Vestron Video/Warning Screens

North American Warnings

1st Warning (February 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 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, known as "Expectation" by Paddy Kingsland, which was also used in numerous Chinese/Hong Kong film company logos. Sometimes silent.

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。

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.