Vestron Video/Warning Screens

Credits

Descriptions by
Nate Spidgewood and Logophile

Video captures courtesy of
AussieRoadshow and PromoLova

North American Warnings

1st Warning (February 1982-1991)

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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 July 1986.
• The early version shows spaced out, lower-cased text in a simple font.

Technique: 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.

2nd Warning (1991-August 1993)

Same as the FHE/IVE/Artisan warning screens at the time.

International Warnings

United Kingdom

1st Warning (1986-1987)

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:

a release of VESTRON VIDEO INTERNATIONAL a division of LOCUS VIDEO GROUP, B.V. Catharijnesingel 55 3511 GD Utrecht The Netherlands

A while later, the following text also scrolls up:

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:

• On some releases, the background is completely black.
• On Vestron Music Video releases, the background is red-pink.
• Some releases have the "A release of" notice in an alternate font, and the text scrolls up faster.

Technique: The words scrolling.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on British Vestron Video releases, such as the original VHS release of My Little Pony: The Movie.

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 GD 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.

Technique: The sphere zooming in and the text's transition.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on later British Vestron Video releases.

Australia

1st Warning (1982-1987)

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

Technique: The words scrolling.

Music/Sounds: A dramatic synthesized theme.

Availability: Seen on Vestron Video releases outside the US.

2nd Warning (1986–1989)

Warning: On a black background, we see the following text in a plain Helvetica font:

A Release of Vestron Video International A Division of Locus Group B.V. Catharijnesingel 55, 3511 GD Utrecht The Netherlands

After that, this text appears:

WARNING 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 CASSETTE OR ANY PART THEREOF 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 OFFENSES PUNISHABLE BY FINES OR IMPRISONMENT.

Technique: The scrolling of the warning text.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Rare. Seen on Vestron Video International releases in Australia.

Japan

(1980's)

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

このビデオテープは一般家庭における私的視聴に用途を限つて販売されています。 従つて無断で複製、 放送、 有線放送、公の上映、 及び業としての貸出しに使用する二とは法律で禁止されています。 Translation: This videotape is sold for private viewing in the home only. Therefore, it is prohibited by law to use it for duplication, broadcasting, cable broadcasting, public screening, and lending as a business without permission.

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Rare. Seen on Japanese Vestron VHD releases of the era.

West Germany

(Late 1980's)

Warning: On the same red background as the Lightning Video logo, we see the following words in a white font with black shadow effects:

a release of LIGHTNING VIDEO INTERNATIONAL Exclusiv erhältlich bei: VESTRON Pictures Germany GmbH Stefan-George-Ring 23 8000 München 81

A while later, the text scrolls up, revealing the following text:

DIESER FILM IST NUR FÜR PRIVATE, NICHT KOMMERZIELLE VORFÜHRUNG FREIGEGEBEN. ÜBERSPIELUNG, TAUSCH ODER VERVIELFÄLTIGUNG, ÖFFENTLICHE VORFÜHRUNG UND SENDUNG ODER SONSTIGE GEWERBLICHE NUTZUNG ODER DEREN DULDUNG SIND UNTERSAGT UND WERDEN ZIVIL- UND STRAFRECHTLICH VERFOLGT. Translation: Exclusively available from: VESTRON Pictures Germany GmbH, Stefan-George-Ring 23, 8000 Munich 81. THIS MOVIE IS RELEASED FOR PRIVATE, NOT COMMERCIAL SCREENING ONLY. DUBBING, EXCHANGING OR REPRODUCTION, PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION AND DISTRIBUTION OR OTHER COMMERCIAL USE OR ITS TOLERANCE ARE PROHIBITED AND WILL BE PURSUED UNDER CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LAW.

Technique: The words scrolling.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Rare. So far, it's only known to have existed on the Lightning Video VHS release of From Beyond (From Beyond - Aliens des Grauens).

Brazil

(Late 1980's-1992)

Same as the LK-TEL Video warning screens at the time.

Argentina

(Late 1980's-1992)

Same as the LK-TEL Video warning screens at the time.

Italy

(Late 1980's)

Warning: Same as the second British warning, but the text is replaced by the following:

il proprietario del copyright ha concesso la licenza per il film contenuto in questa videocassetta esclusivamente per uso domestico e ne proibisce qualsiasi altro uso, la copiatura, la riproduzione o l'esecuzione in pubblico, in tutto o in parte, sono inoltre proibiti la diffusione televisiva, la rivendita e la permuta. I transgressori saranno perseguiti al sensi della legge 20/07/1985 N.400 e degli art. 640, 646 del codice penale. Translation: The copyright owner has granted the license to the film contained in this videotape for domestic use only and prohibits any other use, copying, reproduction or performance in public, in whole or in part, television broadcasting, resale and exchange are also prohibited. Transgressors will be prosecuted according to law no. 400 of 20/07/1985 and art. 640, 646 of the criminal code.

Technique: Same as the second British warning.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Rare. Seen on Italian Vestron Video releases distributed by Domovideo.

Netherlands

(1989-1992?)

Warning: On the same background as the Excalibur Benelux logo, the following text scrolls up:

Waarschuwing: De op deze videocassette vastgelende audiovisuele werken zijn auteursrechtelijk beschermd en mogen uitsluitend in huiselijke kring worden vertoond. Iedere andere vorm van gebruik van de videocassette, daaronder begrepen vertoning in het openbaar (zoals bijv. door vertoning in horecagelegenheden, in verenigings, bedrijfs of schoolverband, of door bioscoopvertoning, televisieuitzending of kabeldistributie), kopiëren, uitlenen, (door) verkopen, wijziging of toevoeging eraan is zonder voorafgaande schriftelijke toestemming van de auteursrechthebbenden verboden. Inbreuk op de auteursrechten is strafbaar als misdrijf (art. 31 en 32 van de auteurswet). Uitgebracht door Excalibur Benelux B.V. Translation: Warning: The audiovisual works contained on this video cassette are protected by copyright and may only be shown in a domestic environment. Any other form of use of the video cassette, including public display (such as, for example, by showing in catering establishments, in a club, company or school context, or by cinema showing, television broadcast or cable distribution), copying, lending, selling or reselling, modification or addition to it is prohibited without the prior written consent of the copyright holders. Copyright infringement is punishable as a criminal offense (Articles 31 and 32 of the Copyright Act). Released by Excalibur Benelux B.V.

Technique: The text scrolling up.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Rare. Seen on Excalibur Benelux releases.