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Cutting out the Naughty Bits Ruled Illegal

An anonymous reader writes "Some of you may recall the lawsuit brought by several Hollywood directors against companies which edit movies for sex, language, and violence. The companies would trade consumers an off-the-shelf DVD for an edited one. Well, the CBC is reporting that Judge Richard P. Matsch has found that this practice violates U.S. copyright law, and 'decreed on Thursday in Denver, Colo., that sanitizing movies to delete content that may offend some people is an "illegitimate business." [...] The judge also praised the motives of the Hollywood studios and directors behind the suit, ordering the companies that provide the service to hand over their inventories.'''

20 of 1,329 comments (clear)

  1. But where do they put them? by zCyl · · Score: 4, Funny

    This reminds me of the classic question of what happens to all the donut holes...

    1. Re:But where do they put them? by nacturation · · Score: 4, Funny

      I'm going to start a company which sells DVDs containing *only* the naughty bits from movies... it'll be called Holy Donut Entertainment. I mean, sometimes you just don't have the time to fast forward through the boring bits, right?

      --
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  2. This was pushed hard in Utah by doormat · · Score: 3, Funny

    To allow the uber-religious folk to watch movies with the bad parts cut out. Of course, this made Pulp Fiction about 30 seconds long, but oh well.

    Regardless, soon we'll hear from (R)s (and some D's like Clinton and Lieberman) about activist judges and restoring something of something.

    --
    The Doormat

    If you're not outraged, then you're not paying attention.
  3. Next up... by jon287 · · Score: 1, Funny

    Consumers sued for skipping scenes they don't like, violating copyright and "artistic integrety"...

    --
    To boldly use to and too two times and get it right too! They're not gonna believe their eyes when they see it there!
  4. In a perfect world by bananahammock · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now wouldn't it be cool if you could apply this decision to Lucas for having Greedo shoot first - now that's offensive!

  5. In other News... by andphi · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Court also handed down several companion rulings:


    First, that closing one's eyes or looking away during commercials, previews, gratuitous violence, sex, or nudity is an abridgement of copyright as it results in a derivative work without the consent of the copyright holders.


    Secondly, that because going to the bathroom during the boring parts (and the court in no way implies that there are boring parts in Hollywood movies) also results in the creation of a derivative work, it is also forbidden by law.


    Thirdly, that because some persons have been known to talk over or about the soundtrack, dialog, or events of movies, thus creating an unauthorized derivative combination of commentary and the original cinematic release in violation of copyright, movies may only be watched by persons without mouths.

  6. Naughty Bits by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Any now for your viewing pleasure. Some naughty bits.

    B*m
    T*ts
    Kn*ckers
    Semprini

  7. What about the other way? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I just started a company editing out offensive religous content and adding in obscenities and nude scenes. I guess this ruling would apply to us as well. Call me old fashion but It's A Wonderful Life just isn't the same to me without the scene in the strip club we added. I mean the film should show what's wonderful about life.

  8. Re:The smart thing to do... by bky1701 · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Family first today announced a groundbreaking alliance with the EFF. One wonders how evil Hollywood must be for geeks and neo-cons to join forces to fight them. Yes, this probably is the end of the world. Jim Bob signing off... probably for the last time." *is seen running off the set.*

  9. Re:Awesome by Radicode · · Score: 5, Funny

    Haaa! Now I think I understand why the last time I bought a dvd at walmart, it was only a bunch of short clips of plumbers going to a girl's house, then some vacuum cleaner seller... I was thinking... why did my friend told me to buy that wacko movie. Now I get it! They cut out the violent fighting scenes.

  10. Re:Awesome by Ohreally_factor · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think I got the same movie!

    What was the deal with the pizza delivery guy going to that one chick's house to deliver a sausage pizza? Did they ever get around to eating the pizza? My copy had that part cut out for some reason (another fight scene?).

    Still. the soundtrack was pretty cool.Sort of like that funky old rock music from 70s porn.

    --
    It's not offtopic, dumbass. It's orthogonal.
  11. Re:An Alternative by jimicus · · Score: 2, Funny

    I've got to get one of these just for the comedy value.

    Seriously.

    Apparently, I can selectively filter any combination of the following:

    Violence

            * Brutal and Gory Violence
            * Strong Action Violence
            * Disturbing Images

    Sex and Nudity

            * Sensual Content
            * Crude Sexual Content
            * Nudity
            * Explicit Sexual Situations

    Language

            * Vain Reference to Deity
            * Crude Language and Humor
            * Ethnic and Social Slurs
            * Cursing
            * Strong Profanity
            * Graphic Vulgarity

    Other

            * Explicit Drug Use

    I'd buy it, turn all the filters on and then watch something like "The Exorcist" or "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (yes, both of those films are supported by their filtering system).

    I could watch the entire genre of horror movies in 20 minutes!

  12. Re:Awesome by Zemran · · Score: 2, Funny

    Bless me father for I have sinned,

    Today I thought that the evil satanic Hollywood was right...

    --
    I love stacking my barbecues in the shed at the end of summer - you can't beat a bit of grill on grill action.
  13. Re:Cleanflix, not Walmart by Phantom+Zmoove · · Score: 3, Funny

    If I want to have sex before marriage, how does that affect you?

    Provided you're doing it in private, it doesn't affect me at all. Doing it in front of my children is another matter...

    So, its okay for me to have sex with my wife in front of your children?

  14. Imagine that done to porn movies by Opportunist · · Score: 3, Funny

    What would remain? A plumber going to the house of a young lady... next scene he goes home. A traffic cop pulling a young lady over... next scene she drives on.

    I can already see the ad for it: 100 of the best porn movies on one DVD!

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  15. Re:Awesome by bakes · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yes, they did get to eat it: the chick shared the pizza with the pool cleaner guy. I didn't actually see them eating the pizza (apparently edited out due to time constraints) but there was part of a scene where the chick and the pool were smiling at each other and there was cheese dripping from the corner of her mouth.

    (It must have been really good pizza, they were both making 'mmmm-mmmm' sounds.)

    --
    Ho! Haha! Guard! Turn! Parry! Dodge! Spin! Ha! Thrust!
  16. Where's the DVD player... by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...that inserts nude scenes that weren't previously in the movie?

  17. Jack Valenti said... by hoggoth · · Score: 2, Funny

    In related news, MPAA president Jack Valenti was quoted as saying 'Every time a parent fast-forwards past sex and violence, they are committing a crime.'

    --
    - For the complete works of Shakespeare: cat /dev/random (may take some time)
  18. Sanitized version of previous /. posting by dugjohnson · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yes, they did get it: the pizza with the cleaner pizza was part of a scene and were smiling at each other and cheese.

    --
    My brain is overly lubricated
  19. Re:Cleanflix, not Walmart by Citizen+of+Earth · · Score: 2, Funny
    I live in Mesa, Arizona, which has a very dense Mormon population.

    That sounds awfully judgmental.