DIRECTORS SUED OVER VIDEOS' EDITING, CONTENT FIRM CUTS OUT SEX, VIOLENCE.Byline: Greg Hernandez Staff Writer The Directors Guild of America on Friday denounced a lawsuit filed against 16 top Hollywood directors, including Steven Spielberg Noun 1. Steven Spielberg - United States filmmaker (born in 1947) Spielberg , Robert Altman and Martin Scorcese, by a small Denver video franchise suing to protect its editing practices, which it says are protected under federal copyright law. CleanFlicks, in anticipation of legal action from the DGA DGA Directors Guild of America (movie directors union) DGA Délégation Générale pour l'Armement (France) DGA Directeur-Grootaandeelhouder (Dutch: Managing Director and Major Shareholder) , fired the first legal salvo in a brewing war of words that has been simmering since CleanFlicks and other companies began getting attention and a growing customer base for editing popular movies to rid them of sex, violence and profanity Irreverence towards sacred things; particularly, an irreverent or blasphemous use of the name of God. Vulgar, irreverent, or coarse language. The use of certain profane or obscene language on the radio or television is a federal offense, but in other situations, profanity . The lawsuit, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Denver, asks the court for an opinion on the legality le·gal·i·ty n. pl. le·gal·i·ties 1. The state or quality of being legal; lawfulness. 2. Adherence to or observance of the law. 3. A requirement enjoined by law. Often used in the plural. of its editing practices. It was filed by CleanFlicks and Robert Huntsman, an Idaho lawyer seeking to patent an electronic home editing technology. The DGA, which represents more than 12,000 members, released a statement calling the lawsuit ``wholly without merit'' and said it believes CleanFlicks is in violation of the law by distributing ``unauthorized altering'' of films. ``Appallingly, the plaintiffs rely on the right to free speech guaranteed by the First Amendment as an excuse to alter original works and pass them along - for profit - to the public,'' the DGA stated. ``Perhaps they are unaware that the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. Constitution directed Congress to pass laws Pass laws in South Africa were designed to segregate the population and were one of the dominant features of the country's apartheid system. Introduced in South Africa in 1923, they were designed to regulate movement of black Africans into urban areas. to ensure that the creators of original works had the `exclusive right' to their work and prohibited their unauthorized exploitation by others for financial gain.'' An attorney for the plaintiffs said his clients are not seeking a money award but a ``judicial determination'' to decide which method of altering movies for private viewing is permissible. ``This case really presents some fascinating legal and artistic issues,'' said Scott Mikulecky, the attorney representing CleanFlicks and Huntsman. ``On one side is the argument that 'I bought this film; I can take it out of the box and tear it up in little pieces if I want to, but I can't give it to someone to edit, and then view it in the privacy of my own home?''' ``I understand that directors are calling this censorship,'' Mikulecky added. ``But from a free-speech point of view, why can't I view this film any way I want to? Artistic and legal issues aside, it comes down to a matter of choice.'' The DGA said it intends to fight the lawsuit and the editing practices of CleanFlicks and similar companies. ``The Directors Guild of America will vigorously protect the rights of its members, and we are confident that any efforts to legitimize le·git·i·mize tr.v. le·git·i·mized, le·git·i·miz·ing, le·git·i·miz·es To legitimate. le·git the unauthorized editing and alteration of movies will be resoundingly re·sound v. re·sound·ed, re·sound·ing, re·sounds v.intr. 1. To be filled with sound; reverberate: The schoolyard resounded with the laughter of children. 2. defeated,'' the guild stated. The Denver Post contributed to this report. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion