Reporting Copyright Violations
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Other Topics
Forum Discription: For everything else
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5603
Printed Date: 11/23/24 at 10:02am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Reporting Copyright Violations
Posted By: hobbyactor
Subject: Reporting Copyright Violations
Date Posted: 7/31/15 at 1:27pm
There have been several discussion in the past regarding whether it is ok to make changes to a play (changing particular words, cutting lines, changing the gender of roles, etc.) without getting permission. I think everyone agreed that if you are going to make these kinds of changes, you should get permission.
So what would you do if you were aware of a community theater that was planning to make these kind of changes, and you were pretty sure they hadn't obtained permission? Would you notify the licensing company?
|
Replies:
Posted By: edh915
Date Posted: 8/02/15 at 11:29pm
If it's your group that's acting so irresponsibly, it's your duty to warn them.
Since I've seen fines amounting to $10,000 and more sometimes being assessed, I would never take it upon myself to turn them in; although I would start to look around for a new theatre group. (I have no patience for people who don't play by the rules.)
You're not the "Play Police", so you have no business turning them in unless you have evidence that they are somehow, somewhere doing irreparable harm.
As long as you simply warn them, whatever action they take, and whatever disaster befalls, will be on their heads.
|
Posted By: hobbyactor
Date Posted: 8/24/15 at 7:46am
I've been meaning to follow up on this one.
I've never felt that it was my duty to inform the publishers, but apparently someone in our community has taken that role upon themselves. I was curious to know if others felt compelled to turn in theatres who they thought might be making changes without permission. I think it is presumptuous to assume that the theatres weren't seeking permission.
|
Posted By: edh915
Date Posted: 8/31/15 at 6:28pm
I once had the idea to do ART with women instead of men. I wrote for permission, and was advised by the author that "women wouldn't act that way", so I lost out on that chance.
Now I'm envisioning Barefoot in the Park with a gay couple. You wouldn't even have to change the names, Paul and Cory work fine. I haven't sat down yet to see if any dialogue other than pronouns would need to be altered. - And, most importantly, I haven't yet checked with Samuel French, or Dramatists, or whoever holds the rights.
|
|