Sometimes I don't understand DLT Entertainment. It looks like they've made their latest sweep through YouTube and deleted every full episode of Three's Company.

Wouldn't they be glad to know how much interest there still is in the show? Most people who are enough of a fan to look up a TC episode on YouTube probably watch the syndicated show on TV or own the DVDs. I just don't understand why companies like DLT keep resisting the future of entertainment.

The answer is quite easy: Why purchase DVDs when they're available for free on YouTube?

I get that, but I would argue that most people have already bought the DVDs. Or they watch the syndicated show on TV that DLT is getting paid for. I own the DVDs but like to watch them on YouTube when I'm cooking (no TV in kitchen).

If someone likes the show enough to look up the episodes, they're probably a fan and will at some point look into buying the DVDs. People watch music vids but often buy the music so they have it on their iPod, etc. Not always, but it happens.

I think DLT jealously guards Three's Company too much. There was a play that parodied the show a year or so ago that DLT shut down because they claimed it was using material from TC (it did not, it was an original take on the TC set-up). DLT seemed to miss the point that the probably brief run of the play and publicity would generate renewed interest and sales of the DVDs.

The issue isn't just sales or continued viewership. The main issue is that if actions like this are not taken, the series can lose its copyright protection and become public domain. This can then affect other shows in the future, and end the TV airings and DVD sales.

I don't ever recall seeing eps of TC on youtube lol

I don't ever recall seeing eps of TC on youtube lol
I do, but they tend to not last long. I don't blame DLT Entertainment. The DVD season sets really are cheap. If you want to see it, pay the $12 for a season set.

They come and go.

I do, but they tend to not last long. I don't blame DLT Entertainment. The DVD season sets really are cheap. If you want to see it, pay the $12 for a season set.


Well, I blame DLT lol. There are other series that are on YouTube that seem to be not so jealously guarded.

And TerriFan, copyright only expires when a certain amount of time has passed. Work published and copyrighted 1978 and afterward: "70 years after the death of author. If a work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever expires first." According to https://copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm

I should say I never seen full eps of TC, only clips of certain scenes

Well, I blame DLT lol. There are other series that are on YouTube that seem to be not so jealously guarded.

And TerriFan, copyright only expires when a certain amount of time has passed. Work published and copyrighted 1978 and afterward: "70 years after the death of author. If a work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever expires first." According to https://copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm

Not completely true. Copyrights have to be renewed every so often. There was a screw-up years ago at, I believe Viacom, that resulted in the loss of copyrights on a bunch of episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Lucy Show and The Beverly Hillbillies. Ever since, those episodes have been in the public domain. These episodes continue to be sold on cheap DVDs by cheapo companies who take advantage of the free access to those shows. That's a lot of lost dollars for Viacom/Paramount/CBS.

Not completely true. Copyrights have to be renewed every so often. There was a screw-up years ago at, I believe Viacom, that resulted in the loss of copyrights on a bunch of episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Lucy Show and The Beverly Hillbillies.

You are right, copyrights need to be renewed. But that has nothing to do with sweeping Youtube. If something is widely circed illegally it may be bad for sales but the copyright isn't affected (which is what I think TerriFan was saying earlier.)

I guess my point is that there are shows that are currently copyrighted and are not as jealously guarded. You can watch Love Boat, Rhoda, and many other classic shows on youtube regularly. I find it odd that Three's Company is the exception.

You are right, copyrights need to be renewed. But that has nothing to do with sweeping Youtube. If something is widely circed illegally it may be bad for sales but the copyright isn't affected (which is what I think TerriFan was saying earlier.)

I guess my point is that there are shows that are currently copyrighted and are not as jealously guarded. You can watch Love Boat, Rhoda, and many other classic shows on youtube regularly. I find it odd that Three's Company is the exception.
You're not surprised DLT Entertainment is blatantly concerned with profit-making from DVD Sales, are you? This is not out of character for them.

If Three's Company was on youtube I would spend 90% of my time on that site lol

Well, I blame DLT lol. There are other series that are on YouTube that seem to be not so jealously guarded.

And TerriFan, copyright only expires when a certain amount of time has passed. Work published and copyrighted 1978 and afterward: "70 years after the death of author. If a work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever expires first." According to https://copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm
If no action is taken against copyright violators, it is considered consent, and if it happens often enough, copyright protections become forfeit.