While this issue doesn't directly concern me as I just can't bring myself to watch this show, I realize it has a *lot* of fans, and the rights issues being discussed can affect all kinds of TV shows.

I agree that it would be unfair for only the studio releasing it to make money. But it's just never made sense to me that somebody can use something like a song in one medium, but then deny it's use for another. I can't remember the exact source of this old joke, but it's the first thing that comes to mind

"Madam, would you have sex with me for $10 million dollars?"
"Why, I believe I would."
"How about $50?"
"What kind of woman do you take me for?!"
"Madam, that's already been established, we're just negotiating price now."

To compare to song usage: if you've already agreed to let your song be used in a sitcom for TV airing, then the relationship has already been established. Sure you should get more money for a DVD release, but you shouldn't be able to completely stop it. What's needed is some sort of scale of payment that allows these people to still get paid something, but allow the studio to sell it at a reasonable price. Perhaps based on MSRP?

In cases like The Fugitive, where the studio claimed that they couldn't find everyone that contributed music, they could use this formula to set aside a certain amount of funds, then just release the damn thing intact and if somebody came forward and could prove they wrote it, then cut them a check from those funds for what they're due.

That small change they got paid for was just thinking of some idea.
The one who had to pay them and hope he makes his money back had to be losing a lot of hair hoping not to go broke.
And then if the producer makes all this money he can then gamble again on someone else's idea or he can sail on his boat with young honeys till he's old like Hef.

If the "I Dream of Jeannie" DVD release with Sammy Davis, Jr. is intact with him singing "Girl From Ipanema" and "Black Magic", then HIS estate shouldn't be a problem, or either Sony Pictures paid what the estate wanted, and yet managed to keep season 2 affordable!

Unfortunately, that's not what the contract says. The contract specifically says that they performed and were paid for television airings -- original and syndication.

The contract was not for any repackagings.


Sucks, but that's the reality. And I don't see how saying "screw them, they already got theirs" makes any logical sense.

Didn't Barris desingn the Munsters car? That didn't seem to cause any problems with the DVD release.

[QUOTE=That'sAllFolks;8962885]Didn't Barris desingn the Munsters car? That didn't seem to cause any problems with the DVD release.[/QUOT

Good point , because they also have a theme music and make-up, custumes.