Scream Factory Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[Zygmunt22]

Originally Posted by vortexx

I'm pretty sure he owns Bride of the Monster and a film he made as well, but what he was trying to do to copyright public domain titles was struck down in court. No way reediting Invaders from Mars or anything else like that gives him perpetual copyright as he claims. Sure, he can buy non PD films but nobody wants to deal with him, so he might as well release them himself. Often his prints arent even original theatrical prints. The intro to one of his Ed Wood prints is missing. The prints he supplied to image in a few cases have already been surpassed by original theatrical widescreen prints, or prints with the real color sequences. I know a number of people in companies that release DVDs and BluRay and they and I consider him not worth dealing with. Anyone can make copies of almost all the Image DVDs that he provided prints for and sell them. Sure he can own a few titles - he did actually make a movie too, but the majority he tries to say he owns are public domain. He also wants ridiculous amounts of money for letting his PD prints get scanned/released. I have most of the image titles he provided prints for and I'm generally happy to have them although I have upgraded many from other countries.

I should add that I never noticed he acquired Target Earth as you say. ( a blu would be great although I have a feeling it will be a long time before anyone tries to licence it from him.) That was never public domain. Most of the image stuff was though. I haven't looked at his site in a few years, so he might be buying rights as you say. At the time though he was making false claims regarding copyright.

I respectfully think you're underestimating the percentage of his library that is copyrighted material he legitimately owns. It is more than "a few". Yes...he is difficult to deal with, with Kino coming close to striking a deal with him only for it to fall apart do to his making unreasonable demands. And some of the titles he offered are PD...but neither of these facts negate his actual legal claim to a number of films. These are just some of the films he legitimately owns (UK titles may only be US rights). Just cross check these with the US copyright office, if you have any doubts.

The Navy vs. the Night Monsters
The Day It Came to Earth
Target Earth
The Dead Talk Back
Teenage Monster
Gallery of Horror
Rocketship X-M
The Lost Continent
Women of the Prehistoric Planet
Destination Moon
The Flying Saucer
The Brain from Planet Arous
The Hideous Sun Demon
Teenage Monster
The Crawling Eye
Kronos
The Astounding She Monster
The Cosmic Man
Frankenstein's Daughter
Giant from the Unknown
She Demons
Project Moonbase
Flight to Mars
Champagne for Caesar
Lost, Lonely and Vicious
The Crawling Eye (U.S. and Canada)

He also, of course, owns his own films:

Terror from the Stars
Midnight Movie Massacre (aka Attack from Mars)
The Helter Skelter Murders (aka The Other Side of Madness)
Detour (remake)

And there are PD films he has the original materials for, such as

D.O.A.
Teenagers from Outer Space
Hannah Lee: An American Primitive (aka Outlaw Territory)

There is a dispute over Invaders from Mars between Williams and, I believe, an outfit in Europe regarding ownership of the film. I think, if memory serves me right, the issue is magnified by the fact that the negative was eventually cut up, with the effects footage separated from the rest of the film, and the different parties each have different sections of these elements.

As for the Ed Wood stuff, I believe he does indeed have the original elements and rights to several of them. Pretty sure Kino Lorber Insider/Mister Lime even confirmed this. He did change the title card on his release of Revenge of the Dead to Night of the Ghouls.

[bruce holecheck]

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

As with all CE's, you won't get detailed specs until 4-6 weeks before release (so January probably), but art and the pre-order page should be imminent.

https://www.shoutfactory.com/product...roduct_id=7293

***MY BLOODY VALENTINE Update***

Harry Warden is back! Our hearts are pumping with excitement as we can finally present a new update on our upcoming Blu-ray release of the 1981 original classic slasher. Read on for all the details:

• National street date for North America (Region A) is February 4th.

• This is being presented as a 2-Disc Collector’s Edition and will come guaranteed with a slipcover in its first three months of release.

• The newly commissioned artwork you see pictured comes to us from artist Joel Robinson This art will be front-facing and the reverse side of the wrap will feature the original (and iconic) theatrical artwork.

• New extras and specs are in progress and will be announced on a later date (Dec before the holidays or early Jan) but we can confirm today that we are doing a new transfer of the theatrical and unrated cut of the film!

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

We are taking pre-orders now @ https://www.shoutfactory.com/product...roduct_id=7293 for a Website Exclusive Deluxe Offer that includes:

• The Collector’s Edition Blu-ray

•An 18” x 24” rolled poster of the new Joel Robinson Art

• SITE ONLY OFFER: An alternate slipcover and an 18” x 24” rolled poster that showcases a newly-commissioned illustration from artist Laz Marquez

The site offer is limited to 2,000 units. Once they are sold out we then list the Collector’s Edition Blu-ray solo. Other retailers will carry the Blu-ray pre-order links soon in the next couple of months.

[rickah88]

Saaaaweeeet!

[Jlouisbarrett]

The new art is some of their best, but I will never understand these releases that come with another slipcover. Do people play with their Blu-Rays like dolls that need a change of outfit?

[rickah88]

Nope. Thankfully we all like different things.

[Thomas Veil]

Originally Posted by Jlouisbarrett

The new art is some of their best, but I will never understand these releases that come with another slipcover. Do people play with their Blu-Rays like dolls that need a change of outfit?

It's nice to have a choice if you like one better than the other. Choices are a good thing, relax.

[Jlouisbarrett]

Originally Posted by Thomas Veil

It's nice to have a choice if you like one better than the other. Choices are a good thing, relax.

I’m pretty relaxed... I don’t think my post seemed very non-relaxed.

[vortexx]

Originally Posted by Zygmunt22

I respectfully think you're underestimating the percentage of his library that is copyrighted material he legitimately owns. It is more than "a few". Yes...he is difficult to deal with, with Kino coming close to striking a deal with him only for it to fall apart do to his making unreasonable demands. And some of the titles he offered are PD...but neither of these facts negate his actual legal claim to a number of films. These are just some of the films he legitimately owns (UK titles may only be US rights). Just cross check these with the US copyright office, if you have any doubts.

The Navy vs. the Night Monsters
The Day It Came to Earth
Target Earth
The Dead Talk Back
Teenage Monster
Gallery of Horror
Rocketship X-M
The Lost Continent
Women of the Prehistoric Planet
Destination Moon
The Flying Saucer
The Brain from Planet Arous
The Hideous Sun Demon
Teenage Monster
The Crawling Eye
Kronos
The Astounding She Monster
The Cosmic Man
Frankenstein's Daughter
Giant from the Unknown
She Demons
Project Moonbase
Flight to Mars
Champagne for Caesar
Lost, Lonely and Vicious
The Crawling Eye (U.S. and Canada)

He also, of course, owns his own films:

Terror from the Stars
Midnight Movie Massacre (aka Attack from Mars)
The Helter Skelter Murders (aka The Other Side of Madness)
Detour (remake)

And there are PD films he has the original materials for, such as

D.O.A.
Teenagers from Outer Space
Hannah Lee: An American Primitive (aka Outlaw Territory)

There is a dispute over Invaders from Mars between Williams and, I believe, an outfit in Europe regarding ownership of the film. I think, if memory serves me right, the issue is magnified by the fact that the negative was eventually cut up, with the effects footage separated from the rest of the film, and the different parties each have different sections of these elements.

As for the Ed Wood stuff, I believe he does indeed have the original elements and rights to several of them. Pretty sure Kino Lorber Insider/Mister Lime even confirmed this. He did change the title card on his release of Revenge of the Dead to Night of the Ghouls.

If he can prove chain of ownership for those he should be suing retromedia, something weird video, sinister cinema, image (released some not in connection to him), etc. No chance he can prove chain of ownership for those. If the corporation making a movie, even though it was copyrighted, no longer exists, it becomes public domain if the rights weren't sold prior to the corporation dissolving.
He's full of it if he now claims to own these. I was running video vortex and had checked their status before he started altering films to copyright them. If the ones you listed, all I searched had copyright holders no longer existing. If the chain of ownership is broken, it makes it impossible for a new person to copyright it unless he can prove he bought the rights before the copyright holder stopped running the production company it's registered under (or whatever company it may have been transferred to etc. He tried copyrighting Rocketship XM by making it a special edition for example. It will be struck down if it ever goes to court.

[xXx$uicide_Ma$terxXx]

Originally Posted by Jlouisbarrett

I’m pretty relaxed... I don’t think my post seemed very non-relaxed.

Stop criticizing thing. Be excited for new product and don't question.

[Thomas Veil]

Originally Posted by Jlouisbarrett

I’m pretty relaxed... I don’t think my post seemed very non-relaxed.

I thought you posted twice about it...in the other thread as well, but it's someone else.

[zbinks]

Originally Posted by vortexx

If he can prove chain of ownership for those he should be suing retromedia, something weird video, sinister cinema, image (released some not in connection to him), etc. No chance he can prove chain of ownership for those. If the corporation making a movie, even though it was copyrighted, no longer exists, it becomes public domain if the rights weren't sold prior to the corporation dissolving.

Copyrights do not expire at the time of death or dissolution of the copyright holder. Just like physical assets, copyrights would instead pass onto the next-of-kin or successor-in-interest. If there is no next-of-kin or successor-in-interest, the copyright is considered orphaned, meaning that the copyright holder is unknown or cannot be contacted, but it still would not fall into the pubic domain until the copyright term expires.

[Lurtz6]

Originally Posted by zbinks

Copyrights do not expire at the time of death or dissolution of the copyright holder. Just like physical assets, copyrights would instead pass onto the next-of-kin or successor-in-interest. If there is no next-of-kin or successor-in-interest, the copyright is considered orphaned, meaning that the copyright holder is unknown or cannot be contacted, but it still would not fall into the pubic domain until the copyright term expires.

Interesting! Are there any high-profile orphaned copyrights that us horror fans are waiting on?

[crikan]

Originally Posted by Jlouisbarrett

The new art is some of their best, but I will never understand these releases that come with another slipcover. Do people play with their Blu-Rays like dolls that need a change of outfit?

Originally Posted by Jlouisbarrett

I’m pretty relaxed... I don’t think my post seemed very non-relaxed.

Relaxed sure. But also very condescending. I'm sure that's obvious.

[Jlouisbarrett]

Originally Posted by crikan

Relaxed sure. But also very condescending. I'm sure that's obvious.

This isn’t new news, but some folks are so touchy on the internet. “Condescending”? It all depends on how you personally read the text.

This was a harmless question I’d ask a friend in real life all in good fun, and they’d probably say something like, “Ha, no man, as a collector it’s just nice to have additional artwork.” And I’d probably say, “That’s fair — I certainly understand posters and art cards but for some reason I can’t get behind an extra slipcover. I’d feel a little silly swapping it out just to look at the spine on my shelf, but to each their own!”

[IntelliVolume]

I didn't think you were condescending for asking about fanatics changing their slipcases like they're playing with dolls, FWIW....

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by Jlouisbarrett

This isn’t new news, but some folks are so touchy on the internet. “Condescending”? It all depends on how you personally read the text.

Pay him no mind; crikan is wound so tightly he needs a corkscrew to get out of bed in the morning.

[Zygmunt22]

Originally Posted by vortexx

If he can prove chain of ownership for those he should be suing retromedia, something weird video, sinister cinema, image (released some not in connection to him), etc. No chance he can prove chain of ownership for those. If the corporation making a movie, even though it was copyrighted, no longer exists, it becomes public domain if the rights weren't sold prior to the corporation dissolving.
He's full of it if he now claims to own these. I was running video vortex and had checked their status before he started altering films to copyright them. If the ones you listed, all I searched had copyright holders no longer existing. If the chain of ownership is broken, it makes it impossible for a new person to copyright it unless he can prove he bought the rights before the copyright holder stopped running the production company it's registered under (or whatever company it may have been transferred to etc. He tried copyrighting Rocketship XM by making it a special edition for example. It will be struck down if it ever goes to court.

He has paperwork backing up many of his claims, not to mention (as a quick search of the US Copyright Office's website will reveal) valid copyrights on these titles. As someone else stated, films don't become public domain simply by their registering corporation dissolving. They become PD when the copyright simply isn't properly registered or renewed. As for your references to labels such as SWV, Sinister, etc....there are countless instances of budget/gray market labels successfully getting away with selling illegitimate copies of films. Assuming this means those films are public domain is illogical. Sinister Cinema sells films owned by MGM, the McCullough family, and Crown International...that doesn't mean those movies are PD. For years, labels were getting away with dodgy quality releases of The Legend of Boggy Creek, simply because the Ledwell family never pursued protecting their ownership of the film, and now that ownership has been transferred to the director's daughter, that well of bootlegging is drying up.

Again, respectfully, you seem to be making assumptions about Williams. Yes, some of his films are PD. But those I listed...there's no reason to doubt his ownership of them. He claims ownership. They have copyrights listed with the US government. Shout! Factory obviously recognizes his ownership of these, as they have continued to license his library (as has Rifftrax). And as for Rocketship X-M, they apparently recognize his ownership of that, as well, as they have been UNABLE to license it to re-release that MST3K episode on home media, in keeping with Williams's promise to never allow the film to be riffed again.

[vortexx]

Originally Posted by Zygmunt22

He has paperwork backing up many of his claims, not to mention (as a quick search of the US Copyright Office's website will reveal) valid copyrights on these titles. As someone else stated, films don't become public domain simply by their registering corporation dissolving. They become PD when the copyright simply isn't properly registered or renewed. As for your references to labels such as SWV, Sinister, etc....there are countless instances of budget/gray market labels successfully getting away with selling illegitimate copies of films. Assuming this means those films are public domain is illogical. Sinister Cinema sells films owned by MGM, the McCullough family, and Crown International...that doesn't mean those movies are PD. For years, labels were getting away with dodgy quality releases of The Legend of Boggy Creek, simply because the Ledwell family never pursued protecting their ownership of the film, and now that ownership has been transferred to the director's daughter, that well of bootlegging is drying up. The song in that one is from the 80s or 90s and is obvious. There is dialogue that he dubbed over in the bar scene.

Again, respectfully, you seem to be making assumptions about Williams. Yes, some of his films are PD. But those I listed...there's no reason to doubt his ownership of them. He claims ownership. They have copyrights listed with the US government. Shout! Factory obviously recognizes his ownership of these, as they have continued to license his library (as has Rifftrax). And as for Rocketship X-M, they apparently recognize his ownership of that, as well, as they have been UNABLE to license it to re-release that MST3K episode on home media, in keeping with Williams's promise to never allow the film to be riffed again.

As long as he is not altering stuff and registering the altered edition for copyright (which he did and it won't get removed unless court case happens and it's challenged). The copyright office usually doesnt do much in terms of diligence. They collect and enter the paperwork. I am a filmmaker and have worked with copyright offices around the world.
I don't mind him owning real copyrights that can sometimes be had for cheap. Fred Olen Ray sometimes copyrights public domain titles by dubbing a copyrighted song on the soundtrack. He did that with Sriek of the Mutilated. Easy to rectify if you have the original audio.

There may be some changes coming in copyright laws. There are a couple of big studios that are going to try to claim ownership of films that were public domain. It will be interesting to see how that goes.

[ponytail]

love the MBV art

[tylerc904]

The new artwork for MBV is fantastic! Not sure which I prefer but the one with more of the body/pick-axe looks cooler spine-wise.