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What should you do if you know someone's doing an illegal production? — Page 4

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#76

re: What should you do if you know someone's doing an illegal production?

Posted: 10/31/05 at 11:55am

From what I understand (yeah, could be entirely wrong... not denying that) to photocopy and KEEP the photocopies is illegal. I've worked with two different companies who photocopy and destroy all copies immediately after the show ends. It saves on having to pay damage penalties on books given out to the cast. Because, honestly, no matter how careful one is with a script, it's bound to take a little abuse. I don't have a problem with it as long as people honestly destroy stuff afterwards.
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#77

re: What should you do if you know someone's doing an illegal production?

Posted: 10/31/05 at 11:56am

You have to report it. These rights aren't available yet. Talk to the principle and tell him/her how wrong this is.
"Nothing's lost forever. In this world, there is a kind of painful progress. Longing for what we've left behind, and dreaming ahead."
#80

re: What should you do if you know someone's doing an illegal production?

Posted: 10/31/05 at 12:29pm

"Profts are the only factor in determining a judgement in a civil copyright case. I swear. Trust me."

BWAYboi_yes, that statement is factually incorrect. Under the copyright statute (which, by the way, is a federal law, and does not vary by state), the holder of a copyright can elect to sue for statutory damages, which can be up to $30,000, regardless of actual damages and profits. If the court finds that the infringer violated the copyright wilfully (i.e., knew perfectly well that what they were doing was illegal), a court can raise that damage award to as much as $150,000.

However, it probably wouldn't come to that, since a copyright holder can also sue for an injunction that would in this case prevent the school from mounting the production in the first place (assuming the copyright holder had advance notice, which it sounds like many on this board are willing to provide).
#81

re: What should you do if you know someone's doing an illegal production?

Posted: 10/31/05 at 12:54pm

Allow me to withdraw myself from this discussion. I assure you that my comments weren't even really meant to be response-seeking. It is entirely possible for what I have laid forth as possible to actually happen. It could. It could not. It would depend on many factors, but a good lawyer could make a case and win, no doubts, on either side. That's for sure. I'm not saying that it's good or right or anything. Only that I thought it was interesting because it was possible. That's it.
#82

re: What should you do if you know someone's doing an illegal production?

Posted: 10/31/05 at 12:55pm

A legal debate on BWW...I have not been on in a while, clearly all the law & order on tv is getting to your heads...

"the holder of a copyright can elect to sue for statutory damages, which can be up to $30,000"

But if a production looses money on a production isnt it likely that the judge would consider that and would then effect his ruling...

Turn them in...they are commiting a crime that all artists and appreciators of art MUST take seriously if you wish for this buisness to survive.

And I'd love to have a chat with your Mother
#84

re: What should you do if you know someone's doing an illegal production?

Posted: 10/31/05 at 1:11pm

My previous post was meant solely to clear up a couple of factual inaccuracies that I spotted in prior postings (specifically, available damages under the copyright law, and the fact that the law does not vary by state), not to predict outcomes in this case. Sorry, the law dork in me is sometimes too powerful to resist. :)
#88

re: What should you do if you know someone's doing an illegal production?

Posted: 10/31/05 at 1:47pm

Cathy:

"what do you do if you're in a production and you know that the producers didn't buy the rights?"

uh, how badly do you need the cash? Tell the producers: 'I was at Borders yesterday and picked up this great read, I think its by Dan Brown, um...lets see (searches purse)...here it is: Federal Copyright Act Sections 78 & 79...you should totally read it.' Ethically you should report the producer (he knows what he is doing is wrong), but you arent commiting any crime simply by performing in the play.

"i've been in a few shows and we all had photocopied scripts and i know that the rights to the show were not purchased."

As stated before just because the scripts are photocopied does not mean the rights are not purchased. It is actually a good way to preserve the scripts you have to return...and as long as the copied scripts are destroyed I see nothing ethically wrong with it, though it is illegal.

"can i still report it? even though the shows are over?"

Um I guess...but ask yourself does Stephen Schwartz really care about the $50 the Southwestern Maine Anglican Church made in their basement production of Wicked. No. In cases like these prevention is really more important than punishment. I guess if you think theyd do it again.

Updated On: 10/31/05 at 01:47 PM

#90

re: What should you do if you know someone's doing an illegal production?

Posted: 10/6/21 at 4:10pm

Sorry to revive a thread from 2005, but...

A production company is producing something called "The Rocky Horror Picture Show: The (name of my city) Experience"

I was initially offered the role in this show, but dropped out when contracts were not provided and a few other sketchy things started to happen. Among those being using copies of the film script and the stage score (found online - without purchasing rights) and setting the show in the city in which the production is taking place.

The production team claims that they will be paying the actors (...but never offered us contracts to sign), so I am torn because I don't want to take work away from actors. On the other hand, I know that theatre companies are attempting to come back after a very long hiatus & it seems pretty unfair that this particular company will be making all of this profit without purchasing the rights to the stage show. They are also charging more than what typical theatre tickets cost for this area.

Any thoughts on the right thing to do?

Updated On: 10/7/21 at 04:10 PM

#91

re: What should you do if you know someone's doing an illegal production?

Posted: 10/6/21 at 4:48pm

You can contact Concord Theatricals. They'd be very interested, I'm sure.



If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#93

re: What should you do if you know someone's doing an illegal production?

Posted: 10/6/21 at 5:05pm

jlindsey865 said: "Sorry to revive a thread from 2005, but...

A production company is producing something called "The Rocky Horror Picture Show: The (name of my city) Experience"

I was initially offered the role ofBrad (a dream role of mine)in this show, but dropped out when contracts were not provided and a few other sketchy things started to happen. Among those being using copies of thefilm script and the stage score (found online -without purchasing rights) and setting the show in the city in which the production is taking place.

The production team claims that they will be paying the actors (...but never offered us contracts to sign), so I am torn because I don't want to take work away from actors. On the other hand, Iknow that theatre companies are attempting to come back after a very long hiatus &it seems pretty unfair that this particular company will be making all of this profit without purchasingthe rights to the stage show. They are also charging more than what typical theatre tickets cost for this area.

Any thoughts on the right thing to do?"

Don’t look at it as taking money away from the actors, look at it as protecting them from being accessories to a crime. If the producer is too cheap to pay for the rights and won’t give out contracts, then he probably has no intention of paying the actors, anyway. To my knowledge, if the show is still in rehearsals, licensing companies will actually give the producer the chance to do the right thing and fill out the paperwork and pay the fees and percentages. If the producer doesn’t want to play by the rules and chooses to shut it all down, everyone involved is better off anyway. That’s not someone with whom you want to work.

Updated On: 10/6/21 at 05:05 PM

#94

re: What should you do if you know someone's doing an illegal production?

Posted: 10/6/21 at 5:18pm

They are pretty clearly acting illegally. They clearly don't even know the correct name of the work (the stage version is simply called The Rocky Horror Show). Does Concord Theatricals now own the rights? Dramamama suggests contacting them, but as far as I know, the rights are held by Samuel French. I would contact whoever owns the rights, even if it's just an anonymous tip.

Don't do this production. It's a great show, and I bet you'd make a superb Brad. But this is not a production you want to be associated with.

#99

re: What should you do if you know someone's doing an illegal production?

Posted: 10/6/21 at 11:31pm

Jilani said: ""Profts are the only factor in determining a judgement in a civil copyright case. I swear. Trust me."

BWAYboi_yes, that statement is factually incorrect. Under the copyright statute (which, by the way, is a federal law, and does not vary by state), the holder of a copyright can elect to sue for statutory damages, which can be up to $30,000, regardless of actual damages and profits. If the court finds that the infringer violated the copyright wilfully (i.e., knew perfectly well that what they were doing was illegal), a court can raise that damage award to as much as $150,000.

However, it probably wouldn't come to that, since a copyright holder can also sue for an injunction that would in this case prevent the school from mounting the production in the first place (assuming the copyright holder had advance notice, which it sounds like many on this board are willing to provide)."

$150,000???! Oh my god. That’s insane.

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