legal crap going to become commonplace on every disc with a commentary now?

 

[rutger_s]

Some people are overly sensitive and may not like the comments contained in some unrated materials. Some of these folks might want to sue over these comments.

Criterion faced this issue with some of the commentary tracks found on their laserdisc releases of the James Bond films.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Blows the mind. Hasn't anyone in this country HEARD of the first Amendment? I mean the first amendment doesn't exist outside the U.S., but the frivolous lawsuit isn't as prevalent, either.

 

[Julian Lalor]

The first amendment does not override the rights of people to sue for defamation if comments made made about them are untrue. The problem for the Studios is, whilst the disclaimers may put potential litigants on notice, there is a real likelihood that they are still liable for the comments as publisher of the DVD.

 

[Ryan Peter]

The Dogma Commentary track had more holes in it than swiss cheese.

 

[Shane Bryant]

What was said on the Bond tracks?

 

[Dharmesh C]

You can't say anything without getting sued, the world has gone barmy!!!!

 

[Brian Kidd]

In theory, the disclaimers allow the tracks to not end up like the DOGMA debacle. My favorites are the ones on Disney discs that state that the comments of the participants may not reflect the views of the studio... and the commentary is by Walt himself.

 

[JohnnyHK]

Which Disney movies have comments by Walt?

 

[AllanN]

I was on the floor over that! But I can see where this could go, and why the studios might want to disconnect themselves from the liability issue.

I can see how studios would be weary, we all know how afraid companies are of being sued. Someone might accidentally say something to the effects of "F&*k DVD"

 

[Chris Bardon]

I figure it's pretty harmless, and if it means that extras as we know and love them stick around, then there's no problem. Just studios trying to cover their asses.

 

[streeter]

I wish someone would rip on these disclaimers for once. These disclaimers say that the studios DON'T agree with what is said on them... not that they don't NECESSARILY agree... It's ridiculous.

20th Century Fox doesn't dislike terrorism.

This can be concluded from their DVD release DON'T SAY A WORD, because on the commentary track, it is stated that terrorism is bad.

Shame on you, FOX, for not hating terrorists.

 

[Brian Kidd]

The SNOW WHITE and FANTASIA sets both have commentary tracks comprised of interviews of Walt. They're very interesting and informative!