keithd@cadovax.UUCP (Keith Doyle) (02/07/85)
>There are a variety of procedures, mostly involving screwing around >with the sync. Unfortunately, these also render the picture unviewable >on some televisions. It is difficult to conceive of a "copyguard" >system that wouldn't be vulnerable to fairly simplistic processing >(such as by a proc amp in the simplest case). >--Lauren-- Some companies definately go too far with the desire for copy &/or copyright protection. In particular, TARGET VIDEO is one. Recently I purchased an off the shelf music video that they produced, and throughout the entire tape the message '(C) TARGET VIDEO 1983 (C)' appears about where you would see subtitles in a foreign movie (but about twice subtitle size). This is ridiculous! Apparently they're worried that some local music video channel will 'pirate' an excerpt out of their video, so those of us who spent good money on a LEGAL copy of their tape have to look at their copyright bullshit through the entire thing. In this case, it's particularly a shame, as TARGET VIDEO has a large librav9of obscure videos of fringe musical groups. However I wouldn't suggest you buy anything from them without a chance to view it first (which is probably not particulary easy to do). I do get the impression that some of their videos do not have copyright messages in this way. I've seen at least one video of theirs that does not (unfortunately it is an older one rather than a newer one). Keith Doyle {ucbvax,ihnp4,decvax}!trwrb!cadovax!keithd