Which company has the right to take action to prevent circulation of
pirated (bootleg) DVDs - especially on eBay (i.e VERO)? Is it the
production company, the distribution company or some other comapny? Or
can any of them do it?

For example, Teletubbies is produced by Ragdoll Productions. But the
BBC, PBS and Warner Home Video are all involved with bringing
Teletubbies DVDs to the market. Can any of these companies block the
distribution of pirated U.S. Teletubbies DVDs or does only one of them
have this right?

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 03 Oct 2004 06:23 PDT

My understanding is that the entity that suffers economic loss
generally has the strongest copyright-infringement case.

If the Teletubbies received a flat fee from Ragdoll, then they already
got their $$$ and don't suffer any direct loss from bootlegs.  But if
they get a percentage of DVD sales, then they are being hurt by
bootlegs.

Probably, anyone in the chain of ownership and licensing could take
action, but the ones with direct economic interest have the strongest
case (and the most incentive!) to take action.

Are you looking for documentation of this as an answer to your question?

Let us know.

pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by augusta-ga on 05 Oct 2004 06:53 PDT

pafalafa-ga,

Thanks for your valauable contribution. As I am unaware of what your
credentials are, I cannot be satisfied with just your understanding of
the issue.

Moreover, you used the world "probably" in your comment, and that
casts further doubt on the accuracy of your statement.

Can you provide documentation of your explanation?

regards,

Augusta, Georgia

p.s.
I don't think the Teletubbies received a flat fee from Ragdoll
Productions because they are fictional characters created by Ragdoll
Productions (Unless I missed an episode.)

---

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 05 Oct 2004 07:00 PDT

augusta-ga,

I only commented on -- rather than answered -- your question, since I
recognized that I didn't have enough information for a formal answer.

You are not charged for any such comments.  Only if a researcher
formally answers your question, will you be assessed the $5 fee you
have offered.

Hopefully, someone will be able to provide an answer, but I, myself,
cannot, at the moment.

All the best,

pafalafa-ga

---

Clarification of Question by augusta-ga on 05 Oct 2004 07:10 PDT

pafalafa-ga,

I enjoy listening to WBUR.ORG out of Boston. My favourite show is On
Point and I like The Connection too.

regards,

Augusta, Georgia

It's a huge problem and virtually impossible to counteract.

A friend of mine has just returned from China where almost any CD or
DVD is available for $1 each. (Yes, and all in English apparently)

Same story in other countries in the Far East, I believe.

After all, they're just slivers of plastic.

I am interested in knowing which entity, in the chain from production
to retail selling, has the legal right to claim that its rights are
being infringed by pirated DVDs.

------------------

It is a huge problem for huge corporations and an huge opportunity for
consumers. As a consumer, why would you want to counteract it?

Dear Augusta, 

You'd like to counteract it, among other reasons, because of the people behind it: 
International Crime Threat Assesment Report
<http://www.fas.org/irp/threat/pub45270chap2.html#13>

Politicalguru's comment is interesting because I'm told (rightly or
wrongly) that there are now more Mercs & BMWs in Moscow than in Paris.

All is explained!

Or is it?

From the individual's perspective, buying a bootleg DVD creates a
tangible increase in the quality of his/her life. While the negative
consequeces of the one purchase are infinitesimal.

Moreover, the cumulative effect of the millions of transactions tends to damage:
1) the big U.S. entertainmeent companies, that are doing just fine
anyway and have many other lucrative sources of revenue.
2) a very small percentage of the U.S. economy which is the biggest
and richest in the world and so can take the hits.

I take the side of the little guy. Long live free information and the
widespread disemination of culture.

Again Augusta, 

There is a big difference (IMHO, but also backed by recent court
rulings) between a person downloading from Kazaa for their own use,
and people who duplicate millions of records or DVDs in order to make
profit. It is a fact that these people are mafia or terrorists; these
are the people who sell this kind of stuff on eBay or in stands in the
Thurd World, not "small guys" copying for themselves or their friends.
If you hate so much "big business" and side the "small guy", why
support the "big business" of mafia/terrorism?

I have my own opinions on the pricing policy and the general copyright
policies of the recording industry. However, objection to the current
powers doesn't mean that we have to side with even darker powers (see
LOTR for reference...  :).

Moreover, VERO doesn't take care only of this kind of copyright
violation, but also with fake Guccis, etc. If you appreciate Gucci,
you wouldn't want to buy something which is not Gucci and which rips
off the hard work of the Gucci people; if you think that Gucci also
represent some kind of quality, you wouldn't want to buy something
which is a fake Gucci, and took apparently less qualified job to
produce; and if you think that "big guys" are yuck and labels don't
mean anything, why should you buy a fake Gucci and donate to the
Russia/Chinese mafia?

Regarding who holds the copyright and has the right to sue, I can
refer you to a copyright owner database.

politicalguru-ga,

Well, you have given me something to chew on there. Thanks.

Can you refer me to a copyright owner database?

Augusta, Georgia