Everyone please read: email I got today - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

-Michaela · 11-18-2003, 11:10 PM

Hi all:

I just got this email today and thought I should share it. Has anyone else gotten this? What do you think I should do about it?

"Hello,

I am writing you to ask you to discontinue making illegal offers of the copyrighted animated programs you have listed on your web site at http://www.psnw.com/~michaela/.

Your disclaimer does not exempt you from copyright laws and shows that you are making unauthorized copies on recodable media.

I am an interested party because I work in the animation industry as do many of my friends and colleagues. My associates and I work VERY hard to create animation and it hurts us and the industry to have our work pirated and distributed illegally.

I am asking you just this one time. If your web site is not cleared of all copyrighted animation products being offered by you on recordable media by Midnight, Novemeber 20, 2003, we will have no choice but to report your illegal activities to the copyright owners, including, but not limited to the following contacts:

Disney
corp.legal.filmed.media@disney.com

Warner Bros.
anti-piracy@warnerbros.com

Fox Television
meganr@4icc.com

Sony Pictures Television/Columbia Pictures
CAgent@sonypictures.com

In addition, a complaint will be filed with your web host, PSNW.COM because you are engaging in illegal offers, i.e., the sale of illegal copies of copyrighted material on recordable media.

Our complaints we be filed on November 21, 2003 if you have not complied with this request.

I am giving you the chance to avoid having to deal with the owners of these properties. You would be well-advised to heed this warning rather than deal with the actual owners themselves. They, and the MPAA, have no mercy, especially now that the new anti-piracy campaign is under way. I hope you realize I am being a lot nicer than I have to be.

Sincerely,

E. L. Bristow"

nannyfan · 11-19-2003, 04:09 AM

Change the verbage on your website and sell something else (like a pencil, pen, etc) and include the cartoons as a gift "from collector to collector". If I want to buy a pencil from you for $30.00 and you throw in some tapes as a gift...you will probably be ok.

Anybody have any feedback/advice on this?

Did you do a Google search on that guy's email address? Perhaps he is trying to eliminate his competition??

I definitely would not shut down my website if I were you because I think if he is truly legitimate, he would have already reported you. I would not respond to his threats. Just change the verbage on your website.

Goodluck!

peter may · 11-19-2003, 09:23 AM

if i were you, i'd shut the site down before you get sued

vashti1999 · 11-19-2003, 12:18 PM

Quote:

you are making unauthorized copies on recodable media.

I am an interested party

Our complaints we be filed on November 21, 2003 if you have not complied with this request.

I am giving you the chance to avoid having to deal with the owners of these properties. You would be well-advised to heed this warning rather than deal with the actual owners themselves. They, and the MPAA, have no mercy, especially now that the new anti-piracy campaign is under way. I hope you realize I am being a lot nicer than I have to be.

Sincerely,

E. L. Bristow"

What was in the subject line when you got the email? If this is something official they should at least state what the subject of the email is in the subject line, as well as stating what company they're affiliated with, not just signing the email "E. L. Bristow". Plus they misspelled "recordable". I'd honestly think this is a hoax, someone trying to put a scare in you.

Agent 13 · 11-19-2003, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Our complaints we be filed on November 21, 2003 if you have not complied with this request.

It appears that this is a threat to report you. If you were contacted by the MPAA, as bearcat was, that'd be a different matter.

For one thing, I'd recommend removing anything resembling selling your wares. Trading in the US is not illegal while exchanging money is controversial. Until tape trading sites are shut down, I think we're pretty safe as far as trading goes.

Just an idea: I personally removed my website because the exposure I was getting is just not worth it if I'm going to lose all of my stuff in the process. I have since started using a post on this site as the link to refer traders to.

nannyfan · 11-19-2003, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by -Michaela

I am an interested party because I work in the animation industry as do many of my friends and colleagues. My associates and I work VERY hard to create animation and it hurts us and the industry to have our work pirated and distributed illegally.

E. L. Bristow"

I agree, this person is just trying to scare you. Their email is very unprofessional as it contains words that are spelled incorrectly and they clearly do not realize that a "colleague" is a co-worker. Therefore, all of his colleagues would work in the animation industry (as opposed to "many" as he states).

Offenders are not given warnings to shut down illegal operations. They are persued and prosecuted AFTER there is solid evidence an infraction has occured.

While I do not believe it would be wise to keep key words on your website (buy, sell, and pricelist) - surely nobody cares about trading shows. If the "industry" didn't like it - there would not be so many "active" websites dedicated to tape trading

Beavis · 11-19-2003, 02:47 PM

This is outdated, but useful... just be careful out there folks.. and have them submit you in in writing, on company letterhead to you personally, to submit to you in writing their initial stop and decease letter, etc... instead of an email...get their contact info, supervisors name, company profile etc..to see if they're legit...who are these collegaues? etc...

http://www.innermind.com/myguides/misc/faqtrade.htm

Bloody Demons · 11-19-2003, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by -Michaela
Hi all:

I just got this email today and thought I should share it. Has anyone else gotten this? What do you think I should do about it?

"Hello,

I am writing you to ask you to discontinue making illegal offers of the copyrighted animated programs you have listed on your web site at http://www.psnw.com/~michaela/.

Your disclaimer does not exempt you from copyright laws and shows that you are making unauthorized copies on recodable media.

I am an interested party because I work in the animation industry as do many of my friends and colleagues. My associates and I work VERY hard to create animation and it hurts us and the industry to have our work pirated and distributed illegally.

I am asking you just this one time. If your web site is not cleared of all copyrighted animation products being offered by you on recordable media by Midnight, Novemeber 20, 2003, we will have no choice but to report your illegal activities to the copyright owners, including, but not limited to the following contacts:

Disney
corp.legal.filmed.media@disney.com

Warner Bros.
anti-piracy@warnerbros.com

Fox Television
meganr@4icc.com

Sony Pictures Television/Columbia Pictures
CAgent@sonypictures.com

In addition, a complaint will be filed with your web host, PSNW.COM because you are engaging in illegal offers, i.e., the sale of illegal copies of copyrighted material on recordable media.

Our complaints we be filed on November 21, 2003 if you have not complied with this request.

I am giving you the chance to avoid having to deal with the owners of these properties. You would be well-advised to heed this warning rather than deal with the actual owners themselves. They, and the MPAA, have no mercy, especially now that the new anti-piracy campaign is under way. I hope you realize I am being a lot nicer than I have to be.

Sincerely,

E. L. Bristow"

I think you are crazy for putting a website out for anyone to see that has you selling and trading illegal stuff on it anyway LMAO

-Michaela · 11-20-2003, 03:34 AM

Update November 20 2003, 2:14 AM

Thanks for the feedback gang! Interesting to read your comments. Mostly just wondering if I was being singled out or if a lot of you folks have been targeted.

This dork had the audacity to send a "reminder" message about taking my site down.

No can do, Robin! I'm not taking it down unless my ISP does, then I'll shop for a new ISP. Is it worth it to continue trading? Well, I enjoy my collection, especially the rare stuff that most of you other folks don't have yet.

Anywhoo- just made some modifications to the ol site and canned the pricing page. We'll see how that flys.

Tune into tomorrow -- will this caped crusador outwit the evil Spammer? I think so, Batman!

Cheers ya'll
-Michaela
http://www.psnw.com/~michaela

Agent 13 · 11-20-2003, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by -Michaela
Update November 20 2003, 2:14 AM
Thanks for the feedback gang! Interesting to read your comments. Mostly just wondering if I was being singled out or if a lot of you folks have been targeted.
http://www.psnw.com/~michaela

Michaela,

Please keep us informed as to your status in this regard.

Thanks

Beavis · 11-20-2003, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by -Michaela
Update November 20 2003, 2:14 AM

Thanks for the feedback gang! Interesting to read your comments. Mostly just wondering if I was being singled out or if a lot of you folks have been targeted.

This dork had the audacity to send a "reminder" message about taking my site down.

No can do, Robin! I'm not taking it down unless my ISP does, then I'll shop for a new ISP. Is it worth it to continue trading? Well, I enjoy my collection, especially the rare stuff that most of you other folks don't have yet.

Anywhoo- just made some modifications to the ol site and canned the pricing page. We'll see how that flys.

Tune into tomorrow -- will this caped crusador outwit the evil Spammer? I think so, Batman!

Cheers ya'll
-Michaela
http://www.psnw.com/~michaela

Michaela, rule of thumb? I don't know how much stuff you have? But Seriously consider "backing up all your stuff you want to keep" i.e., make VHS tapes or DVD's of your trades etc... this way, unlike someone else had happen to them, they confiscated all their tapes and DVDs etc..of all their stuff, etc... and were left with NOTHING!. If you made duplicate copies of everything you have or want to keep for yourself even...it's good to make a back up copy of it or them, and hide it with a relative or neighbor or friend, etc... Just a suggestion, because if someone were to take all your stuff from you, you'd be left hi and dry... and that's not good... better safe than sorry...

So if anyone's got the time or resources, to keep all the stuff they have for trading etc.. you should make another copy (backup copy) of that tape of DVD etc..and put it away, hide it, keep it at a relatives house, "in case"..

never know... LOL but yeah, keepus posted.. I got burned big time by a trader for $120.00! and am ticked off! Never got my stuff either... and am being careful who I deal with with just testing the waters here and there and seeing who's honest or not...LOL

webuster · 11-20-2003, 06:04 PM

I really hate some aspects of copyright laws. For one- a lot of people here are distributing shows not on air and not available on video/dvd from a studio- and the studios haven't posted that they plan to release the show. So- if they aren't willing to distribute their shows- then they should be able to sure people.

For example, ellen is a show studios don't appear to be releasing- so when it's not aired on tv it should be ok to distribute tapes of ellen.

BristowEL · 11-23-2003, 06:15 PM

Hello Everyone,

I am the person that sent the email to Michaela. I wish to thank Michaela for altering the website by removing the references to sales of (unauthorized) copies of copyrighted shows.

I see some of you think I am a hoax. Let me respond by saying that I do indeed work in the animation industry and I have colleagues that don't work in the animation department. If you need to get nit-picky about my misspellings or your perceived misuse of my words then you are missing the point. It is totally unimportant who I am because, regardless of my credentials, I am still capable of protecting my interests and rights and those of the industry. Even if I didn't work in the industry who's to say I couldn't have enough regard for it to help protect it? It doesn't matter who I am when I make a report to the authorities as long as my complaint is valid. BTW, don't bother trying to figure out who E. L. Bristow really is -- that is a fake name and I feel no need whatsoever to reveal my true identity. It isn't necessary.

Yes, I am a dork because I am protecting my rights, right? How do YOU like it when someone steals YOUR stuff? What do you think the hundreds of people involved in making an animated feature feel like when they see their work (and it is a lot of work) stolen from them. It's like going to work and watching someone else getting paid for it. That's what copyrights are for.

It is not my desire to turn anyone in to the authorities. I do not want to punish anyone, rather, I am making an effort to stop illegal distibution. Make no mistake, however. I would definitely have reported Michaela to the authorities mentioned in my email if the changes to the website had not been made. The changes were made and I did not report it.

I am not singling out Michaela. I found the site easily by searching the internet, just as I found this venue, and whenever I find someone selling unauthorized copies I make an effort to stop them. If I can't stop them, I report them to authorities that CAN stop them.

If you must distribute illegal copies you should at least be discrete. Person-to-person trading and even selling will, of course, never stop occurring. But blatant offers on web pages are often stopped and not just by myself as I'm sure many of you know.

I truly wish you all the best.

E. L. Bristow

nannyfan · 11-24-2003, 06:20 PM

a1b2c3 · 11-27-2003, 07:39 AM

Yeah. Right on there Nannyfan!

Guess what, you chumps... the copyright violation we are talking about is a felony. Can you spell Fell-on-knee?

Check out what they do to you when you get busted for a felony and then talk about how cool you think you are when you're ripping off the artists you claim to admire so much.

Sick!

11-18-2003, 11:10 PM	#1
-Michaela Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 02, 2003 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 67	Everyone please read: email I got today Hi all: I just got this email today and thought I should share it. Has anyone else gotten this? What do you think I should do about it? "Hello, I am writing you to ask you to discontinue making illegal offers of the copyrighted animated programs you have listed on your web site at http://www.psnw.com/~michaela/. Your disclaimer does not exempt you from copyright laws and shows that you are making unauthorized copies on recodable media. I am an interested party because I work in the animation industry as do many of my friends and colleagues. My associates and I work VERY hard to create animation and it hurts us and the industry to have our work pirated and distributed illegally. I am asking you just this one time. If your web site is not cleared of all copyrighted animation products being offered by you on recordable media by Midnight, Novemeber 20, 2003, we will have no choice but to report your illegal activities to the copyright owners, including, but not limited to the following contacts: Disney corp.legal.filmed.media@disney.com Warner Bros. anti-piracy@warnerbros.com Fox Television meganr@4icc.com Sony Pictures Television/Columbia Pictures CAgent@sonypictures.com In addition, a complaint will be filed with your web host, PSNW.COM because you are engaging in illegal offers, i.e., the sale of illegal copies of copyrighted material on recordable media. Our complaints we be filed on November 21, 2003 if you have not complied with this request. I am giving you the chance to avoid having to deal with the owners of these properties. You would be well-advised to heed this warning rather than deal with the actual owners themselves. They, and the MPAA, have no mercy, especially now that the new anti-piracy campaign is under way. I hope you realize I am being a lot nicer than I have to be. Sincerely, E. L. Bristow"
	__________________ -Michaela http://www.leifslounge.com The Place for Rare Animation

11-20-2003, 03:34 AM	#9
-Michaela Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 02, 2003 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 67	Just an Update Update November 20 2003, 2:14 AM Thanks for the feedback gang! Interesting to read your comments. Mostly just wondering if I was being singled out or if a lot of you folks have been targeted. This dork had the audacity to send a "reminder" message about taking my site down. No can do, Robin! I'm not taking it down unless my ISP does, then I'll shop for a new ISP. Is it worth it to continue trading? Well, I enjoy my collection, especially the rare stuff that most of you other folks don't have yet. Anywhoo- just made some modifications to the ol site and canned the pricing page. We'll see how that flys. Tune into tomorrow -- will this caped crusador outwit the evil Spammer? I think so, Batman! Cheers ya'll -Michaela http://www.psnw.com/~michaela

11-19-2003, 04:09 AM	#2
nannyfan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 11, 2003 Location: USA Posts: 342	Change the verbage on your website and sell something else (like a pencil, pen, etc) and include the cartoons as a gift "from collector to collector". If I want to buy a pencil from you for $30.00 and you throw in some tapes as a gift...you will probably be ok. Anybody have any feedback/advice on this? Did you do a Google search on that guy's email address? Perhaps he is trying to eliminate his competition?? I definitely would not shut down my website if I were you because I think if he is truly legitimate, he would have already reported you. I would not respond to his threats. Just change the verbage on your website. Goodluck!

11-19-2003, 09:23 AM	#3
peter may The SO Limey Senior Member Join Date: Feb 26, 2002 Location: LONDON Posts: 1,883	if i were you, i'd shut the site down before you get sued

11-19-2003, 02:47 PM	#7
Beavis Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 19, 2003 Location: TVLAND Posts: 725	This is outdated, but useful... just be careful out there folks.. and have them submit you in in writing, on company letterhead to you personally, to submit to you in writing their initial stop and decease letter, etc... instead of an email...get their contact info, supervisors name, company profile etc..to see if they're legit...who are these collegaues? etc... http://www.innermind.com/myguides/misc/faqtrade.htm

11-20-2003, 06:04 PM	#12
webuster Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 26, 2002 Posts: 2,150	I really hate some aspects of copyright laws. For one- a lot of people here are distributing shows not on air and not available on video/dvd from a studio- and the studios haven't posted that they plan to release the show. So- if they aren't willing to distribute their shows- then they should be able to sure people. For example, ellen is a show studios don't appear to be releasing- so when it's not aired on tv it should be ok to distribute tapes of ellen.

11-23-2003, 06:15 PM	#13
BristowEL Member First Time Poster Join Date: Nov 23, 2003 Posts: 1	Hello Everyone, I am the person that sent the email to Michaela. I wish to thank Michaela for altering the website by removing the references to sales of (unauthorized) copies of copyrighted shows. I see some of you think I am a hoax. Let me respond by saying that I do indeed work in the animation industry and I have colleagues that don't work in the animation department. If you need to get nit-picky about my misspellings or your perceived misuse of my words then you are missing the point. It is totally unimportant who I am because, regardless of my credentials, I am still capable of protecting my interests and rights and those of the industry. Even if I didn't work in the industry who's to say I couldn't have enough regard for it to help protect it? It doesn't matter who I am when I make a report to the authorities as long as my complaint is valid. BTW, don't bother trying to figure out who E. L. Bristow really is -- that is a fake name and I feel no need whatsoever to reveal my true identity. It isn't necessary. Yes, I am a dork because I am protecting my rights, right? How do YOU like it when someone steals YOUR stuff? What do you think the hundreds of people involved in making an animated feature feel like when they see their work (and it is a lot of work) stolen from them. It's like going to work and watching someone else getting paid for it. That's what copyrights are for. It is not my desire to turn anyone in to the authorities. I do not want to punish anyone, rather, I am making an effort to stop illegal distibution. Make no mistake, however. I would definitely have reported Michaela to the authorities mentioned in my email if the changes to the website had not been made. The changes were made and I did not report it. I am not singling out Michaela. I found the site easily by searching the internet, just as I found this venue, and whenever I find someone selling unauthorized copies I make an effort to stop them. If I can't stop them, I report them to authorities that CAN stop them. If you must distribute illegal copies you should at least be discrete. Person-to-person trading and even selling will, of course, never stop occurring. But blatant offers on web pages are often stopped and not just by myself as I'm sure many of you know. I truly wish you all the best. E. L. Bristow

11-24-2003, 06:20 PM	#14
nannyfan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 11, 2003 Location: USA Posts: 342

11-27-2003, 07:39 AM	#15
a1b2c3 Member First Time Poster Join Date: Nov 27, 2003 Posts: 1	Yeah. Right on there Nannyfan! Guess what, you chumps... the copyright violation we are talking about is a felony. Can you spell Fell-on-knee? Check out what they do to you when you get busted for a felony and then talk about how cool you think you are when you're ripping off the artists you claim to admire so much. Sick!