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Copyright Holder credited as Media Co?
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DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantpharmelink
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Registered: March 21, 2007
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Question:

If a company is listed in the credits as holding both the show's title and characters, should they not be listed as a production or distribution fields?

Example: DC Comics, Marvel, etc.
Thanks.

Paul H.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributornorthbloke
Registered: March 15, 2007
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Not necessarily. The studios field is really only for companies who have had a direct hand in the production or distribution of a film.
So if a production company has licenced a character from a comic company then only the production company is listed.
But if a comic company has commissioned a production company to make a film based on one of its characters then most likely both companies will get listed.

Basically if the comic company doesn't have a "Presents" or an "in association with" or similar credit at the front of the film, it's unlikely they should be added.

Hope this helps.

Edit: same with the MC field, unless the comic company has had a hand in releasing the DVD, or has licenced the footage (not just the character) to the DVD company, they'll probably not get listed.
 Last edited: by northbloke
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorTheMadMartian
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I agree with northbloke.  It is not uncommon for one company to allow another company to simply pay a fee for use of the name/characters.  The payment does not grant them credit.  The Incredible Hulk TV series, as an example, is owned by Universal and has nothing to do with Marvel.
No dictator, no invader can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever.
There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom.
Against this power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand.
The Centauri learned this lesson once.
We will teach it to them again.
Though it take a thousand years, we will be free.
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 Last edited: by TheMadMartian
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributordee1959jay
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In some cases listing them in the Media Companies field may be warranted. The Contribution Rules mention the following category:

'Licensor (Home Video Rights) - Usually found (dated with the year of the DVD release) on the back of the box or in the credit block with words words regarding "under license from...".'
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorTheMadMartian
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Quoting dee1959jay:
Quote:
In some cases listing them in the Media Companies field may be warranted. The Contribution Rules mention the following category:

'Licensor (Home Video Rights) - Usually found (dated with the year of the DVD release) on the back of the box or in the credit block with words words regarding "under license from...".'

Two different kinds of licensing.  The one we are after is the company that holds the home video rights, not the company that owns the name of the character.  In my example, Marvel licensed the use of the character to CBS but holds no home video rights.  That license is held by Universal.

Another example of what we are after is The Criterion Collection version of The Rock.  The home video rights are owned by BVHE and it is released 'under license from' them.

As northbloke said, the only time we would list the character licensor, is if they participated in the production or home video release of the film.
No dictator, no invader can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever.
There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom.
Against this power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand.
The Centauri learned this lesson once.
We will teach it to them again.
Though it take a thousand years, we will be free.
- Citizen G'Kar
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributordee1959jay
Registered: March 19, 2007
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Aha, thanks for your explanation, Martian.
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantpharmelink
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So to clarify, even if at the end of an episode of for example Justice League Unlimited, if the DC Comics logo is presented (alone full screen) that isn't enought to credit it.
Thanks.

Paul H.
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorTheMadMartian
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Quoting pharmelink:
Quote:
So to clarify, even if at the end of an episode of for example Justice League Unlimited, if the DC Comics logo is presented (alone full screen) that isn't enought to credit it.

This is a different question and has a more complicated answer...but only slightly more.

Sometimes, as in the Incredible Hulk example, characters are licensed to other companies.  In this case, since DC is owned by Warner Bros, no such licensing exists.  In this case, DC Comics does get a production company credit...but not a Media Company credit.
No dictator, no invader can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever.
There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom.
Against this power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand.
The Centauri learned this lesson once.
We will teach it to them again.
Though it take a thousand years, we will be free.
- Citizen G'Kar
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantpharmelink
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Registered: March 21, 2007
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Quoting TheMadMartian:
Quote:
Quoting pharmelink:
Quote:
So to clarify, even if at the end of an episode of for example Justice League Unlimited, if the DC Comics logo is presented (alone full screen) that isn't enought to credit it.

This is a different question and has a more complicated answer...but only slightly more.

Sometimes, as in the Incredible Hulk example, characters are licensed to other companies.  In this case, since DC is owned by Warner Bros, no such licensing exists.  In this case, DC Comics does get a production company credit...but not a Media Company credit.


So for Justice League (or Justice League Unlimited), is the production company credit only used if the DC Comics logo appears at the end of the credits, verses it listing that "Justice League" is copyrighted by DC Comics?
Thanks.

Paul H.
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorTheMadMartian
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If I understand your question correctly, a statement of 'Copyright DC Comics' is not enough for a production credit as it is just that, a copyright statement.  The logo on screen, in my opinion, would be enough as those are usually reserved for the production companies/film studios.
No dictator, no invader can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever.
There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom.
Against this power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand.
The Centauri learned this lesson once.
We will teach it to them again.
Though it take a thousand years, we will be free.
- Citizen G'Kar
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantpharmelink
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Registered: March 21, 2007
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Quoting TheMadMartian:
Quote:
If I understand your question correctly, a statement of 'Copyright DC Comics' is not enough for a production credit as it is just that, a copyright statement.  The logo on screen, in my opinion, would be enough as those are usually reserved for the production companies/film studios.


Yes you understood my question.

I'll now have to rewatch some of the season of JL & JLU because while I saw the text of copyright notice on every ep., I only remember seeing the logo appearing at the end of JLU Season 2, Disc #2.

Thanks everyone.
Thanks.

Paul H.
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Quoting pharmelink:
Quote:
I only remember seeing the logo appearing at the end of JLU Season 2, Disc #2.

Thanks everyone.

If I've got it right, I think both DC and Marvel have both set up production companies so they no longer have to licence their characters to other companies. That might coincide with the appearance of the logo - it's possible they started producing or co-producing JLU then. This is just a guess mind.
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantpharmelink
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Registered: March 21, 2007
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Quoting northbloke:
Quote:

If I've got it right, I think both DC and Marvel have both set up production companies so they no longer have to licence their characters to other companies. That might coincide with the appearance of the logo - it's possible they started producing or co-producing JLU then. This is just a guess mind.


And there in lies the dilemma. Is it all the seasons or the later ones (maybe even just the last one) that the production company is used.

I had added DC Comics to all the seasons profiles, and all were voted down because I didn't accurately quote a source. I had used the in closing credits copyright of the title, but as this discussion has indicated that may not be enough.

Am trying to determine what determines the source.
Thanks.

Paul H.
 Last edited: by pharmelink
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