star trek phase2 reception

[MartyS (Gromit)]

So for $15.98 they would buy you a copy of Star Trek 6 on DVD, purchase a copy of the Rifftrax of Star Trek 6 for you, reauthor both onto a DVD for you, and then send you the original DVD, a copy of the Rifftrax MP3, and the reauthored DVD.  They wouldn't be making any money off of this service, since the costs paid are used to purchase the DVD and Rifftrax.

That's an interesting idea, I wonder if that would be legal?  Since the person making the copy isn't doing it for their own personal use I'm not sure it would fly with the studios.  I think you can only transfer ownership of the original purchased copy of the DVD.  I know a lot of software licences allow you to transfer as long as you hand over all copies, but the entertainment industry is more strict.

[CM916]

The guy who "plays" Captain Kirk is apparently the same guy who bankrolls the whole thing. That alone makes this very riff-worthy.

[MrTorso]

Considering that breaking the copyright protection on most dvds is a violation of the DMCA then it wouldn't fly.

[Flopsy T. Hamster]

So for $15.98 they would buy you a copy of Star Trek 6 on DVD, purchase a copy of the Rifftrax of Star Trek 6 for you, reauthor both onto a DVD for you, and then send you the original DVD, a copy of the Rifftrax MP3, and the reauthored DVD.  They wouldn't be making any money off of this service, since the costs paid are used to purchase the DVD and Rifftrax.

There may actually be a legal precedence for this. Years ago, there was a video rental store that was offering censored versions of video tapes for rent. IIRC, they started with "Titanic" by editing out the topless scene. In order to rent the censored copy, though, you also had to take a copy of the original video tape. They were essentially renting you the original tape, and throwing in the censored copy free of charge. This may not be a precedent in Rifftrax's favor, though, as it seems to me, Paramount sued the video store, but I don't remember the outcome of the case.

[bettertomorrowamy]

That christian dvd censor service that did the same thing was sued and stopped doing it, so I doubt it.

[ShadowDog]

I see you're pretending not to notice that the video with riff and the riff by itself are the exact same price.  LMFAO!

This is the first I've heard of these Phase 2 guys or whatever they call themselves... but if I understand this correctly, and that they are just fans doing this stuff for pure enjoyment and for no monetary gain... I think it's an asshole move to rip them via Rifftrax and walk away with a tidy profit. Fucking bush league man.... At least the riff subjects up til now have been aimed at purely commercial interests. (Maybe the makers behind this stuff have a sense of humor and dont mind... or maybe they do... I don't claim to be 100% in-the-know... just on the surface... this doesn't sit right with me)

Man, I don't see it that way at all.  And for the record, everything we've heard so far from the actors and producers is they loved the riff and consider it an honor despite the fact that some money is being made on it.  So personally, I just don't see it your way at all.

[RoninFox]

So for $15.98 they would buy you a copy of Star Trek 6 on DVD, purchase a copy of the Rifftrax of Star Trek 6 for you, reauthor both onto a DVD for you, and then send you the original DVD, a copy of the Rifftrax MP3, and the reauthored DVD.  They wouldn't be making any money off of this service, since the costs paid are used to purchase the DVD and Rifftrax.

That's an interesting idea, I wonder if that would be legal?  Since the person making the copy isn't doing it for their own personal use I'm not sure it would fly with the studios.  I think you can only transfer ownership of the original purchased copy of the DVD.  I know a lot of software licences allow you to transfer as long as you hand over all copies, but the entertainment industry is more strict.

I know there've been a couple people here and there who've mentioned starting up this kind of service, and the reaction from Rifftrax was apparently "please don't"

[MontyServo]

I see you're pretending not to notice that the video with riff and the riff by itself are the exact same price.  LMFAO!

They are not the exact same price, one price includes several versions of the riff.  There is no option to purchase the riff MP3 by itself.  When you purchase the riff you get the video (whether you download it or not).  You can not get the video from Rifftrax without purchasing the riff.

The only way they could honestly say that they are not charging for the video in the mixed version would be to also offer a free download of the unriffed video to anyone who wanted just that.

[RoninFox]

I see you're pretending not to notice that the video with riff and the riff by itself are the exact same price.  LMFAO!

They are not the exact same price, one price includes several versions of the riff.  There is no option to purchase the riff MP3 by itself.  When you purchase the riff you get the video (whether you download it or not).  You can not get the video from Rifftrax without purchasing the riff.

The only way they could honestly say that they are not charging for the video in the mixed version would be to also offer a free download of the unriffed video to anyone who wanted just that.

Which they do, in the form of a link to the New Voyages website on the product page with the explanation that the unriffed video is there free.

[Nunyerbiz]

I see you're pretending not to notice that the video with riff and the riff by itself are the exact same price.  LMFAO!

This is the first I've heard of these Phase 2 guys or whatever they call themselves... but if I understand this correctly, and that they are just fans doing this stuff for pure enjoyment and for no monetary gain... I think it's an asshole move to rip them via Rifftrax and walk away with a tidy profit. Fucking bush league man.... At least the riff subjects up til now have been aimed at purely commercial interests. (Maybe the makers behind this stuff have a sense of humor and dont mind... or maybe they do... I don't claim to be 100% in-the-know... just on the surface... this doesn't sit right with me)

Man, I don't see it that way at all.  And for the record, everything we've heard so far from the actors and producers is they loved the riff and consider it an honor despite the fact that some money is being made on it.  So personally, I just don't see it your way at all.

Hey, that's fine... It was just my initial gut reaction... that's all. I'll admit that I'm not always the best when it comes to using tact in my responses... But still... with the entire movie world as their oyster... I think it's sort of a bummer that they go after an amatuer project. I understand the idea of selling an "all in one / no synching required" product is probably a priority of theirs... but man... riffing fan projects? It just strikes me as the cool kids at prom making fun of the wheelchair kid because he's a shitty dancer....

[Conor]

Considering that breaking the copyright protection on most dvds is a violation of the DMCA then it wouldn't fly.

Yeah, whoever did that would probably have an issue, but if they were buying the Riff each time, I don't think it would be from us.

[MontyServo]

My main point was that I can see why the Trek guys might be upset.  They probably walk a very thin line with Paramount as it is.  And to see something like this pop up that could jeopardize all their hard work, I don't blame them for reacting negatively.  Besides they have probably had the whole "Watch out for people selling our free movies!" mantra drilled into their brains for years.  They reacted exactly the way they were trained to do.

I'll shut up now.   

[ShadowDog]

Hey, that's fine... It was just my initial gut reaction... that's all. I'll admit that I'm not always the best when it comes to using tact in my responses... But still... with the entire movie world as their oyster... I think it's sort of a bummer that they go after an amatuer project. I understand the idea of selling an "all in one / no synching required" product is probably a priority of theirs... but man... riffing fan projects? It just strikes me as the cool kids at prom making fun of the wheelchair kid because he's a shitty dancer....

See, for me personally, Mike and the Bots have never come from that mean point of view.  They may be harsh with people for all sorts of reasons, but they're just as harsh with themselves.  Mike and Kevin both savage themselves in their non fiction books, but it's no more mean spirited than they are with anyone else.  For me, intent means everything and I just don't believe any of the Big Three have a mean bone in their bodies.  Plenty of funny bones, but no mean bones.  So I see it as an unparalleled honor for this fan film to be riffed, not an insult or something hurtful.

My first short film was one of the WORST pieces of crap ever made.  Dude, it was set on a space station but we filmed it in an office so you could see the sunny blue sky outside the windows! It was awful and I'd never let ANYone ever watch it these days ... with one exception.  I'd love for Mike and Bots to riff it.  Shit, I'd let them riff it free and they could charge whatever they wanted for it.  I think any MST3K and/or Rifftrax fan would feel the same way.  Now, if they were a bunch of mean ass clowns, then no.  That'd be different.

[RoninFox]

I'd feel that way too, if I'd ever made anything I thought would be worth riffing to them.  A few friends in high school made a "movie" with an old camcorder that I was in (I was a victim for some kind of evil vampire-like cult) and I think if they could stomach the sheer stupidity of the thing I would certainly be honored to hear it riffed.  Just hearing what they'd say about the fact that my dead body gets dragged out of the same room about three times in three scenes in a row without any explanation of how it keeps getting back would be interesting, as well as the complete lack of explanation on how the entire cult is wiped out at the end leaving only the "special kid" who sits in his chair rocking back and forth, drooling and yelling "Sku-dawwwwwwwwg."

I didn't understand it when I was in it, I don't understand it now.  All I know is I got to spend most of the time lying on the floor while girls danced around me.

[Raven]

  All I know is I got to spend most of the time lying on the floor while girls danced around me.

If only there were a way to get paid to do this.