I have just begun a magazine publishing company in a European country
and I am trying to obtain rights to older sci-fi/fantasy movies in
order to covermount a DVD with the movie on the magazine.
I am therefore looking for email addresses for companies that already
have or may obtain the rights for the specific movies.
I am specifically looking at obtaining rights to covermount DUNE (the
movie), although I would welcome comments on any source of relevant
information.

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Request for Question Clarification by easterangel-ga on 25 Nov 2002 15:35 PST

Hi! Do you only need the email address for the copyright holder of
Dune or other sci-fi movies as well? I asked this question since you
said "specific movies" but you only mentioned Dune. Just let me know.
:)

Thanks for asking!

The copyright holder for the movie Dune is Dino DeLaurentiis
Corporation (see notes under Search Strategy), however licensing and
distribution rights for the DVD are conducted by Universal Studios
Home Video.

The Universal Studios Licensing Division offers a website for online
rights negotiations. To begin the process, click the following link:

Universal Studios Media Licensing Online
http://www.universalstudios.com/homepage/html/contact_us/

You'll need to accept the User Agreement displayed in order to
proceed.

This particular contacts webpage is a directory of links for various
departments. From the text Menu displayed just below the Universal
Studios Logo Bar, select "Licensing for Commercial Use," or simply
scroll down to the last section of contacts on the page. Select the
text link labeled "Visit site to license a video clip, audio clip,
dialogue or character from a Universal Film or Television Program."

Upon selection, you'll be directed to information describing the
website and services, and offered the opportunity to Register, in
order to begin the negotiation process. There is no charge for
registration. The sign-up page explains the basics of online rights
negotiations, and notes that all negotiations and rights sales are
company to company. Rights are not licensed directly to individuals.

For questions of licensing and content issues, an alternative, direct
e-mail contact, without the registration requirement, is also
available:

Universal Studios Media Licensing
100 Universal City Plaza, 1440/15
Universal City, CA 91608 USA

Phone: 818-777-6600
Fax: 818-866-2399
Email: Roni.Lubliner@UniStudios.com

**********************************************************************

As I am sure you are aware, DVDs are produced with various regional
differences. I've included a link to a regional format/distribution
map for your convenience. It appears that Dune DVDs are available in a
wide variety of formats.

DVD Adept - DVD Regions
http://www.dvdadept.com/DVD_Regions.asp

Dune - Current Commercial DVD Versions 
http://www.davidlynch.de/coldune.html

**********************************************************************

SEARCH STRATEGY

A direct search of the Library of Congress U.S. Copyright Office
database yielded the copyright registration number for the movie,
Dune, (PA-241-493) and general information on the Claimant.

U.S. Copyrights
http://www.copyright.gov/records/cohm.html

Copyright holder: Dino De Laurentiis Corporation
Website: http://www.dinodelaurentiis.it/
E-mail: info@dinodelaurentiis.it

Google web searches for the terms listed below led me to information
about the DVD rights and distribution.
Dune DVD legal OR ownership OR "copyright ownership"
Dune DVD "region 0" OR "region 2"
"universal studios" rights licensing

In tracing the trail between the copyright holder and licensing and
distribution rights, also I picked up various bits of information from
the following websites:

Lynchnet.com
http://www.lynchnet.com/archives/feb2002.html

DuneInfo.com
http://www.duneinfo.com/arrakis/filmthumb.asp

Dune Motion Picture
http://groups.msn.com/TheLandsraad/dunemotionpicture.msnw

The RightsCenter.com - A professional, online marketplace for music,
literary, film and other copyrighted and licensed works. With
registration, users may gain access to the Film Rights Directory, as
well as a searchable Global Rights database.

RightsCenter.com
http://www.rightscenter.com/

**********************************************************************

Should you have any questions about the information and links
provided, please, feel free to ask.

larre-ga

Thank you for the very prompt reply.
Although quite a few of the data mentioned were known to us, the
crucial fact that the rights had been transferred to Universal was
unknown (as was the link you offered).
Also, the methodological approach to the problem was very interesting.
I will keep you posted if, at the end of the day, we manage to secure
the rights for the specific movie...