Fans debate whether downloading or recording Seinfeld episodes constitutes theft and who loses revenue if the show is never officially released on DVD.
All, whenever there's a point raised about downloading episodes or buying the "dvd" set of seinfeld it makes me wonder about the legal points of all this. Afterall, it IS theft is it not? But then again, who stands to loose from us getting copies by foul means (as there's no legal way to do it) ? Strictly speaking it's not legal to record a televison show and watch it more than once.
I've heard the point about "it'll never be released on DVD if we all have copies" arguement but I don't agree with that. I have all the eps in divx but I'd certainly buy the dvd set if it ever comes out.
But will it?
Naaaaaaaa........
So, who does stand to loose? Jerry and the cast? Certainly not - they've made a bucket of cash. Sony Tristar? Nope - they sell the show to syndication. Writers and crew? They've already been paid for their hard work.
The ones who lose the most in all this is us, great fans. We have only access to poor quality eps, or have to tape them all, in sequence (a process I had not enough patience to fulfil to the end). All of us who would buy the dvd's (I know I will (or would...as I've lost some hope), that's who's losing!
"Ian Law" a �crit dans le message de news: [email]...
It is, absolutely, theft. Copyright theft - stealing someone's intellectual property.
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Everyone loses - the authors, the stars, the producers, the distributors, the company that presses the legal DVDs...just about everyone. When you buy a DVD or a CD, you are paying not only for the physical entity, but also for the creativity of the artistes, writers, musicians - even down to the creative thinking of the TV executive or A & R person who commissioned the show or the album in the first place. People who download copyrighted material illegally make a lot of the fact that they are just doing the "fat cat" producers and stars out of income - they forget about the guys who earn a basic wage at pressing-plants producing CDs and DVDs!
I don't think that's entirely true. IANAL, but here in the UKoGBaNI I think it's perfectly acceptable to record a TV show off air, as long as you do not make any financial gain from it - by selling tickets to view it or making copies for sale. There may be a technicality that says it's *illegal*, but I doubt anyone would be prosecuted just for taping an episode of Seinfeld and watching it twice!
It will, rest assured. As soon as it's outlived its welcome in syndication and overseas sales, the DVDs *will* be released.
So why should they not be permitted to make *more* money from their creation, just because they've already made lots?
Writers and senior crew may well be on "points" - a share of income from residual sales.
You will never get me to agree that stealing someone else's work and selling it for cash is right and proper. That said, we'll never stop it happening - but I don't want to be a party to it, that's all. I have too much respect for the talents of the people involved, not only in Seinfeld, but in so much of the music and other entertainment that is so readily swapped around these days.
So if I buy a substandard set now or make a set myself who loses? If I then and buy one when it comes out who has lost out? Who has been stolen from? Not a problem in my opinion. Sure if it's commercially released and they keep selling them then that's piracy in the true sense and it affects the publisher's revenue.
"Stephen (aka steford)" wrote in message news:bm1dnq$hjons$[email]...
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If you buy a real one when it comes out, I guess no one, although the pirate has made an illegal gain if you pay money for a stolen set. However, if you *don't* buy a real one when it comes out...
Ian, I wholeheartedly take your views on board but the point I would argue with all this (so far as file swapping relates to Seinfeld) is I have no other avenue to get the eps.
I too am in the UK and Paramount is to say the least sporadic when airing the show.
I'm sure that most of this group even if they had a set of eps will buy them when they come out on video.
The point about it being released when "it's outlived its welcome in syndication" is probably true hence one of my major problems: I appreciate every company is in it to make money but it's high time we got a release on dvd!
One other point (probably only those in the UK will understand): if a record (and let's face it, let's call them media companies now) company can give robbie williams 80 million quid for some songs, they can stand to loose a few years worth of syndication royalites.....
"Ian F." wrote in message news:bm1bmr$h804d$[email]...
"Ian Law" wrote in message news:bm1krr$45k$[email]...
Weelll, they are at present, but they have run them pretty much in full over the past few years - give or take two seasons to which they don't have the rights! ;-)
them
I hope so. I'm quite enjoying the anticipation factor at present.
can
loose
You may well have a point there. If only our American cousins would wake up to the excitement that is Robbie, we can all sleep easier in our beds! ;-)
(I suppose everyone has already read the lead to this message...)
As far as I'm concerned, there's no difference in buying Seinfeld on DVD or making my own copies from sindication reruns. Why? Because either way I've contributed to the fact that:
* Buying a DVD doesn't grant me the right to make my copies available for anyone else but me (I CAN'T LEGELLY LEND THEM) * If I tape an episode off the air, I've still payed to the cable company (that has bought the rights to show the episodes) and I've still had to endure their TV spots (making matters worse, since cable TV shouldn't do so).
Either way, I'm paying my right to watch as many times as I want whatever show is on the air. If I decide to buy Seinfeld on DVD I'm paying simply for the materials involved in the production process, if I tape it, I've payed my right to do so (either paying to the cable company or watching tv spots) and I'm financing my recording sessions off my own pocket.
I think the problems lies in the fact that companies assume that if I'm selling bootlegs I'm depriving them from the right to make their own collect. On the other hand, if I sell bootlegs, I wouldn't be paying taxes from the sell, and THAT is a whole different issue.
So, I say f**k it. I'll find my way to watch Seinfeld one way or the other, and rewind it and laugh time and time again about Kramer's goofiness or Jerry's inhumanity, and not worry anymore about the fact that I'm not making anyone else any richer...
Because, let's face it, the show was about nothing... Should we pay endlessly for the right to think about everything? I think JERRY (the one from the show) wouldn't care any less.