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Updated forum rules regarding fan edits and preservation efforts: a must-read for everyone.

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 (Edited)

After much discussion, zion, Moth3r, and I have fleshed out an expanded and clarified set of guidelines for the growing fan edit and preservation community on this forum. The intention of these guidelines is to foster creativity among the community while minimizing inappropriate behavior that could result in legal action against the site or its members.

In order to help make the rules clear, we should first distinguish between fan edits and preservation efforts. A fan edit is a fan-made cut of an existing film. You may find fan edits for films currently available at retail, and you may find fan edits of films long out of production. As far as this community is concerned, you should own the official retail release of a fan edit’s source material if it is possible to do so. Content producers deserve to be compensated, so if you don’t own the retail release (if available), you have no business possessing a fan edit.

A preservation effort is an attempt to procure the best sources available for films not yet on DVD and convert them into viable, non-official releases to tide the public over until an official release is made. Preservation efforts should always be considered a temporary measure to be replaced with an official release when the studio catches up with demand; they are not a permanent part of your media library.
 

By participating in this forum (posting or lurking), you agree to the terms set forth in these guidelines.

1. No discussions about financial transactions except for the buying, selling, or trading of official retail media. All FS/FT/WTB posts belong in the selling forum.

2. No profiting from any activities related to fan edits or preservation efforts. Those found selling their fan edits or preservation projects here or elsewhere will be banned.

3. No discussions regarding traditional “warez”, such as bootlegs of current or recent theatrical releases, screeners, pre-retail/retail DVDs, and cracked computer software.

4. No direct links to media downloads of copyrighted materials (VOBs, WMV, QuickTime, torrent files, NZB files, ED2K links, etc.) with the exception of short clips to demonstrate quality or content. No direct links to pages containing such files.

5. The source of all materials used in fan edits and preservation efforts must be cited, including retail releases, laserdisc transfers, special features, menus, covers, and artwork.

6. Before obtaining any fan edits, you must be in ownership of the official retail release.
 

Any private messages or e-mails soliciting the sale of fan edits, preservation efforts, or bootlegs should be reported to the mods immediately. Both buyers and sellers of such material will be banned.

If you want to post something and you’re unsure if it conflicts with these guidelines, please consult the moderators (Jay, zion, or Moth3r) before posting.

Thanks for all your efforts thus far in making this community a hub of creativity and film preservation.

 
 

Edit: The current Fan Edit / Preservation Forum Rules and FAQ thread can be found in the Announcements section of the site - along with Forum Rules, FAQs, updates, and other information.

Forum Administrator

MTFBWY…A

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You can discuss newsgroups. Only direct links to files (media or torrents) are forbidden.
Forum Administrator

MTFBWY…A

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You can post that your fan edit/preservation is being posted to alt.binaries.[whatever].
You can't post an NZB file for it (rule 4).
You also can't announce that Star.Wars.EP3-Revenge.Of.The.Sith.2005.NTSC.DVDR-XPDVD is being posted to alt.binaries.???? (rule 3).

Guidelines for post content and general behaviour: read announcement here

Max. allowable image sizes in signatures: reminder here

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Originally posted by: Moth3r
You can post that your fan edit/preservation is being posted to alt.binaries.[whatever].
You can't post an NZB file for it (rule 4).
You also can't announce that Star.Wars.EP3-Revenge.Of.The.Sith.2005.NTSC.DVDR-XPDVD is being posted to alt.binaries.???? (rule 3).


What he said. Great examples.

I think I'm fried.
Forum Administrator

MTFBWY…A

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Originally posted by: zion
Pretty much the same rules I've been going by for the last year, but now they're written out and clarified.


Exactly. I think the real effect on members is minimal.
Forum Administrator

MTFBWY…A

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Life is hard sometimes.
Forum Administrator

MTFBWY…A

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Originally posted by: PSYCHO_DAYV
WHAT RULES APPLY TO THE IRC ROOM ???


The same rules apply. Tougher to police, but there isn't much I can do about that.
Forum Administrator

MTFBWY…A

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Originally posted by: Jay
Any private messages or e-mails soliciting the sale of fan edits, preservation efforts, or bootlegs should be reported to the mods immediately. Both buyers and sellers of such material will be banned.



Wait, so can you read everyone's PMs?


OMG ILLEGAL WIRE-TAPPING!!!!!!!!!

Or as they say on teh intarweb:

OMG PM SPY HAX!!!!

/exec pmhax.exe

http://i.imgur.com/7N84TM8.jpg

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All seems fair to me.

The pirate DVD industery should be crushed.
"Disce quasi semper victurus; vive quasi cras moriturus"

- Han shot first!
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I'm New here, so I just want to be absolutely sure.

I have a 1995 Widescreen VHS set.
1997 SE VHS set,
and the 2004 DVDs.

as long as as distributer is not making profit and I'm not offering to pay, obtaining a fan edit of JUST return of the Jedi Is allowed?
what about shipping and handling?

I'm getting desperate to obtain a safe permanant copy of the original version, and I might even buy the 2005 Set as more "compensation" if I were to obtain one, seeing that it is unlikely the original version will ever be released again.

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Originally posted by: Blackjack
I have a 1995 Widescreen VHS set.
1997 SE VHS set,
and the 2004 DVDs.

as long as as distributer is not making profit and I'm not offering to pay, obtaining a fan edit of JUST return of the Jedi Is allowed?
what about shipping and handling?


What you're proposing is fine because you have official retail versions. Dealing with shipping costs and blank DVD-Rs is between you and the source of the fan edit. As long as no one involved is making any money and everyone involved owns official retail versions of the source material, it's kosher.
Forum Administrator

MTFBWY…A

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I just realized that I have repeatedly violated rule #4.
I am very sorry about that, I think you know I meant no harm for this forum by doing so.
It's just that nobody ever dropped me a hint about it as a reply to my torrent posts.
I'll search through all my previous posts and edit them.
And now, for your feature presentation:
The Classic Re-re-re-release of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back.
In this version the word "WOOKIE" has been changed to "HAIR CHALLENGED ANIMAL" and the entire cast has been digitally replaced by Ewoks.
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We have the OOT on DVD, what purpose would it serve to even own a bootleg copy now? Or a 700mb version? We have what we have longed for since we were introduced to the almighty DVD. I am buying the 3 new releases! Already got ROTJ, hee hee hee must see it again...

Thank you George Lucas!
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I see deleted posts in your future.
I am fluent in over six million forms of procrastination.
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6. Before obtaining any fan edits, you must be in ownership of the official retail release.


Ok, if I understand you correctly, if I don't own store bought copies of the starwars trilogy ( prequel or origional ) on dvd for example, it is forbidden by the forum administrator/s here that I have a fan edit period, and if I want a fan edit, I must provide proof that I own the retail versions of them? Are you asking to see a reciete or photo or something proving that I own them?

Also what are the rules reguarding the fan documentaries, does rule #6 apply to that also?

I hope this doesn't come off offensive to you.

Venerable member of the “Red Eye” Knights

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We don't "police" files/data that may be found elsewhere on the internet, nor do we monitor private message or email correspondence between members. The obligation to own the retail release rests entirely with you.

That said, anyone clearly and publicly flouting this rule will be subject to action from the forum moderators.

Guidelines for post content and general behaviour: read announcement here

Max. allowable image sizes in signatures: reminder here

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I do own the prequel and original trilgies on DVD, plus the faces laserdisc set, and Special Edition laserdisc box set, and the special edition and non special edition ( pre THX ) VHS sets. All of them are retail versions bought when they were available on store shelves.

What I need to know is do I need to provide physical proof ( photo or reciete ) that I own all these versions? I just don't want to violate the 6th rule thats all.

Venerable member of the “Red Eye” Knights