Subject: [removed] Digest V01 #177
From: <[removed]@[removed]>
Date: 6/7/2001 10:49 AM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

    ------------------------------

                          The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                             Volume 01 : Issue 177
                       A Part of the [removed]!
                               ISSN: 1533-9289

                               Today's Topics:

     copyright issues                     ["Carl Amari" <CAmari@[removed]]

    ------------------------------

    Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2001 11:39:48 -0400
    From: "Carl Amari" <CAmari@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  copyright issues

    I read this digest every day and appreciate it and those who subscribe to
    it.  I've in the past responded to the digest and to people individually.
    The reason that I have not posted recently is that quite often it does very
    little good to speak my mind.  People bend what it is I say depending on if
    they are a dealer or if they are just a fan of OTR. People also make up most
    of what I am "supposed" to have said.  Everything I have to say about the
    subject has been said in my open letter.  Most notably that RSI controls the
    rights to a vast majority of old-time radio series and that I am not
    required by law to publish a list of them.  The list of shows is proprietary
    information.  It changes often and any sane businessman does not reveal
    trade secrets to competitors.  I have no wish, or any right to stop people
    from selling shows that are in the public domain.  However, I do have the
    right to stop those that are selling copyrighted shows that RSI controls.
    If anyone reading this chooses to sell old-time radio programs and does not
    investigate the status of the rights to those shows, he is doing so at his
    own risk.  How can I be more clear about that?  I do not want to harm anyone
    who is not trying to harm RSI.  RSI has paid millions of dollars to acquire
    and maintain rights to the series it controls and if anyone infringes on
    those rights, it is RSI's legal right to stop them.  The law does not
    require RSI to publish a list of shows and I will not do so for reasons
    explained earlier.  I spent 20 years of my life and a great deal of money
    acquiring exclusive rights to the series RSI controls.  I've researched them
    in every way imaginable and have flown all over the United States meeting
    with rightsholders face-to-face and I do not wish to disclose my business
    secrets to my competitors ... neither would any of you if you were me.  What
    would it matter anyway?  In my open letter I listed around ten series (from
    the many that we control) including Jack Benny, Red Skelton, Charlie
    McCarthy, Duffy's Tavern, Burns & Allen, Life of Riley, Green Hornet, Lone
    Ranger and Dragnet.  The very people who say they will stop selling the
    shows if I were to name RSI's controlled series are still selling all of
    these series.  I know they continue to sell them even though they know RSI
    controls them because it is not hard to find out what bootleggers out there
    are doing.  It's unfortunate to say (but it's true) that the only thing that
    will ever stop bootleggers from selling copyrighted programs is a lawsuit.
    For those who keep saying they want me to publish a list, my suggestion is
    to do the work ... investigate them for yourself.  I liken this situation to
    the college student who stayed up all night partying and then tries to copy
    off the student who studied all night on the morning of the big test.  You
    want to know the answers, do the work.  And for those who think I am in this
    for the money don't know me at all.  I created and produce WHEN RADIO WAS
    hosted by Stan Freberg.  If I caught anyone selling this show I would spend
    as much money as it took to stop them.  The rightsholders RSI represents
    feel the exact same way.  Why is this so hard to understand.  Maybe because
    many of you who "hate" RSI have never created anything.  If you had, you'd
    feel differently.  As an example, Irving Brecher wrote and created THE LIFE
    OF RILEY.  He has exclusively licensed the program to RSI yet hundreds of
    bootleggers are selling THE LIFE OF RILEY and do not pay him a cent.  Is
    this fair??? If you are reading this and think it's okay, I will never be
    able to talk any sense into you, unless I sue you.  Then you'll see the
    light.  If you are reading this and think it is not fair then what is it
    that we are fighting about?  I only want bootleggers of our controlled
    programs to stop selling/broadcasting/downloading them.  The owners of the
    series want the exact same thing.
    Sincerely,
    Carl Amari

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V01 Issue #177
    *******************************************

    Copyright [removed] Communications, York, PA; All Rights Reserved,
      including republication in any form.

    If you enjoy this list, please consider financially supporting it:
       [removed]

    For Help: [removed]@[removed]
    To Unsubscribe: [removed]@[removed]

    For Help with the Archive Server, send the command ARCHIVE HELP
      in the SUBJECT of a message to [removed]@[removed]

    To contact the listmaster, mail to listmaster@[removed]

    To Send Mail to the list, simply send to [removed]@[removed]