Vestron Video/Warning Screens

Credits

Descriptions by
Nate Spidgewood and Logophile

Video captures courtesy of
AussieRoadshow and PromoLova

North American Warnings

1st Warning (1982-1991)

Warning: On a blue background, we see the following text in white:

THE MATERIAL ON THIS HOME VIDEO PRODUCT, INCLUDING VIDEOCASSETTE AND VIDEODISC, IS PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT. IT IS FOR PRIVATE USE ONLY AND ANY OTHER USE INCLUDING COPYING, REPRODUCTION, OR PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IS PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Variants:

• A black variant was used on releases from Children's Video Library. The text is more squished in this version. Vestron releases began using it in mid-to-late 1986.
• The early version shows spaced out, lower-cased text in a simple font.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on pre-1991 Vestron releases; in 1991 Live Entertainment took over the company, and post-1991 Vestron releases began using the 1988 IVE warning. The early version was only used with the first Vestron logo, which is fairly rare, but it was spotted as late as 1991, such as a few Marvel Comics releases on VHS put out by Best Film and Video Corp. It was also used in tandem with the second Vestron logo (with the copyright variant). Surprisingly enough, the black variant appears on the 1990 Hi-Tops Video release of Madeline, preceding the 1987-1992 Media Home Entertainment warning.

Editor's Note: None.

International Warnings

1st Warning (1980s)

Warning: On the same red background as the 2nd Vestron Video logo, the following words, in a white font with black shadow effects, all scroll upwards:

THE COPYRIGHT PROPRIETOR HAS LICENSED THE FILM (INCLUDING ITS SOUND TRACK) COMPRISED IN THIS VIDEO CASSETTE FOR PRIVATE HOME USE ONLY. ALL OTHER RIGHTS RESERVED. ANY UNAUTHORISED COPYING, EDITING, EXHIBITION, RENTING, EXCHANGING, HIRING, LENDING, PUBLIC PERFORMANCES, DIFFUSION, AND/OR BROADCAST OF THIS VIDEO IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. INFRINGEMENT OF THE RIGHTS OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNER AND/OR THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT FOR SALE OR HIRE OF THIS VIDEO CASSETTE MAY LEAD TO CIVIL ACTION BEING TAKEN. INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT MAY ALSO RESULT IN CRIMINAL OFFENCES PUNISHABLE BY FINES OR IMPRISONMENT.

A while later, the following text also scrolls up:

A RELEASE OF VESTRON VIDEO INTERNATIONAL A DIVISION OF LOCUS VIDEO GROUP, B.V. CATHARIJNESINGEL 49 3511 GC UTRECHT THE NETHERLANDS

Variant: Naturally, the language would differ depending on which region the video is from.

FX/SFX: The words scrolling.

Music/Sounds: A dramatic synthesized theme.

Availability: Seen on Vestron Video releases outside the US.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Warning (1987-1991)

Warning: On a black background, a red sphere (from the Vestron Video International logo) zooms in with the following text in the middle:

a release of VESTRON VIDEO INTERNATIONAL a division of LOCUS VIDEO GROUP, B.V. Catharijnesingel 49 3511 GC Utrecht The Netherlands

The words are white with black shadow effect. After a while, the text flips around to reveal the following:

WARNING. The material on this home video product, including videocassette and videodisc is protected by copyright. It is for private use only, and any other use including copying, reproduction, or performance in public, in whole or in part is prohibited by law.

After a few seconds, the sphere zooms away, transitioning to the Vestron Video International logo.

Variant: Again, the language will vary depending on which region the tape is from.

FX/SFX: The sphere zooming in and the text's transition.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on Vestron Video International releases seen outside the US.

Editor's Note: None.