Exclusive DVD Content

OK, this morning I recieved an email from Lucasfilms regarding the http://dvd.starwars.com website. Looks like there is potentially going to be a lot of new stuff on there ans they are pre-warning webmasters that this content is exclusive and should not be captured and posted.

I am posting this here so people are aware. Whilst Raz, Zed and the moderation team can not take direct responsibility for anything you post, if you start posting images from the exclusive site it is Raz who will get the email complaints admin and tech contact for the forum.

Basically people, be sensible, if you accessed it via the DVD web-link consider it off limits for reposting please.

From: Paul Ens
Sent: 14 October 2001 10:41
Subject: New dvd website

Webmaster,
As you know, the Episode I DVD contains a link to a web site exclusive for DVD owners with the disc physically in their PC's DVD-ROM drive. Before the site goes live, I wanted to give you a heads up that Lucasfilm is very serious about having this content remain purely exclusive to these individuals, for whom it was created and is intended.

Per the terms of use on the new site, the initial wave of launch content along with any and all future content are protected by Lucasfilm copyright and may not be reposted in any manner. This includes text excerpts and screen captures of images and/or video, even in part.

While I can understand reasons why you may desire to do so, such content sharing cannot be tolerated. I hope you will understand that the type of costly content that will be delivered on the site over time is possible only through special partnerships and arrangements based on the idea of DVD-owner exclusivity. Failure to honor this intention will jeopardize not only plans for the Episode I site in the coming weeks and months, but also the willingness and ability to provide fans with special material with future projects.

I trust you will enjoy the new site as it develops. If this is unclear, let me know.

- Paul Ens
Internet Content Manager
Lucasfilm, Ltd.

Well said that man.

It had better be cool stuff...

That's what I was thinking. From experience I have found that the size and importance of a new item on the official website is related to how far down the food chain of websites they go with an email like this.

SWMovies.Net isn't that near the top of the food chain, (i.e. pretty insignificant to LFL) so hopefully that indicates some real goodies.

Guess I'll be going shopping tomorrow morning...

So is it going to be AOTC stuff?

I think that's meant to be the idea, yeah.

What could they put on this, that they haven't already showed us? Apart from posters and trailers.

Curious, isn't it? Could be terribly disappointing.

more pics?
I don't know because I don't have a DVD-drive! 😠

How does the 'Fair Use' clause of the Copyright Law come into play here?

According to that particular section:

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.

I see... 😕

Raz is right about the fair use clause, but the problem is that we all know that LFL would go to court and there are very few people out there who would be willing to risk going up against LFL lawyers. Who could afford to do it? Without the lawyers to argue your case you would still end up loosing.

I'm thinking trailer and teaser poster here. There's reportedly a big desire in LFL to beat the record on trailer downloads that was let by LOTR I believe.

You also have to recognise that the fair use clause does make mention of the quantity of an item used.

In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

BTW, can't people just cvisit the address of their own accord?

BTW, if you want to use fair dealing as a defence then you have to give due acknowledgement of the source of the subject in question. Just a reminder.

The site is protected. You have to install a piece of software, called the InterActual browser, in order to access the site.

It uses some nifty programming to check for the DVD in the drive as well.

Cool.

😂

I don't know what the hell you guys are talking about! It would take me years to figure out how to do all of that stuff you're talking about.

Technology is too complicated! To me, progress of computers peaked with Super Mario Bros.

Ah, a technophobe.... 😂 (j/k)

that's right, though.

I sent an email to Paul Ens on the fair use issue and he was kind enough to reply.

What he basically says is that anything on StarWars.Com is OK, as long as it is reported in such a way that it does not negate the need to visit the source. i.e. Fair Use as defined previously.

He woudn't be drawn on whether the content on http://DVD.StarWars.Com would become available on the regular site though.

It appears that SW.C are within there rights to request no external disclosure on the dvd site right now as there is very little there that could be displayed elsewhere without violating the fair use clause.

I think it will get interesting if they release the trailer through the dvd site as a screen cap would fall into fair use, but they want to ban them as well.

*pets computer DVD ROM*
soon boy, soon 😄

and nobody online because they have the DVD... 🙁

*starts singing 'only the lonely*