>From:    "David A. Penney" <[log in to unmask]>
(snip)
> We get fairly frequent requests from visitors to provide on-screen captioning
(snip)
>The tapes we use are mostly commercial or non-profit produced, but none
>are >produced by us. I assume there would be copyright implications to
>altering the >programs....

It is not difficult to add captioning to a videotape; all that is necessary
is a character generator and two 4-head VCR's (it will work on 2-head VCR's
but the cuts will be very apparent).

The original videotape is copied from one VCR to another VCR and the
character generator is triggered whenever a saved data file is to be
inserted in the new dub.  What this means is that the new, captioned,
videotape is one generation out from the source tape.

Copyright is a serious consideration.  I own a video production company and
have produced more than 40 videotapes.  If I ever learn that someone
(however well intentioned) adapted one of my videotapes to their own ends,
my attorney will be in touch.

There are two reasons for this.  When making a new sub-master (as is
required to add data) I have no artistic control and that violates the
right and privilege guaranteed to me by the Federal Government.

The second reason is related.  If you would like to incorporate words on
the screen to augment words on the sound track, let me (or the producer of
some other work) know; I would be happy to work with a museum to achieve
the goals you describe.

However, I know what my message was.  If need be, I can redact that message
and place it on the screen in a location and at a time which will not
unduly interfere with the message.

This service is not free, and I know of no good reason why it should be free.

Cheers,
Jack

Jack C. Thompson
Thompson Conservation Lab.
7549 N. Fenwick
Portland, OR  97217

503/735-3942  (voice/fax)      "The lyf so short; the craft so long to learn."
                                                               Chaucer,  1386
www.teleport.com/~tcl/