foolip Posted March 27, 2007 at 12:27 PM Report Share Posted March 27, 2007 at 12:27 PM I thought this might be of interest to fans of Chinese cinema. I did some research on Chinese copyright and found out that the copyright on cinematographic works in China is 50 years after its publication as opposed to 70 years in the USA and EU. This means that movies made before 1957 are now free for all to distribute at will. I've already put Princess Iron Fan (1941) on archive.org and am looking to put up Spring Time in a Small Town (1948) as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuxoar Posted March 28, 2007 at 03:02 AM Report Share Posted March 28, 2007 at 03:02 AM Wow, this is a real gold mine! Thanks for putting this stuff up and keep them coming! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foolip Posted March 28, 2007 at 12:56 PM Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2007 at 12:56 PM Since these old movies generally don't have any English subtitles they aren't very accessible to the English-speaking world. Therefor I'm working on subtitles for Princess Iron Fan which I hope to make available within not too long (a few months). If you want to help out, check out this thread: http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/15-cctv-learn-chinese710 Alternatively, go directly to the project page on http://foolip.org/wiki/Princess_Iron_Fan and have a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laolee Posted April 6, 2007 at 06:02 PM Report Share Posted April 6, 2007 at 06:02 PM A transcript for Spring in a Small Town is readily available on the 'net and an R1 DVD is slated for release in a few months. http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=64339 They're currently listed on amazon, along with Crossroads The Big Road Queen of Sports Song at Midnight Daybreak Way Down West/Romance of the West Chamber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foolip Posted April 7, 2007 at 01:52 AM Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2007 at 01:52 AM That's really nice, laolee. I myself have already ordered to chinese DVDs of Springtime in a Small Town and hope the quality is ok. Where is that transcript you're talking about though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laolee Posted April 7, 2007 at 07:28 PM Report Share Posted April 7, 2007 at 07:28 PM This is it: http://mclc.osu.edu/rc/pubs/spring/default.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foolip Posted April 8, 2007 at 01:45 AM Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2007 at 01:45 AM Thanks. I should send them a mail and ask if it's OK to base subtitles on their translation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niubi Posted April 9, 2007 at 08:57 PM Report Share Posted April 9, 2007 at 08:57 PM while the copyright in general might be 50 years, i think a particular print or version could be copyrighted. i.e. a particular dvd print might be covered under a new copyright. therefore posting something you ripped from a dvd probably would be violating the copyright held by the company that published it. also the owner of the original prints from which a dvd might have been transfered would also be able to control any rights it might have given for its distribution. on another note, there was a series of about 110 old films released on dvd with english subtitles - many of which have never been available with english subtitles. i am not sure if any of them are available online. i bought the whole set from a small store near the north gate of the beijing film academy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foolip Posted April 9, 2007 at 11:20 PM Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2007 at 11:20 PM Menus, subtitles and whatever is added to a new DVD release is certainly copyrighted, but unless the film or soundtrack is restored (i.e. a lot of work is put into it) it should be considered copying the film to a new medium, which I doubt strongly qualifies as a new work in any copyright legislation. Do you have any more info of those 110 old films? Was that a long time ago? Do you have the name of the set? Is the video quality good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Soup Posted May 16, 2007 at 04:15 AM Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 at 04:15 AM on another note, there was a series of about 110 old films released on dvd with english subtitles - many of which have never been available with english subtitles. i am not sure if any of them are available online. i bought the whole set from a small store near the north gate of the beijing film academy. Was the publisher BoYing? I was able to get a few locally (San Francisco) for around $2 each. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niubi Posted May 16, 2007 at 04:37 AM Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 at 04:37 AM no, it wasn't boying (i am fairly certain because i despise their 4:3 transfers of great european & american films which for much of the second half of 2006 were the only things available during the anti-piracy crackdown). i left all the paper cases back in my apartment in kunming, i will ship them this summer. looking on the disk itself, it says 福建省音像出版社 (fujiansheng yinxiang chubanshe). i might be able to ask a classmate who photocopied all my case covers for future reference in case he wanted to buy some of them to scan one and send it to me. it is a bit strange that i cannot find this series on dangdang, joyo, or yesasia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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