FORKNI-L

FORKNI-L Digest - 8 Sep 2001 to 9 Sep 2001 (#2001-272)

Sun, 9 Sep 2001

There are 8 messages totalling 350 lines in this issue.

Topics of the day:

  1. Nick Knight DVD-- preliminary report (5)
  2. request for a pic
  3. request for info (2)

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Date:    Sat, 8 Sep 2001 14:04:42 -0700
From:    Teresa <tastevenson@e.......>
Subject: Re: Nick Knight DVD-- preliminary report

HKSAR - Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of
China - is the lovely island the British gave back to mainland China. While I
do not wish offend anyone or start a flame war, China was not a signatory to
the international copyright treaties under Mao. I don't know what the current
status may be. Anyone know?

--
Teresa
"It's good to know what the other side is up to." - Nick Knight
Of course, I watch BTVS.



Moemcal wrote:

> As promised, once I received the DVD from the EBay seller, here is a preliminary
> report on what I found.
>
>  Plastic wrapping is thinner than most, no security seal but there is a bar code
> on back--0-90328-50088-7. The apparent maker of this is Top Ten New Media
> Production Limited HKSAR with their colophon being the word "top" and the "O"
> horizontally broken up and orange like a setting sun. There is also a copyright
> warning on the back cover that says they have the copyright for this DVD. The
> DVD listings include DVD video, Dolby digital, AC-3 5.1, color, 1989 and 88 min.
>
>  The graphics on the cover are sharp and are similar to what is on the laserdisc.
> The DVD itself is silver and the label is red with the lettering clear so the
> silver shows through. There is also a number on the DVD--TDVD-0088. and both the
> name of the DVD and the number are etched on the inside back where the DVD is
> read. The actual playing of this is rather like the laserdisc and I have not
> found any extras yet , including any Easter egg, which there may not be any in
> this one.
>
>   My basic conclusion is that if you don't have the laserdisc version, this is
> pretty much like it for the DVD player. This seems to be your basic, no frills
> DVD.
>
>  Maureen
> FoD, Nat-packer, Dark Knightie, FKPagan and PROUD GWDFC member!
> " A vampire cop? REALLY?"

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Date:    Sat, 8 Sep 2001 17:07:24 EDT
From:    Judith Lieberman <JudithL21@a.......>
Subject: Re: Nick Knight DVD-- preliminary report

They are probably pirated.  JudyL

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Date:    Sat, 8 Sep 2001 17:37:45 -0400
From:    Anne Terrien <aterrien@g.......>
Subject: Re: Nick Knight DVD-- preliminary report

Let me start out by saying that I am not an expert on international
copyright law but I am in the middle of trying to get a BA in
International affairs, so I'm kinda familiar with treaty language.

The NGO seems to be WIPO, the World Intellectual Property
Organization and China was a member as of their last web update on
March 14, 2001.

Website that might make more sense than my copy and paste:  www.wipo.int


This treaty seems to be revevant:
Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works

The protected works are called out as:
(1)     The expression "literary and artistic works" shall include
every production in the literary, scientific and artistic domain,
whatever may be the mode or form of its expression, such as books,
pamphlets and other writings; lectures, addresses, sermons and other
works of the same nature; dramatic or dramatico-musical works;
choreographic works and entertainments in dumb show; musical
compositions with or without words; cinematographic works to which
are assimilated works expressed by a process analogous to
cinematography; works of drawing, painting, architecture, sculpture,
engraving and lithography; photographic works to which are
assimilated works expressed by a process analogous to photography;
works of applied art; illustrations, maps, plans, sketches and
three-dimensional works relative to geography, topography,
architecture or science.

China signed this treaty in Paris on Oct 15, 1992.

Another relevant treaty is more recent:

Diplomatic conference onc ertain copyright and neighboring rights
questions.  Geneva, December 2 to 20, 1996.  WIPO Copyright Treaty.

Article 1

Relation to the Berne Convention


(1) This Treaty is a special agreement within the meaning of Article
20 of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and
Artistic Works, as regards Contracting Parties that are countries of
the Union established by that Convention. This Treaty shall not have
any connection with treaties other than the Berne Convention, nor
shall it prejudice any rights and obligations under any other
treaties.

(2) Nothing in this Treaty shall derogate from existing obligations
that Contracting Parties have to each other under the Berne
Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works.

(3) Hereinafter, "Berne Convention" shall refer to the Paris Act of
July 24, 1971 of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary
and Artistic Works.

This is treaty was a way to update the Berne convetion (Paris Act)
and includes computer programs and databases etc.

As for this treaty, China is on a list under 'Actions in respect of
treaties administered by WIPO not yet in force.

China deposited its Notification of Acceptance on May 1, 2000.  I'm
not entirely sure where that leaves China.  Lawyers out there?

My general sense is that China has signed most of the relevant
treaties (which is why we see Disney and Motorola moving in as
quickly as is corporately possible) but that doesn't mean that the
DVD isn't bootlegged because the regulation may not be stellar.

Anne

>HKSAR - Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's
>Republic of China -
>is the lovely island the British gave back to mainland China. While
>I do not wish
>offend anyone or start a flame war, China was not a signatory to the
>international
>copyright treaties under Mao. I don't know what the current status
>may be. Anyone
>know?
>
>--
>Teresa
>"It's good to know what the other side is up to." - Nick Knight
>Of course, I watch BTVS.

------------------------------

Date:    Sat, 8 Sep 2001 16:21:30 -0700
From:    Lady Ariake <lady_ariake@y.......>
Subject: Re: Nick Knight DVD-- preliminary report

--- Anne Terrien <aterrien@g.......> wrote:
> Let me start out by saying that I am not an expert
> on international
> copyright law but I am in the middle of trying to
> get a BA in
> International affairs, so I'm kinda familiar with
> treaty language.
>
I can only say what I know from the news and general
legal study (I'm an anthropologist and my graduate
focus is museums, including law and ethics, mostly
real property law) but I do know that China has had a
serious problem with the selling of priated videos and
CDs in the past.  Some companies (including Disney, in
which I'm a shareholder) have been nervous about
having their products available.  China has SAID they
are cracking down on black market sales, but they're
an awfully big country with a HUGE area to police.
It's possible there are still thousands of video
pirates still in the buisness that their government
either knows nothing about or, in some cases, may be
deliberately overlooking (corruptable government being
a universal constant.)  EBay is a good outlet for
them, because no matter how they try eBay can't look
at every auction that's up.  Most eBay sellers are
honest (I am one!) but not everyone obeys their
regulations about unliscensed franchise merchandise.

I haven't seen the DVD, but if the copyright owner
says it's not available on DVD officially, it almost
has to be a pirated copy.  As the owner of some
pirated Star Wars videos (the Holiday Special, which
believe me is easier to watch on a blurry
sixth-generation tape) I have no moral high ground and
all I'll say is that it's up to you if you want to buy
it.

Personally, if Ger and Nigel aren't in it.... ;)

Jennifer

=====
"If you're going to have delusions of grandeur, go for the really satisfying
ones."  (Marcus Cole, Anla'shok, or my life motto.)

"...In all things trust the Weyrfolk, for their cause is just and true."

http://www.geocities.com/northrangesweyr

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Date:    Sat, 8 Sep 2001 18:54:55 +0800
From:    Cheryl Hoffman <dayabaygal@y.......>
Subject: Re: Nick Knight DVD-- preliminary report

At 05:00 PM 08-09-2001 -0400, Maureen wrote:

>Plastic wrapping is thinner than most, no security seal but there is a bar code
>on back--0-90328-50088-7. The apparent maker of this is Top Ten New Media
>Production Limited HKSAR

Well, having just spent almost 3 years in China, just out of Hong Kong,
I'm well familiar with these DVD's.
And that's exactly what HKSAR stands for:  Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region.  It has returned to China control, but they obviously
want it to retain it's special qualities and commerce, it's one of the SAR's
of China.

>There is also a copyright
>warning on the back cover that says they have the copyright for this DVD.

And this is nothing but a bunch of hooey, it's nothing more than a digital
copy of the laserdisk.  Everything always said that it had the copyright,
even the Star Wars DVD a week after the movie was out.!!
Well, there are exceptions to that.  Sometimes
a copyright is issued to one of these Chinese companies, but then it's for
DVD's that are to be sold ONLY in Asia.

>  The graphics on the cover are sharp and are similar to what is on the
> laserdisc.
>The DVD itself is silver and the label is red with the lettering clear so the
>silver shows through. There is also a number on the DVD--TDVD-0088. and
>both the
>name of the DVD and the number are etched on the inside back where the DVD is
>read. The actual playing of this is rather like the laserdisc and I have not
>found any extras yet , including any Easter egg, which there may not be any in
>this one.

This is all pretty typical, in this day of color photocopies, and DVD burners,
I would go thru the computer malls, and see people sitting & stuffing the disks
and covers into sleeves by the thousands.  This must have been a better one,
many of them just have a number on the disk, no title.

And yes, I had to do a lot of comparison shopping to learn all this.   :p

Cheryl --  Still busy sorting & packing,  4 weeks to Moving Day ----





Cheryl Hoffman, NA (& I ain't changin' it), Cousin, NBN, GWDFC,  G4, Bridging
"My, my... we are in a mood tonight.."
-LaCroix     dayabaygal@y.......
AIM/Yahoo:  DayaBayGal          ICQ:  30464256
San Luis Obispo, California      --  soon to be Richland, Washington

------------------------------

Date:    Sat, 8 Sep 2001 20:54:18 -0700
From:    Sunny LaCountess <countessa2000@y.......>
Subject: request for a pic

Hi all!

Although I'm in the lurking mode I'm continuing to work on
my FK website that hopefully will be up soon (if my
computer doesn't die on me again and delete everything I
have.) I would like to ask if anyone had a picture of Grace
Balthazar, Natalie's assistant, and was willing to send it
to me to put on my website. If you do, please contact me
off list. Your help is of course deeply appreciated.

Hugs and Kisses to all
Sunny


=====
Countess -- Twilight Knightie,IB,DT,UF,Cotk
"What time is it, what day is it, what century is it?"

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Date:    Sun, 9 Sep 2001 00:16:09 EDT
From:    Jeannie Ecklund <Gersknightlady@c.......>
Subject: Re: request for info

I purchased a poster on ebay.  Its Nick Knight on a four page size poster.
Captain Janeway from Star Trek Voyager is on the other side.  Can any one
tell me what Magazine this comes from and the issure #.

Jeannie

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Date:    Sun, 9 Sep 2001 06:50:47 -0700
From:    phylis sullivan <phylis_s_2000_2001@y.......>
Subject: Re: request for info

Jeannie,
  The magazine is: Starlog Science-Fiction Explorer.
June 1995 #7.  Phylis
--- Jeannie Ecklund <Gersknightlady@c.......> wrote:
> I purchased a poster on ebay.  Its Nick Knight on a
> four page size poster.
> Captain Janeway from Star Trek Voyager is on the
> other side.  Can any one
> tell me what Magazine this comes from and the issure
> #.
>
> Jeannie

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End of FORKNI-L Digest - 8 Sep 2001 to 9 Sep 2001 (#2001-272)
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