logo Sign In

Info Wanted: Why go BLU - Fanedit Lover's Obligation???

Author
Time
 (Edited)

I was just curious about this from a legal standpoint. As faneditors, we have an obligation to avoid breaking the law with our works. This is done by not selling edits for profit and by MAKING SURE ANYONE WHO VIEWS THEM OWNS AN ORIGINAL COPY.

Up until this point, there has been no “Official” retail copy of Star Wars available for purchase in a high definition format. Thus, when downloading edits or preservations in HD (from HDTV copies), owning the DVD copy has been the legal basis for being able to view these edits.

Now that the Bluray copies have been released, doesn’t that mean that anyone who downloads a high-definition source edit should be required to own a high definition retail copy to fulfill that same legal obligation?

Preferred Saga:
1/2: Hal9000
3: L8wrtr
4/5: Adywan
6-9: Hal9000

Author
Time

It seems to be a common belief that none of this would stand up in court, therefore it's not really legal per se.

Having said that, the general rule is "own the source."  To download a GOUT-sourced project, you should own the GOUT.  To own a Blu-sourced project, you should own the Blu.

It gets much less clear with the current HD projects, as they are in large part sourced from HD broadcasts.  I guess theoretically you should have ripped an HD broadcast yourself, but it's not something you can buy, so....

I don't really have an answer on that one.

Author
Time

nightstalkerpoet said:

I was just curious about this from a legal standpoint. As faneditors, we have an obligation to avoid breaking the law with our works. This is done by not selling edits for profit and by MAKING SURE ANYONE WHO VIEWS THEM OWNS AN ORIGINAL COPY.

Up until this point, there has been no "Official" retail copy of Star Wars available for purchase in a high definition format. Thus, when downloading edits or preservations in HD (from HDTV copies), owning the DVD copy has been the legal basis for being able to view these edits.

Now that the Bluray copies have been released, doesn't that mean that anyone who downloads a high-definition source edit should be required to own a high definition retail copy to fulfill that same legal obligation? 

Yes. Why? Let me put it this way:

If you were to acquire a 4K digital copy of the film, you would have acquired it illegally as it is NOT available in that format.

An example: The fanedit "Two Towers: The Purist Edit" was made using an unofficial copy of the film, and although the editor and viewers had the DVD copies, NLC/WB cracked down on the fanedit due to its original source material.

In terms of DVR recordings of Star Wars in HD, the law in the USA is that you have to delete it after 24hrs (in Canada you can have it as long as you don't distribute it - unless they are musical broadcasts, in which case I think there's some weird clause where you can give away three copies).

Because Star Wars was NOT available in HD, I'm assuming that is why Lucas Films did not crack down on the fanedit community - however, now that they are available, this changes things. The game has changed.

So with all that in mind, the real question comes down to your moral judgement, but the big hullabaloo being projected earlier was that poster should NOT be encouraging a "boycott" on the release and still ACTIVELY say they will not only be downloading the HD version of fanedits, but that they will also donate the money they would have given to Lucas, instead to the faneditors.

Downloading and distributing fanedits is technically illegal and you could get sued either way, but we're yet to face a problem when these things were followed:

  1. The film is not distributed to those who do not own the source material.
  2. The film is not received by those who do not own the source material.
  3. The film is not edited unless the editor owns the source material.

 

Whether or not you buy the BD release is your call, but to wave a big flag saying "Fuck you Lucas, fanedits are getting my money - and for HD versions of your films!", you're not only putting yourself at risk, but the faneditors, and even entire fanedit community at large.

 

So as long as you STFU about it, we (the community; I couldn't care less about those breaking copyright) should be fine - but keep in mind, the OFFICIAL stand point of the fanedit is to OWN the films.

Star Wars Renascent

Inspired by the Godfather Part II and a revamp of Star Wars: Reborn

View the discussion thread

Author
Time
 (Edited)

So (and we're talking strictly morally, as it's not strictly legal either way) if someone made a pan&scan fanedit using the pan&scan 2004 DVD, you couldn't download it if you only had the widescreen DVDs as it has more resolution? Or would it be fine, as it is just a different source of the same version?

Author
Time

If someone made an edit using the pan & scan version, they should be SHUNNED!!!

;-)

Author
Time
 (Edited)

If you have the widescreen version its fine you can get the P&S, but if you have the Pan and Scan version you cannot get a edit that is in wide, because you do not own the extra image shown on the left/right.

THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED FOR CORRECT TERMINOLOGY.

John Williams score to Return of the Jedi Remastered/Remixed:

http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/JOHN-WILLIAMS-Star-Wars-Episode-VI-Return-of-the-Jedi-Remastered-Edition/topic/14606/page/1/

Author
Time
 (Edited)

fishmanlee said:

If you have the widescreen version its fine you can get the P&S, but if you have the Pan and Scan version you cannot get a edit that is in wide, because you do not own the extra image shown on the left/right.

That logic is somewhat flawed, becuase while the P&S version does have less info on the sides, it also has much higher resolution of the part that is visible.

Author
Time

Am I the only one tired of this discussion? It also makes me nervous. Less talk like this, the better in my opinion.

If we continue shining light on this issue, it could ruin things down the road. No one here wants that I hope.

Author
Time

Is it

 

timdiggerm said:

mrbenja0618 said:

Am I the only one tired of this discussion? 

Yes.

or

timdiggerm said:

mrbenja0618 said:

Less talk like this, the better in my opinion.

Yes.

?

Author
Time

Harmy said:

Is it

 

timdiggerm said:

mrbenja0618 said:

Am I the only one tired of this discussion? 

Yes.

or

timdiggerm said:

mrbenja0618 said:

Less talk like this, the better in my opinion.

Yes.

?

 

Yes.

"Right now the coffees are doing their final work." (Airi, Masked Rider Den-o episode 1)

Author
Time

I went out and bought AOTC on DVD to justify owning a fan-edit to myself.

I believe that if I'm going to enjoy this product, even in a modified format, then the company that made it deserves my money.

Honestly, I hadn't considered buying the blu-rays EVER (not currently owning a blu-ray player) until this thread. Now I suppose that when I upgrade, if I plan on getting a fan-edit or preservation in Blu-Ray quality, I will indeed go buy the actual blu-ray set.

This is just a moral choice on my part.