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From: arcorp@utcsri.UUCP (Alias Research Corporation)
Newsgroups: net.video
Subject: Re: Why are prerecorded tapes so ?!$# expensive ? (and other stuff)
Message-ID: <1115@utcsri.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 14-May-85 02:06:01 EDT
Article-I.D.: utcsri.1115
Posted: Tue May 14 02:06:01 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 14-May-85 02:41:44 EDT
References: <2003@iddic.UUCP>
Organization: CSRI, University of Toronto
Lines: 40

> <>
    At the risk of being called an un-person, I will have to agree
with Jack Valenti.
    Consider this. You have developed a piece of software, sold it to
someone, and that person rents it to others without giving you any of
the rental fee. Those who rent it often copy it. You have no right to
tell the dealer to stop renting it.
    The movie industry sees itself in such a situation with their
product. Can you blame them?
    Whenever you purchase a video[tape|disc] you are not only filling the
coffers of the studios, but supporting an art form as well. Sure, the
studios are big, but they take enormous risks as well. United Artists
went bankrupt after "Heaven's Gate".
    These studios employ artists and technicians who have sacrificed
steady jobs in order to work in the film industry. These individuals
suffer through many "lean years" before they post a net gain. Your
contributions keep these talented people interested in making the films
you enjoy.
    Older films require storage and care. They are looked after by the
studios who own them. In this area, the studios have been negligent.
They have carelessly lost significant portions of what can be regarded
as our culture. For this reason they must be made accountable for
such behavior before we give in to their demands.
    Jack & Co. should be forced to fund a museum devoted to the preservation
of motion pictures. Such a museum must have the right to any prints of
motion pictures (or video) that is owned by any member of the MPAA.
    Finally, the studios should recognise that it is their responsibility
to release *all* of their films, regardless of their market potential.
If they are allowed access to us as a market, then they should take a
loss on occasion and make available the movies that some people await.

    A deal should be struck between the public and the MPAA. It would
probably benefit us all in the long run if both sides recognised their
obligations.

                 Stephen Y. Trutiak     ( I Like LV )

                 Alias Research Corp.

              { allegra! utcsri! alias! strutiak }