Slashdot Mirror

(1) the Mechanical Editing Parties' copies of Edited Motion Pictures are non-transformative (i.e. they serve as a direct market substitute rather than adding new epression, meaning or message), and their exploitation of such Edited Motion Pictures is strictly a "for-profit" commercial endeavor, (2) the Studios' copyrighted Motion Pictures are highly creative and fictional expression entitled to the highest protection, as opposed to works of a factual nature; (3) the Mechanical Editing Parties copy and incorporate virtially the enitety of each Motion Picture in each Edited Motion Picture; and (4) the Mechanical Editing Parties' Edited Motion Pictures harm the actual and potential markets for the Studies' motion pictures, and compete directly with the Studios' own authorized edited motion pictures created for cable, network, and syndicated television, and airline distribution.

Read the section in context:


SEC. 212. EXEMPTION FROM INFRINGEMENT FOR SKIPPING AUDIO AND VIDEO CONTENT IN MOTION PICTURES.

(a) Short Title- This section may be cited as the `Family Movie Act of 2004'.

(b) Exemption From Copyright and Trademark Infringement for Skipping of Audio or Video Content of Motion Pictures- Section 110 of title 17, United States Code, is amended--

(1) in paragraph (9), by striking `and' after the semicolon at the end;

(2) in paragraph (10), by striking the period at the end and inserting `; and';

(3) by inserting after paragraph (10) the following:

`(11) the making imperceptible, by or at the direction of a member of a private household, of limited portions of audio or video content of a motion picture, during a performance in or transmitted to that household for private home viewing, from an authorized copy of the motion picture, or the creation or provision of a computer program or other technology that enables such making imperceptible and that is designed and marketed for such use at the direction of a member of a private household, if--

`(A) no fixed copy of the altered version of the motion picture is created by such computer program or other technology; and

`(B) no changes, deletions or additions are made by such computer program or other technology to commercial advertisements, or to network or station promotional announcements, that would otherwise be performed or displayed before, during or after the performance of the motion picture.'; and

(4) by adding at the end the following:

`For purposes of paragraph (11), the term `making imperceptible' does not include the addition of audio or video content that is performed or displayed over or in place of existing content in a motion picture.'.


It appears that the whole section, including the parts about editing out "objectionable" content and not removing ads are relating to the same practice.

There's a group out there (Yo) that's renting/selling "family-friendly" movies with the materials that might offend conservatives removed. They have to edit the movies in-house to make their versions available. Right now I think they're in a legal grey area. Filmmakers want their work protected from prudish editors, and conservative parents want their children protected from godless liberal Hollywood heathens, so to speak.

Regardless of how you feel about editing movies for content, some people want their content pre-screened before they (or their kids) watch it. I'm personally against it, but this legislation doesn't force anyone to buy movies from these places.

Looks like the advertising bit refers directly to the practice of editing movies for content on after-studio edits. What they're saying is that a business may edit the film for content, but may not remove previews and ads, etc. that would appear on the original DVD or Video. I don't think this has anything to do with TiVo et al.

I had to check into this one further after seeing Rep. Rich "The Slashdot Congressman" Boucher's name on the list of cosponsors.

IANAL, btw.

There is a company (Co-op) called CleanFilms which will RENT an EDITED version of the movies to you. This company would go down way before RCA - but they are still around.

From their site:

Is it legal to edit movies?
Yes. CleanFilms is a Co-operative rental club. All subscribers to our service become members of the Co-op. The Co-op collectively purchases original, unedited DVD movies then has them edited - always maintaining a 1 to 1 ratio of edited and non-edited originals.

As owners of the original, unedited movies, the Co-op has the right to edit out content that is objectionable to its members - similar to how you might press mute to avoid hearing objectionable language today. Accordingly, you must subscribe as a member of the rental club before you can rent edited movies.

re RCA DVD PLAYER: If you're concerned about DMCA, the original dvd content stays in tact on the dvd player. It's not like player actually modifies the content, it simply jumps around and ff through chapters the viewer would like to miss.

Actually, I have something specific in mind. Clean Films is a company with a Netflicks like business model, except that they distribute movies that you could like to an airplane version. Since they do the editing themselves, I'd like to know how they have stayed in business. It's a very interesting situation.

You're a crack smoking pig.

I live in Utah, and Blockbuster doesn't censor or edit videos.

There are other businesses that do (as their mainstay business model), just like there are for the entire world (www.cleanfilms.com), as well there should be.

If I should to keep hollywoods smut out of my house and away from my family, that is MY choice, and it is a choice I'd make whether I lived in Utah or New York.

Someday society is going to realize that an increase in violent entertainment does breed an increase in violent people, and an increase in p0rn does bring and increase in sexual crimes and deviants.

Well, I realized long ago and I say "Not in my house", and if you have a problem with that too bad.

is it legal to edit movies?
Yes. CleanFilms is a Co-operative rental club. All subscribers to our service become members of the Co-op. The Co-op collectively purchases original, unedited DVD movies then has them edited - always maintaining a 1 to 1 ratio of edited and non-edited originals.

As owners of the original, unedited movies, the Co-op has the right to edit out content that is objectionable to its members - similar to how you might press mute to avoid hearing objectionable language today. Accordingly, you must subscribe as a member of the rental club before you can rent edited movies.