Silverwook wrote: how do the 2004 and 2011 changes not require an updated copyright?
My guess, going by what's been done, is because these are home video versions of a theatrical presentation, no one is complaining with enough clout yet. Only the 97SE updated the copyright date, so far. Like the times before the actors/labor unions, digital artists don't have an impact (yet) to get their contribution recognized. Probably in a few years they'll organize something and any form of release will tack on more credits. Another difference between the film version and home video version is where the copyright is located, the film it's in the film, the home video is on the box. Should it also be in the actual video, I would agree.
csl wrote: I find it a little interesting that the theatrical versions of something as huge, popular, and impactful as the SW OT becoming lost films is closer to reality than one would think.
Is there a more descriptive definition of 'lost film' in this case? Many people on this forum have lower quality bootleg copies which can be redistributed ad infinitum. So it's not lost as the silent era films are. Those are really gone. Using the lost film term on the SW case (can gain sympathy from a certain set) but I don't think it would be used to describe this case in preservation circles.