WWE cracking down on tape trading

[Guest slacklet]

http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=2156&p=1

 

WWE STRONGLY SEEKING OUT BOOTLEGGERS OF COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL IN BID TO PROTECT VIDEO LIBRARIES

 

With the forthcoming debut of WWE 24/7 Video on Demand service and more and more classic footage being utilized for World Wrestling Entertainment DVDs, I am told that WWE is taking a much closer and harder look towards those who sell what WWE views as bootlegged versions of material they own the rights to.

 

One source I spoke to noted that the WWE stance is that any wrestling footage that falls under the umbrellas of Jim Crockett Promotions, WCW, ECW, the AWA, and even Mid-Atlantic and Georgia Championship Wrestling all rightfully belongs to them thanks to the different libraries WWE has purchased over the last several years, and they are going to make sure that no other outlet is selling them.

 

The WWE view is clear and one that really cannot be argued with legally – WWE paid for the footage and they are going to protect it.

 

I am told WWE currently has three employees who are responsible for seeking out websites and online auctions that sell material owned by WWE. The promotion is also in regular contact with the top online auction website Ebay, requesting that auctions that infringe on their copyrights be immediately removed.

 

Although tape trading and even secondary tape selling has become common within the hardcore wrestling fan fraternity, copyright offenses can be prosecuted criminally. A convicted Virginia-based bootlegger who was found guilty of selling WWE, WCW, and Ring of Honor footage last year ended up with a six month jail sentence.

 

The best selling WWE DVD to date was the Ultimate Ric Flair Collection, which was made up mostly of classic NWA bouts featuring Flair, Barry Windham, Harley Race, Ricky Steamboat and others from that era.

[Styles 0]

I'm incredibly ignorant of how these laws work, but it mentioned eBay, does that mean that selling used WWF/WCW videos on eBay will no longer be allowed? (I'm talking the official ones with the boxes, not self made ones...)

[Guest slacklet]

I'm incredibly ignorant of how these laws work, but it mentioned eBay, does that mean that selling used WWF/WCW videos on eBay will no longer be allowed? (I'm talking the official ones with the boxes, not self made ones...)

There are currently individuals selling dupes of VHS masters and DVD dubs of old VHS masters on eBay.

 

For instance, there is some guy selling Wrestlemanias I-XIV on DVD, which are VHS transfers.

 

Doing that is illegal, as is copying copyrighted material and selling it.

 

But it's still perfectly fine to sell the original VHS or DVD masters.

[Guest slacklet]

double post

[razazteca 0]

So does this mean that RF video will be going out of business?

[Youth N Asia 0]

You'd think that'd be the place to start.

[Styles 0]

So does this mean that RF video will be going out of business?

That they're still in business all things considered would say probably not...

[AndrewTS 0]

Bah. WWE should adopt the Best Brains, Inc. policy: if it's not commercially released by us, we'll look the other way.

 

What this will do is cause WWE to sit on a ton of footage they aren't even going to use, except in small trickles, and people that really want to see it won't be able to.

 

Maybe they'll charge the major traders copyright fees if they're going to sell tapes, which would result in the prices being jacked up, possibly. However, I doubt they'll even do that.

 

Illegally duplicating stuff that WWE already released, that isn't good and I understand. If you have VHS tapes and put them on DVD, that's fine as long as you aren't selling them (you can legally do that anyway, for private use).

[NoCalMike 0]

This sucks since ECW(and other smaller promotions) tapes will most likely not be available from WWE, sanz the bits the pieces WWE decides to release.

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

Simple solution to this. START TRADING, QUIT SELLING.

[Guest Choken One]

I agree with WWE here completely. It's their own property and they SHOULD protect...any one that tries to argue it is a moron.

[Youth N Asia 0]

ECW encouraged tape trading, helped get them a whole new audiance they may not have reached otherwise.

[BifEverchad 0]

ECW encouraged tape trading, helped get them a whole new audiance they may not have reached otherwise.

Thats why ECW rocked.

[AnonymousBroccoli 0]

I wonder if they'll go RIAA and start suing kids sharing Mick Foley being thrown off the Cell on Kazaa.

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

Tape trading is not boot-legging. Boot-legging is selling copyrighted footage for a profit of your own gain. And no, I didn't even read any posts yet.

[Gert T 0]

I am told WWE currently has three employees who are responsible for seeking out websites and online auctions that sell material owned by WWE.

Damn that would be a cool job to have, why was that not posted on Monster?

[cynicalprofit 0]

I used to get bitched at by my computer tech guy for downlaoding wrestling videos. Kept telling me it was illegal. My arguement was always, ok, sure for the stuff that commercially available, I agree. But if its out of print completely, not from US soil, or of stuff that was NEVER commercially released, how are they going to argue I'm stealing money from them?

 

Now if it was NJPW or AJPW ok, then maybe they could argue it, but since I can't legally BUY their merchindise here in the states, where they don't market or advertise, outside of seeking the product out myself illegally under copyright laws, what can I do to obtain it?

 

I understand going after bootleggers, but if you don't make the product availble through public means, how the fuck else am I suppose to obtain it other then illegally?

[JHawk 0]

What this will do is cause WWE to sit on a ton of footage they aren't even going to use, except in small trickles, and people that really want to see it won't be able to.

 

That's basically it. You're not making it available for me, so why shouldn't I find it elsewhere?

 

Tape trading is not boot-legging. Boot-legging is selling copyrighted footage for a profit of your own gain. And no, I didn't even read any posts yet.

 

And let's say I just want to get rid of my tape collection because i'm moving to a smaller place and simply can't keep my tapes. If I try to sell them at a garage sale, will the copyright police swoop down on me?

 

I agree with WWE for the most part, but unless all the stuff I'm looking for is on WWE 24/7 then I'm unhappy as a fan.

[Guest nikowwf]

I think tradings ok. They are going to go after the bootleggers selling things though. I can understand people arguing this, but seriously - how vociferously can you argue against people preventing you from making money by copying something YOU DONT OWN and THEY DO.

 

and ECW did not encourage trading their tapes, they encouraged you to buy them off of TV, and they went after anyone selling them online while there site was up. I think some of you have very selective memories.

 

niko

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

ECW encouraged tape trading, helped get them a whole new audiance they may not have reached otherwise.

What audience is the WWE not reaching that's selling wrestling tapes?

[Guest slacklet]

Tape trading is not boot-legging. Boot-legging is selling copyrighted footage for a profit of your own gain. And no, I didn't even read any posts yet.

The majority of sites selling copies of WWE-owned material are referred to as "tape trading" sites.

 

That being they front as sites that only trade WWE videos for what they want, when in fact they have all their videos for sale.

 

So if you want to call what they're cracking down on "bootlegging", that's 100% correct. Just know that's all I meant when I stated they're "cracking down on tape trading".

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

It's a good idea, and I have no problem with it because they can't stop it or regulate it, its the internet, people will find ways. They can't monitor Emails.

[Guest Trivia247]

there goes my around the corner Suppler of my Wrestling fix in the brown paper bag...

 

they better not take away the ebay option..... or I might have to cut someone

 

Breaks a Beer bottle and Dares the WWE Legal department to take away his dealer

 

come on bitch!

[Lil' Bitch 0]

there goes my around the corner Suppler of my Wrestling fix in the brown paper bag...

 

they better not take away the ebay option..... or I might have to cut someone

 

Breaks a Beer bottle and Dares the WWE Legal department to take away his dealer

 

come on bitch!

 

[Tawren 0]

No way in hell will this stop me from trading. Only people they'll stop is the EBay dumbasses.

[Youth N Asia 0]

I remember reading in a mark mag about Paul E saying something to the effect of dubbing ECW tapes to pass onto other people. I don't think he assumed tape trading would be as big as it is online. And I also hoped that it would be in the effect that you would also buy tapes yourself.

 

My wording wasn't perfect, but that's what I meant.

[Guest Lawlerm]

Trading is still as illegal as selling is. It is illegal to copy or re-distribute any copywrited material wether for profit or not.

 

People have this notion that if your not selling it then its legal which is completley untrue.

 

Copying a CD onto a tape to listen to in your car, for example, IS illegal. Its just that it is impossible to police it.

 

The reason why record labels pursue young kids who use Kazaa is because 1 threatening email will stop them wheras if they tried to stop the companies that make it possible those companies would fight them. For example Microsoft's Windows Media Player which lets you copy things and Nero are the real problem as without the equipment people wouldnt be able to copy material but pursuing those companies would be time consuming, costly and probably result in huge fines for all concerned.

[TheBigSwigg 0]

Copying a CD onto a tape to listen to in your car, for example, IS illegal. Its just that it is impossible to police it. 

NOT TRUE. Copying a CD to tape for personal use is completely and totally legal. Otherwise there wouldn't be a complete industry based on blank cassettes and CD's. It's when you copy it for everyone else that it becomes illegal.

 

Tape trading could be considered legal because you could be trading the originals.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

Came across this while looking on E-Bay as usual.

 

*By looking at this auction and scrolling down you hereby admit that you are acknowledging the following statement: "I affirm that I am not working for any television or movie production studio, network or affiliated organizations. I am not employed by, or am a member of a professional organization or any other independent association. I am not employed by the federal government, affiliated agency of any type or sub-contractor of an independent agent, I am not an individual wishing/wanting to place the seller into a copyright violation and/or situation or trying to shut down this auction. This ebay auction is intended for collection purposes and home viewing only. These tapes are not meant to infringe on any existing copyright violation.The payment recieved is strictly based on the reproduction of any and all video footage attached to the time, materials, and machinewear and tear that it takes to send a copy to the recipient. The individual charges per length of show are only because the wear and tear occurring to the VCR differs due to the shorter / longer show being requested, the cost of your tape(s), cost of box to ship your tape(s),(Basically, you understand that you are not paying for the event on the tape. You are paying for the tape itself, the wear and tear on my VCR, the time I spend making the tape, the time I spent making the auction, and for the packaging materials.The event on the tape is a gift from me to you. Thank You) and You agree with all of the above listed conditions/terms and that your profile does not match anything listed on this page.

 

[Use Your Illusion 0]

ECW encouraged tape trading, helped get them a whole new audiance they may not have reached otherwise.

Thats why ECW rocked.

They also never turned a profit and went bankrupt.