12-17-2002

Guestvision By: Matthew Searcy

The Ethics Of Keeping the Leap Alive:

I've been asked several times to allow copies of the Quantum Leap series I
own. There are times I wonder about the pure ethics of what is really a
copyrighted piece of work.

Sure, we have the right to make personal copies. Basically according to
copyright law, copying these shows is really illegal, for we don't have
individual permission to make these video tapes or computer files. But
befor to make these video tapes opies of the series, panicked with the
knowledge that you aren't as pure as you thought you were by not sharing mp3
files or video files, understand that it's what the law classifies as an
unprosecutable offense. Basically, everyone that can do it, has done it at
one time or another, copying something that aired across the public
airwaves. How many people really read the disclaimer that TV shows or events
air: "This product is owned exclusively by xxxxxxxxxxx, and unauthorized
reproduction or airing is prohibited by law."

If you do a little research on copyright law, you see how long this has been
going on. In deference to our younger members, this DIDN'T start with the
invention of the computer and mega-bandwidth transmissions. It didn't start
with the beginning stages of the CD technology (anyone have a CD that was
from when they FIRST came out? They were about twice as thick as they are
now!! Much more durable! You could hardly bend the suckers! I'm betting some
people got together and said "You know, these will NEVER wear out... we're
cutting our own throats here! We have to make them cheaper, and more easily
damaged!! That way people will re-buy their old classic albums as CDs over
and over!" But I digress...), but it did start about the time cable became a
household event. Actually, the origin of Copyright Law can be traced to
Britain. The introduction of the Statue of Anne in 1709 marked the beginning
of the present Copyright Laws.

Anyway, suddenly sports were becoming a very popular item to have played on
a big TV, where people could get together and watch a show that was blacked
out in their area, but in Chicago it was being aired on their channels. Bars
embraced the idea, and soon, it's become quite the norm to get together and
watch this stuff, sometimes in sports bars that DON'T pay their appropriate
fees for such a gathering!

Getting back to the subject at hand.

Since the powers that be have stopped airing Quantum Leap (except for the
recent Marathon on the Sci-Fi Channel), many fans Keep the Leap alive by
sharing stories. These take multitudes of forms. The recent RadioPlay that
Aurora's done is the latest incarnation of other forms of what we like to
call FanFic (which as many of you know, is my personal favorite at the
current time). Other people love buying novels (since they are no longer
being made, the FanFics have gotten more prolific!), and downloading or
swapping video tapes, mostly because the entire series was never released on
video tape... only a few episodes such as the classic "Jimmy", "The Leap
Home", "Catch A Falling Star", and a few others. A recent search on
Amazon.com showed only 11 available. A search here on Brian's site will show
you a section on all the TV episodes on VHS that were sold to the general
public.

Soooo, should we swap this material?

I think we should. Don Bellisario knows us fans will do this, and probably
encourages it, for it has the continued affect of keeping The Leap Alive for
all parties involved in such an exchange.

Recently, I noticed that some "person" had put all the episodes on VCD, and
was selling them on E-bay. I think this person is a slime of the highest
kind, for they are profiting off someone else's work (Universal and D.P.B.
for starters, let alone the actors and studios!).

To OFFER a conversion process for a minor fee doesn't a pirate make. To swap
episodes and only ask for Shipping and enough money to cover the costs of
blank VHS tapes also is no crime, but a courtesy. To make hundreds of
dollars PER item sold, however IS.

I think ALL us Leapers need to remember that we're fans of a show, and that
show belongs to us. But we shouldn't profit from it. Let's stay grounded,
huh, and NOT support pirates in action??? Those that would make a profit off
something that really doesn't belong to them.

I know that I, Sue, Helen, MJ, Joy, Monica, Dan, Allison, Ziggy, Anna and
the rest of the FanFic regulars make nothing out of our efforts to Keep The
Leap Alive. We write or create for the sheer euphoria of being a small part
of that which we love so much... Quantum Leap.

Oh, I did forget The Rod and RobynX... our wondrous Editors that are
opposite bookends on the Quantum Leap bookshelf that is our lives.

And of course, Brian Greene, for creating and maintaining such a wonderful
site that allows us to talk and live what we can't live without!

Thank you for being a part of it as well. And a big kudos to Don B., Deborah
P., Scott B., Dean S., Dennis W., and the rest of the team behind Quantum
Leap.

Matt Searcy aka mstalanon