And while I’m confessing all, I will tell you that my criminal career ended the day I was picked up for shoplifting porn. Yes, that’s right. Porn. And this is around 1970, so it was not feminist-friendly “erotica” but actual porn. From a family-friendly big box store, to boot. (I was — what? 14? 16? The age of stupidity, to be sure: I was too embarrassed to pay a cashier for a smutty paperback, but I didn’t worry about getting arrested? Really dumb.) Anyway, two burly middle-aged guys pulled me into a dreary windowless room, asked me a bunch of rhetorical questions, gave me a stern warning, and when the smell of my flop sweat got too much for them I was allowed to leave. Never stole anything ever again.

@Maili — Yes, I saw that about Mr. Axelford’s Angel! I’m seriously chuffed; I figure I will get it next time we’re in the UK. Ross (the DH) says my laptop (which is English; I have a £ sign, but the ” key is in entirely the wrong place!) will play the DVD, so I won’t be limited to watching it once a year at my brother-in-law’s in Yorkshire. Whoo-hoo. (And yes, I know I’ll cringe when I watch it because the original magic was probably situation-specific. Don’t care though — it’s been such a touchstone of loss that having the opportunity to see it again is priceless.)

I want to buy an e-reader as well but have not decided yet… Like you I have too many questions, what I don’t understand that if they want to sell Kindle internationally, why not set up a division for it at Amazon.DE, then they could easily cover the European market, speaking of course from a European POV, since we live here… Well I am gonna wait a while longer before buying one, I want to know more, still too many questions…

Magdalen :
And me? Well, maybe it’s significant that I haven’t actually downloaded pirated material, but then again, I shoplifted vinyl albums in my misspent youth, so I’m no pattern card of virtue! (Shoplifting music = Napster before the Internet!)

That’s the funniest thing I read today. Thank you so much for this. How did you manage to smuggle out a vinyl album, though? It’s quite big, isn’t it? Sorry, I’m laughing hysterically at the image of a person – in a Miami Vice-type jacket (and rolled-up sleeves) with this odd-looking lump behind the buttoned v-front – coming out of a record shop.

(cough) About ‘Mr. Axelford’s Angel’ – it’ll be released on DVD later this year. I don’t have the details, but I remember hearing about it a few months ago. I can track down the DVD details if you’re interested.

As for the question? (laughing) I usually download public-domain films and avoid the rest.

“If the TV station are the copyright holders of the film, are they not encouraging its illegal distribution by not making it available to the public?”

Because they aren’t always the full copyright holders. They may have a right to broadcast on own channel, but not necessarily a right to have it released on DVD or any other medium. In a way, TV programme, TV drama or TV film is like a patchwork quilt. Each patch is a right. The TV station might have up to five patches that would allow them to do as they please, but they have no right to other patches of said quilt.

It varies from one case to another as well. If it’s a play adaptation, it can be bloody tough to release it on DVD because it requires the playwright’s agreement. (IMO, playwrights have more rights than any other writers including novelists, scriptwriters, tele-writers, etc.)

Anyroad, the TV station can be a production company, a co-producer, investor or a distributor. If a TV film under the TV station is released on DVD, it doesn’t necessarily mean another TV film under said station can be released on DVD – or any other means including video streaming – as well.

The best thing to do is check their catalogue and if it’s not listed, it usually means a production company holds DVD or worldwide rights.

One could try contacting said company (and usually, some are happy to provide private copies), but 80% of TV production companies are defunct, which is a pain in the neck because it means tracking down the actual copyright holders. So yeah, it’s easy to see why some decide to download rather than going through all that hassle just to get their paws on a legit copy.

All that said, I’m a lot more against YouTube/Google Video and other video streaming sites than torrent sites. Don’t worry, I won’t rant because this response is already far too long.

I am not a pirate! Am not!

lol

It may now be available on DVD — but of course only in the UK, and only playable on UK TV sets. (I may still buy it and keep it at my brother-in-law’s house in Yorkshire — and watch it once a year!) But for years it wasn’t available at all.

So, let me ask myself: Would I have downloaded it? Hmm. It’s what’s known as a “victimless crime.” Illegal but not actually harming anyone. I agree with Sewicked’s friend; if you do download it illegally because you have no other option, then pay the full freight when the DVD is available.

And me? Well, maybe it’s significant that I haven’t actually downloaded pirated material, but then again, I shoplifted vinyl albums in my misspent youth, so I’m no pattern card of virtue! (Shoplifting music = Napster before the Internet!)

If there is no way to get a legitimate copy, I don’t see the problem. Most people in that situation, myself included, will go out and buy the legit copy when/if it becomes available.

As for the commenters saying “buy it used” — that doesn’t make the copyright owner any money either, which is the point that people are arguing. It makes the reseller money. Also if something is that rare, it’s frequent that resellers charge crazy amounts of money for it because it’s a “collector’s item” now; I’ve seen listings of old tv shows that are no longer available in the $200 range for a vhs tape. Sorry, but that’s simply not worth it.