Disney Sues DVD Rip-Off Company

[Sky Syndrome]

Braver is simply a re-packaged, re-titled DVD of this movie:

I bought that DVD for a dollar at a thrift store in my town a few months ago. I hadn't heard of the film before then. I planned to save it for watching in December. Judging by the YouTube video, my ears will be more satisfied with the film than my eyes.

[Heil Donald Duck]

Braver is simply a re-packaged, re-titled DVD of this movie:

I bought that DVD for a dollar at a thrift store in my town a few months ago. I hadn't heard of the film before then. I planned to save it for watching in December. Judging by the YouTube video, my ears will be more satisfied with the film than my eyes.

The term illustrated radio is very fitting here.

[Heil Donald Duck]

I don't care how this goes.

Well, thank you for so generously informing us.

Your welcome, but I'm not sympathetic in one way or another but people that fall for these ripoffs DVDs should be laughed at, since there are usually no sign on these DVDs that they have something to do with Disney.

[Flanger-Hanger]

I love Walt Asylum. He makes great movies.

[Elladorine]

Well, thank you for so generously informing us.

Your welcome, but I'm not sympathetic in one way or another but people that fall for these ripoffs DVDs should be laughed at, since there are usually no sign on these DVDs that they have something to do with Disney.

I don't think anyone is asking for your sympathy. To be fair, a lot of the general public equates any animated film that's seemingly targeted toward a family-friendly audience as "Disney" and don't care which studio actually worked on what. When I was a kid, anything sold in a clamshell VHS case was referred to as a Disney movie by everyone I knew, including the clerks at the video store.

More recently? It still happens, but we no longer have the clamshells to dictate "family-friendly" (I'm still vaguely surprised Disney didn't try to stand out with some sort of special packaging on the DVD and Blu-ray format aside from slipcases). And something I noticed growing up and even now is that a lot of families willingly buy the rip-off knowing it's not the "real" version, because not only is it out before the "real" version, it's a heck of a lot cheaper (it's also the same reason I see so many bootlegs bought at the local swap meet, no one is fooled into thinking they're buying the genuine article there). It's kind of like how my parents bought me a cheap Cabbage Patch Kid look-alike back in the day: they weren't fooled at all, they simply figured it was good enough for me and that I'd never be able to tell the difference (but trust me, I did). Whether or not anyone has sympathy for the families that supposedly "fall" for this crap is irrelevant, copyright infringement is illegal. Other companies are blatantly ripping-off and cashing in on properties created and owned by Disney. 'Nuff said.

Feel free to be all high and mighty about being more experienced than the general public over your vast knowledge of Disney, but quite frankly, most people don't give a damn . . . and that's why Disney has to cover their ass with these lawsuits. I know you're trying to make a point about modern audiences and the company's current state by stepping into this thread and griping that you don't care, but why bother when you apparently don't give a damn anyway?

[Poody]

As long as we still get a another installment of "Little Princess School" That crap is amazing. Someone gave me a DVD rip....

[FigmentJedi]

Let no joyful voice be heard! Let no man look up to the skies with hope! And let this day be cursed by we who are ready to wake THE LAWYERS!

[Kraken Guard]

Let no joyful voice be heard! Let no man look up to the skies with hope! And let this day be cursed by we who are ready to wake THE LAWYERS!

Oh, man! Sorry I don't have much to contribute to the thread.

But FigmentJedi! Your comment!

[Disneyphile]

How dare anyone make a cheap, bastardized version of one of Disney's movies!

Oh, wait...

[Heil Donald Duck]

Your welcome, but I'm not sympathetic in one way or another but people that fall for these ripoffs DVDs should be laughed at, since there are usually no sign on these DVDs that they have something to do with Disney.

I don't think anyone is asking for your sympathy. To be fair, a lot of the general public equates any animated film that's seemingly targeted toward a family-friendly audience as "Disney" and don't care which studio actually worked on what. When I was a kid, anything sold in a clamshell VHS case was referred to as a Disney movie by everyone I knew, including the clerks at the video store.

More recently? It still happens, but we no longer have the clamshells to dictate "family-friendly" (I'm still vaguely surprised Disney didn't try to stand out with some sort of special packaging on the DVD and Blu-ray format aside from slipcases). And something I noticed growing up and even now is that a lot of families willingly buy the rip-off knowing it's not the "real" version, because not only is it out before the "real" version, it's a heck of a lot cheaper (it's also the same reason I see so many bootlegs bought at the local swap meet, no one is fooled into thinking they're buying the genuine article there). It's kind of like how my parents bought me a cheap Cabbage Patch Kid look-alike back in the day: they weren't fooled at all, they simply figured it was good enough for me and that I'd never be able to tell the difference (but trust me, I did). Whether or not anyone has sympathy for the families that supposedly "fall" for this crap is irrelevant, copyright infringement is illegal. Other companies are blatantly ripping-off and cashing in on properties created and owned by Disney. 'Nuff said.

Feel free to be all high and mighty about being more experienced than the general public over your vast knowledge of Disney, but quite frankly, most people don't give a damn . . . and that's why Disney has to cover their ass with these lawsuits. I know you're trying to make a point about modern audiences and the company's current state by stepping into this thread and griping that you don't care, but why bother when you apparently don't give a damn anyway?

You don't need much of an education, only basic reading skills if it doesn't read Walt Disney any where on the cover art is 99% likely that the product has nothing to do with Disney.

The topic is interesting but I said I don't care how it goes lawsuit goes or what comes out off, as i'm not going to hold my breath. Disney can probably also lobby the gov until they get what they want.

[Barbossa]

Brightspark Productions is obviously lying when they say "We came up with our title around 18 months ago and if we thought consumers would mistake our film for Brave, we would have renamed it" as the movie has been released years ago with a different title and a more suitable cover. Braver is simply a re-packaged, re-titled DVD of this movie:

Something I just noticed, what's with the Government of Canada logo in the bottom left corner? My tax dollars funded this crap?

[kylemj]

I work on an entertainment desk in a supermarket and whenever somebody brings up Tangled up or braver I do mention that they're not the Disney films but cheap makes but they all know (the ones I spoke to) and because it's cheap it's just for their kids to keep quiet with. I do see where they're coming from as growing up my parents couldn't afford Alot and how expensive the films were I never had many bar Snow White, Beauty and the beast and Bambi

[FigmentJedi]

Brightspark Productions is obviously lying when they say "We came up with our title around 18 months ago and if we thought consumers would mistake our film for Brave, we would have renamed it" as the movie has been released years ago with a different title and a more suitable cover. Braver is simply a re-packaged, re-titled DVD of this movie:

Something I just noticed, what's with the Government of Canada logo in the bottom left corner? My tax dollars funded this crap?

Your tax dollars also fund Johnny Test and all the other garbage Teletoon makes and ships to America to be shown on Cartoon Network.

[ajmrowland]

After reading a review for tangled up its unfortunate they feel they need to repackage them like this.

[ajmrowland]

Something I just noticed, what's with the Government of Canada logo in the bottom left corner? My tax dollars funded this crap?

Your tax dollars also fund Johnny Test and all the other garbage Teletoon makes and ships to America to be shown on Cartoon Network.

Dont count total drama among the garbage.

[Barbossa]

Disney should also sue Sony because...
Arthur Christmas looks too much like Prep and Landing
and
Swan Princess Christmas looks to much like Beauty and the Beast An Enchanted Christmas.

Just saw the trailers on The Pirates! Band of Misfits Blu-Ray and my face went:

(and no, not enough similarities between The Pirates! and POTC. )

[ajmrowland]

^no and not really. Those movies werent blatantly ripping off anything. Arthur Christmas' similarities to prep and landing are mere shadows of these DVD arts that mimic the titles.

[Sotiris]

An animation company has been ordered to destroy every copy of four of its films after being accused of trying to trick people looking for Disney favourites.

Brighton-based animation firm Brightspark Productions was accused of marketing its DVD Braver to confuse customers into believing it was the Disney title Brave.

Brightspark’s film was originally released in 2005 under the title Fairy Tale Christmas, but the firm changed the name and packaging to a new design which bore striking similarities to the Disney blockbuster featuring the voices of Billy Connolly and Kelly MacDonald.

Brightspark initially claimed that any similarities between the film – produced by a company with just five staff in an office behind Brighton bus station in Old Steine – and the Disney title were entirely accidental.

However the company reached an agreement with the animation giant in the High Court and has now agreed to destroy every remaining copy of four films that were similar to Disney hits. They also had to pay some of Disney’s legal costs.

Brightspark managing director Jeremy Davis told The Argus yesterday (November 19) : “We were very happy to reach a mutual agreement with Disney. We certainly won’t be making any children’s animations any more.

“Disney are a fairly massive might to be taking on in the High Court and we don’t want to be doing that again.”

Disney bosses said they had been left with no choice but to take legal action against Brightspark following complaints from customers that they had been misled.

A spokesman for Disney said: “The High Court order not only prohibits Brightspark from selling Braver, Tangled Up, The Frog Princess and The Little Cars but also stops them from doing anything in the future which would involve them passing themselves off as Disney and confusing consumers.”

Source: http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/10058717 ... roy_films/

An animation company that misled parents with its “appalling” versions of Disney blockbusters has been ordered to destroy all “copycat” DVDs.

Disney, creator of Brave, Tangled, Cars, and the Princess And The Frog, took legal action against Brightspark Productions — which made Braver, Tangled Up, The Little Cars In The Great Race, and The Frog Princess.

Online reviewers had voiced anger at the quality of films they mistakenly thought were the originals. Now Disney has won a High Court order stopping Brightspark distributing the titles, as well as The Little Cars 2,3 and 4.

Brightspark initially claimed any similarities between its film and Disney’s were accidental. But following the court action they have stopped making children’s animations, asked retailers to send back stock, and told distributor Sony to destroy remaining copies.

Brightspark managing director Jeremy Davis said: “I really believed no one in their right mind would buy Braver thinking it was Brave. It was on sale for £2-something in Tesco. You’ve never seen a Disney title for anything near that. I obviously wouldn’t want any kids upset, but the feedback we get is our titles are cheap and cheerful.”

Brightspark must pay £5,000 toward’s Disney’s costs. The whole episode has cost Brightspark about £70,000. Disney said: “People place great trust in our quality and creativity. We will act to protect ourselves and the consumer.”

Source: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/firm- ... 52016.html

[jazzflower92]

An animation company has been ordered to destroy every copy of four of its films after being accused of trying to trick people looking for Disney favourites.

Brighton-based animation firm Brightspark Productions was accused of marketing its DVD Braver to confuse customers into believing it was the Disney title Brave.

Brightspark’s film was originally released in 2005 under the title Fairy Tale Christmas, but the firm changed the name and packaging to a new design which bore striking similarities to the Disney blockbuster featuring the voices of Billy Connolly and Kelly MacDonald.

Brightspark initially claimed that any similarities between the film – produced by a company with just five staff in an office behind Brighton bus station in Old Steine – and the Disney title were entirely accidental.

However the company reached an agreement with the animation giant in the High Court and has now agreed to destroy every remaining copy of four films that were similar to Disney hits. They also had to pay some of Disney’s legal costs.

Brightspark managing director Jeremy Davis told The Argus yesterday (November 19) : “We were very happy to reach a mutual agreement with Disney. We certainly won’t be making any children’s animations any more.

“Disney are a fairly massive might to be taking on in the High Court and we don’t want to be doing that again.”

Disney bosses said they had been left with no choice but to take legal action against Brightspark following complaints from customers that they had been misled.

A spokesman for Disney said: “The High Court order not only prohibits Brightspark from selling Braver, Tangled Up, The Frog Princess and The Little Cars but also stops them from doing anything in the future which would involve them passing themselves off as Disney and confusing consumers.”

Source: http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/10058717 ... roy_films/

An animation company that misled parents with its “appalling” versions of Disney blockbusters has been ordered to destroy all “copycat” DVDs.

Disney, creator of Brave, Tangled, Cars, and the Princess And The Frog, took legal action against Brightspark Productions — which made Braver, Tangled Up, The Little Cars In The Great Race, and The Frog Princess.

Online reviewers had voiced anger at the quality of films they mistakenly thought were the originals. Now Disney has won a High Court order stopping Brightspark distributing the titles, as well as The Little Cars 2,3 and 4.

Brightspark initially claimed any similarities between its film and Disney’s were accidental. But following the court action they have stopped making children’s animations, asked retailers to send back stock, and told distributor Sony to destroy remaining copies.

Brightspark managing director Jeremy Davis said: “I really believed no one in their right mind would buy Braver thinking it was Brave. It was on sale for £2-something in Tesco. You’ve never seen a Disney title for anything near that. I obviously wouldn’t want any kids upset, but the feedback we get is our titles are cheap and cheerful.”

Brightspark must pay £5,000 toward’s Disney’s costs. The whole episode has cost Brightspark about £70,000. Disney said: “People place great trust in our quality and creativity. We will act to protect ourselves and the consumer.”

Source: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/firm- ... 52016.html

Sure,if their movies have an accidental similiarity to Disney's movies then I am the President of Ghana.They are not fooling anyone.

[Semaj]

As I said, this is the one time where I side with Disney's lawyers.