TNA has ECW and WCW matches on their website.....how legal is that?

[DC 536]

Go here, which is a link to some news and updates. There are spoilers for this week's Impact, so if you'd rather not look, then wait until after the showing of that episode.

 

The main reason I clicked on the news was to see the video about Jim Mitchell's new "monster/creature", but when it finished playing, it brought up some other videos. Some of them are TNA videos of the last few days, but some more caught my eye.....

 

Mike Awesome v New Jack (ECW on TNN for the ECW Title)

Sting v "Hollywood" Hogan (WCW Superbrawl 1998)

The Outsiders v Flair/Piper then a mass brawl featuring, more or less, the majority of the roster. Also has Sting stealing DDP and excaping to the roof of the building. (WCW Nitro 1997 or 1998)

Raven v Disco Inferno, featuring the best incarnation of Raven's followers, The Flock. (WCW Nitro 1998)

 

Now I don't know how long they've been showing ECW and WCW videos, but surely, if WWE owns the rights to the video library of both companies, it's breaching some kind of legality or law?

[Dead Crow 370]

It's a Youtube issue, not TNA. Right now those "related videos" chosen by Youtube and not TNA, include Glacier vs. Steve McMichael.

 

The only people in violation are those at Youtube, if WWE so insist on pushing for their removal, which they usually do.

[Kam 243]

The videos are hosted on Youtube not by TNA, so WWE would have to ask youtube to take them down.

[Guest FreeSpirit]

I see huge companies like UEFA and Viacom have recently asked You Tube to take down some of their copyright content, so its only a matter of time before WWE ask them to do the same. Dont get me wrong, I love You Tube as much as the next person, but how they get away with this stuff like this for so long is ridiculous beyond belief.

[Kam 243]

I see huge companies like UEFA and Viacom have recently asked You Tube to take down some of their copyright content, so its only a matter of time before WWE ask them to do the same. Dont get me wrong, I love You Tube as much as the next person, but how they get away with this stuff like this for so long is ridiculous beyond belief.

I've seen quite a few WWE videos removed from youtube due to copyright. I guess the problem with WWE is that theres always new users uploading copyrighted shows, its like a never ending circle.

[DC 536]

Isn't it up to TNA to regulate what appears on their website though, to make sure there is no way of them being accused of anything remotely against the law?

[Guest FreeSpirit]

Isn't it up to TNA to regulate what appears on their website though, to make sure there is no way of them being accused of anything remotely against the law?

 

Yeah but then you could say the same about My Space, Bebo, Google, Yahoo etc and the thousands of websites that embed You Tube videos on their site.

[Guest Slim Jim]

TNA have no control over what appears in it.

[DC 536]

Yeah but then you could say the same about My Space, Bebo, Google, Yahoo etc and the thousands of websites that embed You Tube videos on their site.

I can understand that, but with it being their direct competition's intellectual property, rather than some other line of business, it seems to be a very thin line.

 

As for TNA having no control over what appears in it, I'm sure they have control over their own website. I assume the webmaster would have the ability to remove the embedded video for the TNA content to be on the safe side.

 

To change tack, do you think WWE could press legal charges against TNA? I'm not saying they will (but they have been very petty over much less), and nor am I having a go at TNA, but it does seem that it could, if pursued, get messy.

[Dead Crow 370]

No. WWE would simply file a cease and desist and TNA would remove the embedded video but would still be able to link to the video itself as long as the resulting click sent them to Youtube. Then it'd be Youtube's responsibility. Even if WWE *tried* to file a suit against them, they'd get absolutely nowhere. TNA would simply remove the video and point out that it is third-party advertising based on an ever-changing ranking system, making it impossible to monitor the exact videos that will be advertised after the main content, which is TNA-owned footage.

 

Which'd then lead back simply to WWE telling Youtube to remove said videos. Which, in fairness, is what they'd do in the first place, eliminating the need to even get involved with TNA.

[Guest Slim Jim]

Because of the new way YouTube works, it's all down to them rather than TNA, so WWE wouldn't have any thing to go on if they bothered. All WWE can do is tell YouTube to take the videos of their servers.

[Guest Dave7g]

Go here, which is a link to some news and updates. There are spoilers for this week's Impact, so if you'd rather not look, then wait until after the showing of that episode.

 

The main reason I clicked on the news was to see the video about Jim Mitchell's new "monster/creature", but when it finished playing, it brought up some other videos. Some of them are TNA videos of the last few days, but some more caught my eye.....

 

Mike Awesome v New Jack (ECW on TNN for the ECW Title)

Sting v "Hollywood" Hogan (WCW Superbrawl 1998)

The Outsiders v Flair/Piper then a mass brawl featuring, more or less, the majority of the roster. Also has Sting stealing DDP and excaping to the roof of the building. (WCW Nitro 1997 or 1998)

Raven v Disco Inferno, featuring the best incarnation of Raven's followers, The Flock. (WCW Nitro 1998)

 

Now I don't know how long they've been showing ECW and WCW videos, but surely, if WWE owns the rights to the video library of both companies, it's breaching some kind of legality or law?

 

Hey, cool down there Mr. Perfect/Gonad

 

:xyx

[DC 536]

Hey, cool down there Mr. Perfect/Gonad

 

:xyx

I don't get the comparison. I was merely asking how legal it was for TNA to have WWE property on their website. Just because the thread isn't licking Dixie Carter's arse is no reason for you to come in all "knight in shining armour" about it.

 

If it was the other way round you'd be outside McMahons' tomb petitioning like a PETA spokeperson outside a Chinese circus.:xyx:):lol:P:xyx

[Guest Jimmy Redman]

I don't get the comparison. I was merely asking how legal it was for TNA to have WWE property on their website. Just because the thread isn't licking Dixie Carter's arse is no reason for you to come in all "knight in shining armour" about it.

 

If it was the other way round you'd be outside McMahons' tomb petitioning like a PETA spokeperson outside a Chinese circus.:xyx:):lol:P:xyx

 

If it was the other way around, we'd be wondering how the WWE could possibly allow TNA footage on their website. And even if, nobody should be complaining, as it would be great publicity for TNA.

[Guest Dave7g]

Ah now, calm down! I was just remembering the time Mr.P wanted to sue ITV on the WWE's behalf because there was a character in a kids programme called "Mr. Perfect".

[Guest dpddave]

So TNA is advertising old ECW and WCW matchs which may boost DVD sales for WWE if people like what they see....nobody should ever argue with TNAs logic.. Edited June 23, 2007 by dpddave

[DC 536]

I was just remembering the time Mr.P wanted to sue ITV on the WWE's behalf because there was a character in a kids programme called "Mr. Perfect".

Are you being serious? If so, then that is seriously f*cked up.

[Guest huckool]

I can understand that, but with it being their direct competition's intellectual property, rather than some other line of business, it seems to be a very thin line.

 

As for TNA having no control over what appears in it, I'm sure they have control over their own website. I assume the webmaster would have the ability to remove the embedded video for the TNA content to be on the safe side.

 

To change tack, do you think WWE could press legal charges against TNA? I'm not saying they will (but they have been very petty over much less), and nor am I having a go at TNA, but it does seem that it could, if pursued, get messy.

I don't mean to be rude, but do you have any idea what you're talking about? Do you know how YouTube even works (on the more complex side, not on how to access around the site).

 

If you watch a wrestling video, it will link you to other wrestling videos. You watch a soccer video, it'll link you to other soccer videos. You watch a music video, it'll link you to others likely by the same artist.

 

WWE have not uploaded any content onto YouTube, anything WWE/WCW/ECW on YouTube is due to fans uploading videos. TNA has nothing to do with this content being on the YouTube website.

 

The only action WWE can take is on YouTube for allowing their content to be uploaded onto their site, not on TNA, who only use the same syntax to advertise their videos as users do to advertised their uploaded content...

[DC 536]

I don't mean to be rude, but do you have any idea what you're talking about? Do you know how YouTube even works (on the more complex side, not on how to access around the site).

 

If you watch a wrestling video, it will link you to other wrestling videos. You watch a soccer video, it'll link you to other soccer videos. You watch a music video, it'll link you to others likely by the same artist.

 

WWE have not uploaded any content onto YouTube, anything WWE/WCW/ECW on YouTube is due to fans uploading videos. TNA has nothing to do with this content being on the YouTube website.

 

The only action WWE can take is on YouTube for allowing their content to be uploaded onto their site, not on TNA, who only use the same syntax to advertise their videos as users do to advertised their uploaded content...

I know how YouTube works. What I was asking about was the legality of these videos appearing on TNA's website, which I felt was a valid question.

 

TNA can control the content by not using YouTube, which isn't an ideal situation, but to say TNA cannot, under any circumstances, control the WWE/ECW/WCW/WhateverelseVinceowns from appearing on their website is ludicrous.

 

All I wanted to know, from a legal standpoint, could TNA, in any way, be held responsible for videos appearing (linked or not) on their website of footage copyrighted by the competition.