AJ copyright in America

[kkeller]

For those of you who don't know www.highspots.com/ was contacted by AJ that they would start enforcing their copyright in America. I'm worried that this is the start of a terrible trend because if they can stop Highspots they can stop everybody else. If you think you might suffer from Kawada-withdrawal better start buying now.As I see it we fans will have two choices. Either make a friend in Japan with a VCR or follow companys we can get- WWF, CMLL, AAA... I cannot see AJ selling tapes over here because of the price difference. If the rest of the companies follow suit I don't even want to think about it. I bought my first tape in 2000 so I've always had the internet to order off of. How did you older fans follow this sport before the internet? I guess I have to start searching for a Japanese pen-pal now.

[Muiyan]

personally, i'm not worrying over this. Highspots.com only got the warning because they ARE a big dealer. But just like piracy softwares, there will ALWAYS be places selling them. ALWAYS. Heck, all my tapes are from little dealers here and there. I don't believe they'll be getting warnings anytime in the next 100 years.

[kkeller]

I think it is a big deal. As soon as the other companies see what AJ is doing they will follow suit it's just good business. Any investigator with a computer search engine can shut down any dealer big or small on the internet with one call to the FBI. If they aren't selling the tapes then a lot of people don't have access to any other source. If you can't see the tapes then you can't be a fan. If you don't have fans then you don't have a business in the US anyway. There is no upside to this.

[Sofa Kingdom]

man.. so if i wanna get some AJ tapes I better act asap.

[Lariat]

Well, there could be some positives to this like maybe AJ will team up with a major distributor and create dvds for them. For example, if they were to have TokyoPop distribute them it will be a major advantage for people who haven't experienced puroresu. They already have a proven track record with the FMW license. My local Blockbuster does great business with the dvds as they are always not in stock whenever I go there. The only negative for some might be the American commentators but I could handle it as long as its a dvd.

[kkeller]

That's probably the best we can hope for. Speaking just for myself I'm a little disappointed in the FMW dvds but at least they are widely available. It's just that right now we can buy nearly every show that hits Japanese TV that we want to and a lot of those shows won't make it to dvd. Of course we will probably be getting the ppvs and "best of" tapes so that will be something. I'm afraid by the time they start hitting the market the fan base will be gone. Look how long it took WWE to lose all the ECW/WCW fans and they had a ton of tv to help them. AJ doesn't have any exposure over here except the tapes. Hmm... I wonder if we all write to SamuraiTV if they would run a cable?

[El Pollo Guerrera]

On a few of the tape trading websites that I have seen is a disclaimer basically saying that because the shows are produced outside of the US and there's no copyright holder in the US, the shows are comsidered public domain. They also say that the fee they charge for tapes is not for the product, but for the time it takes to make the tape and shipping. They also mention something called "The Berne Act", an ammendment to the copyright laws.

Can anyone explain this to me in plain English? (please use small words )

[kkeller]

If you are brave you can read the about the US copyright laws at www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/ from what little I can understand the Berne Act means that if you have no plans to copyright your work in the US it's o.k. for anyone to use it until you do. I think they say that about the cost to show they are not making a profit so the can't get sued for back royalities but that could be wrong these laws are kind of complicated.

[El Pollo Guerrera]

Sorry it took so long for me to answer, I've been away...

Quote: If you are brave you can read the about the US copyright laws

How brave do you think a guy with the nickname El Pollo Guerrera could be?

Anyway, I found an article about All Japan's copyright and I'd like to hear your opinion on it. It's at www.puroresupower.com/upload/news.cgi?news=93

[kkeller]

I don't know what to think. The story does fit all the facts but it seems to me a strange way to go about fixing the value if that's really what they're after. DirectTV just cancelled the WWE's secondary PPV channel so may'be DSE is going to try and run something on it. I had read somewhere that channel was earmarked for the Jarrett promotion but I just can't see that happening they're slowly dying. If that's not it then why bother with America at all I mean a $10 tape sell over here doesn't effect them at all unless they have plans to show it over here. I'm confused by it all.

[The Franceman]

[an inappropriate sentence deleted by admin]

I want them in my country !

[Tradewynd]

If All Japan wants to start commercially releasing every big show and TV show in the states, and release older footage as well than I wouldn't have a problem with this. If they want to stop me from buying a tape I better be able to go to Amazon and buy it there. I can't concieve why they would want to stop Americans from watching their product. It makes about as much sense as Yasuda's employment. I just don't get it.

[kkeller]

All Japan just signed with Fuji TV starting the 30th so that's another show we won't be seeing. The more I think about it I really think they are going to try and run PPV's over here. I wish they would explore signing with an American DVD producer. By manufacturing over here they can cut costs a good deal and have a better chance to be picked up by the major DVD seller. I would like to trot on down to my local Wal-mart and pick up my wrestling fix. Right now is a bad time to try and sell a PPV especially one without TV to back it but I wish them luck. In the mean time I'll keep on searching the Japanese-English message boards for a contact with a VCR and some blank tapes.