DAM and GvsMegalon from Media Blasters (v.2)

[Cimmerian Dragon]

Also it might give hope to getting a legitimate MST3K version of "Megalon" on DVD as well (without having to shell out $100-$200 for the rare Volume 10 set).

If I know Toho - and I think I do - that won't happen even if Toho gives Shout the license to release Megalon on DVD/blu-ray.

Of course not. Toho knows that Megalon is cinematic triumph lauded the world over. To allow a man and two puppets to poke fun at the film would be akin to someone destroying the Argentine print of Metropolis...a crime against art itself.

[Hellspawn28]

I don't know why Toho dislikes MST3k for doing a episode of GVM when it's all satirical?

[NSZ]

I don't know why Toho dislikes MST3k for doing a episode of GVM when it's all satirical?

I don't know, maybe it's the fact that they didn't have permission to do so?

[o.supreme]

Did the creators of MST Ask permission from the rights holders of any of the films they satirized (prior to Sci-Fi cannel)?

[NSZ]

Dis the creators of MST Ask permission from the rights holders of any of the films they satirized (prior to Sci-Fi cannel)?

Public Domain was the show's best friend.

[o.supreme]

Well I dont know how to feel about this, but it appears Media Blasters has just recently relaunched their Website:

http://www.media-blasters.com/main/

For well over a year there was no functioning website, just a link to their Facebook page. There isn't much informaiton (yet??) and when looking at their catalogue of films under the Tokyo Shock label neither DAM or G vs M is present, although past Toho entries are there.

[Shōbijin]

This is so confusing, really!

[Dr. Nishiyama]

Dis the creators of MST Ask permission from the rights holders of any of the films they satirized (prior to Sci-Fi cannel)?

Yeah, they always had to ask whoever had the film rights (which explains why they can't release complete seasons to DVD). But with Megalon, they probably assumed it was under public domain.

[Manda2012]

My local Hastings - where I got the MB DAM - has still not gotten G vs Megalon in. I also got tired of waiting for them to get "Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla II" back in, for $10.99. So, I went to FYE in Killeen Mall, & they had it marked down to $9.99, AND they had a BOGO going on, so I got GVMG2 at that price, & "Godzilla 2000" for only $3.49!!!

[Legion1979]

My local Hastings - where I got the MB DAM - has still not gotten G vs Megalon in.

There's a reason for that.

[Tohosaurus]

My local Hastings - where I got the MB DAM - has still not gotten G vs Megalon in. I also got tired of waiting for them to get "Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla II" back in, for $10.99. So, I went to FYE in Killeen Mall, & they had it marked down to $9.99, AND they had a BOGO going on, so I got GVMG2 at that price, & "Godzilla 2000" for only $3.49!!!

Godzilla vs Megalon has not come out yet.

[o.supreme]

My local Hastings - where I got the MB DAM - has still not gotten G vs Megalon in.

Sounds like a great deal on theose other flms. I'm just curious how far away is your local hastings and how many times have you gone there looking for G vs Megalon on DVD? (to be able to do a gas price calculation).

[Goji]

I'll be very, very surprised if MEGALON does actually get released in August, if ever.

[Tohosaurus]

I'll be very, very surprised if MEGALON does actually get released in August, if ever.

At this point I'm rather inclined to agree.

[Hellspawn28]

I don't know why Toho dislikes MST3k for doing a episode of GVM when it's all satirical?

I don't know, maybe it's the fact that they didn't have permission to do so?

But I was always told that comedy reviews tend to be covered by fair use which is why companies like Channel Awesome never gets into copy right trouble (Expect for the NC's review of The Room)?

Public Domain was the show's best friend.

Not all of them where in public domain. Ator l'invincibile 2, Future War, and Gorgo comes in mind for example.

[Gojira-Fan]

^ Godzilla vs. Megalon used to be in public domain, now it's not anymore.

As for the other copyrighted movies on MST3K, the movie being featured on the show actually brought attention to the copyright holders that they had the rights to these films.

[Goji]

MEGALON wasn't actually in the PD, it's just that companies thought it was.

[Tamura]

Even if it were in public domain, nobody could re-copyright it. You can't wave a magical wand over PD material and suddenly regain the rights to it. That shows a lack of understanding of how PD works. If I recall, not even restoration is covered by US copyright law.

[Colonel Wolfe]

Godzilla vs Megalon has never been in the public domain because Toho never lost the copyrights to any of the Godzilla films. Toho has always retained the rights to the Godzilla series, much in the same way that Paramount retains rights to the Star Trek series. American companies just assumed that the film was in the public domain when it really wasn't.

[Hellspawn28]

I don't think Sea Monster was in public domain neither. I guess they thought it would be okay to make a episode of it since it seems like you can get away with using copy righted material if it's satirical. Just like shows like Robot Chicken, Family Guy and South Park can sell their DVDs despite all the references.