Draft:Home Video Anti-Piracy Notices/United Kingdom

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United Kingdom

1st Bumper (Silver Vision) (A) (1989-1995)

(Skip to 0:11)

Bumper: After the Silver Vision logo fades in, a VHS cassette with a blue spine is shown on a brick red background. This zooms out, and the warning text 'VIDEO PIRACY IS THEFT', along with the warning text reading 'To identify this video as a genuine copy, we have introduced a blue spine with the Silver Vision logo onto each cassette. If this videocassette does not have this identification, it is not an original and may be an illegal copy.' fades in. This remains for 20 seconds, before, via a blinds effect, fading out to reveal the FACT hotline.

Technique: Very '80s computer animation.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Rare, on most '80s and 90's WWF wrestling VHSes with a blue spine, such as WWF WrestleMania IV. This is the first anti-piracy bumper to use the FACT hotline.


2nd Bumper (1991-1994)

Bumper: On a gray background, we see a shining polarized hologram and the warning text shown above, except instead of "the CIC Video" it says "a genuine." Then a video cassette fades in behind it and both zoom out, revealing that the hologram is on the front end of the cassette. The same text appears, and later changes to similar text to the previous bumper, but modified to remove the CIC Video references. After that, it tells us that if you seek an illegal cassette, you should call the FACT hotline. Depending on the hologram, the following print logos are:

  • Warner Home Video (The "Cheesy Shield" print logo with "WARNER HOME VIDEO" below)
  • Fox Video (A modified version of the 20th Century Fox print logo with "FOX VIDEO" replacing "20th CENTURY FOX")
  • Buena Vista Home Video (The Disney stylized, segmented castle with an arc around it and "Buena Vista Home Video Ltd." below)
  • CIC Video (The 1970-1981 CIC chain logo with the words "CIC" with "VIDEO" below)
  • Entertainment in Video (The 1987 "V" triangle on a blank rectangle with two lines and "ENTERTAINMENT IN VIDEO" on it)
  • Guild Home Video (The 1980 "G" wordmark with "GUILD Home Video" below)
  • First Independent (The 1991-1999 print logo with "FIRST INDEPENDENT" below)
  • RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (The 1981-1993 Columbia Torch Lady logo on a dome, and on an outlined box with 3 box sections with the 1968 RCA wordmark on top and with "Columbia Pictures VIDEO U.K." below)
  • 20:20 Vision (The 1990-1997 20:20 Vision bird on the box with "20·20 VISION" below the bird)

Variants: On early tapes, it has a brownish animated background, different text, and no voiceover. RCA/Columbia tapes as well as Columbia TriStar tapes have the RCA/Columbia logo on the hologram.

Technique: The shining of the hologram, the reveal of the cassette.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: A man says "BEWARE of illegal video cassettes. Check whether this video cassette carries a genuine security sticker. Video piracy is a crime. Do not accept it. Demand a genuine cassette from your video store. Poor quality illegal video cassettes reduce your viewing pleasure and jeopardize future film production. When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, F.A.C.T., on 081-568-double 646."

Music/Sounds/Voiceover Variant: On some tapes, the bumper is silent.

Availability: Used on rental releases by Warner Home Video / MGM/UA Home Video, Fox Video, Buena Vista/Walt Disney/Touchstone/Hollywood Pictures Home Video, CIC Video, Entertainment in Video, Guild Home Video, First Independent, and RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video / Columbia TriStar Home Video / 20:20 Vision in the UK. Examples of where to find each of them:

  • Warner Home Video / MGM/UA Home Video: Thelma and Louise, White Sands, If Looks Could Kill (also known as Teen Agent in the UK), Power Play, Carry on Columbus, The Bodyguard
  • Fox Video: The Commitments, Point Break, Home Alone II: Lost in New York, Alien3, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the movie, not the TV show), Hot Shots, Jack the Bear, For the Boys, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
  • Buena Vista: Straight Talk, Tina: What's Love Got To Do With It, Shipwrecked, Sister Act, One Good Cop, As You Like It, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
  • CIC Video: Child's Play 3, A Kiss Before Dying, A Scent of Woman
  • Entertainment In Video: Super Mario Bros., Wild Orchid: The Red Shoe Diary, Live Wire, Peter's Friends
  • Guild Home Video: Universal Soldier, Light Sleeper, Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare
  • First Independent: Deadbolt, Wild West, The Lawnmover Man, Carnosaur
  • RCA/Columbia / Columbia TriStar: The Addams Family, F/X2: The Deadly Art of Illusion
  • 20:20 Vision: The Silence of the Lambs, Rock-A-Doodle, Bugsy, Drop Dead Fred

The silent variant is seen on Highlander II: The Quickening, Predator 2, The Silence of the Lambs, The Pope Must Die and The Naked Gun 2 1/2.


3rd Bumper (1993-2005)

(First Columbia TriStar warning, skip to 0:48)

Bumper: On a blue background appears a shining polarized hologram. A tape label with a BBFC U rating fades in behind it and both zoom out revealing a video cassette. The text is the same except it mentions a label hologram instead of a security sticker.

Depending on the hologram and tape label, the following logos are:

  • Columbia TriStar Home Video (The print logo appears on the hologram and label while the label is colored orange and has a BBFC 18 rating)
  • Warner Home Video (The "Cheesy Shield" print logo appears on the hologram while the tape label is blue with the shield in a bunch of clouds)
  • Fox Video (The 1991 print logo appears on the hologram, while the tape spine is white and the label is nearly blank and has a BBFC PG rating.Used until 1996.)
  • MGM/UA Home Video (Same as Warner Home Video, except there's a white tape label with MGM/UA's print logo replacing Warner's blue clouds label. Used until 2000.)
  • CIC Video (The hologram uses either the Universal [1990-1997 globe, with the MCA byline], Paramount [with the Paramount Communications byline], or DreamWorks [the DreamWorks text with a stacked "Home Entertainment" below] print logos, while the tape label is nearly blank. After 2000, only the Paramount version remained, this time on Paramount Home Entertainment releases used until 2003.)
  • 20:20 Vision (The print logo appears on the hologram while the tape spine is silver and the label is white and has a BBFC 15 rating.)

Variants:

  • Throughout the decade, the FACT hotline number changed multiple times. For example, on the 1993-1995 releases, the hotline reads "081 568 6646".
  • On 1997-2000 CIC Video releases, the bumper is customized: the background is the same aurora background from the 1997 CIC Video logo, and the text is in the same font as the CIC Video 1997-2001 warning screen (whereas on some of the 1993-1997 releases, the blue background and normal font are used).
  • On early Columbia TriStar Home Video releases such as Groundhog Day, Philadelphia and In the Line of Fire, the hologram is nothing more than the full color movie print versions of the Torch Lady and Pegasus logos, the tape label is pink with the 15 rating, the spine on the tape is red (ala the first three bumpers), and the voiceover is the same as Fox Video's.
  • On 1994-1996 Fox Video and early 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment releases, it cuts to the same background with the INFACT information.
  • On 2001-2005 Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment releases, the font in the text has changed.

Technique: The shining of the hologram, the reveal of the cassette.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: A stoic man says "Beware of illegal video cassettes. Check whether this video cassette carries a genuine label hologram. Video piracy is a crime. Do not accept it. Demand a genuine cassette from your video store. Poor quality illegal video cassettes reduce your viewing pleasure and jeopardize future film production." He then says one of the following lines, depending on the period in which the tape was released:

  • 1993-1996 (Paramount, Universal, MGM/UA, WB, 20:20 Vision, and CTHV stopped in 1994, although Fox Video continued until 1996): "When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, F.A.C.T., on 081-568-6646"1994-1995: "When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, F.A.C.T., on 081-568-6646. Or in the case of the Republic of Ireland telephone 01-6777-071"
  • 1995-2001 (Stopped in 1997 for other companies, although Warner Home Video and MGM/UA continued until 2001, and Paramount and Universal continued until 1998): "When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, F.A.C.T., on 0181-568-6646. Or in the case of the Republic of Ireland, 01-6777-071."
  • 1997-1998 (Columbia TriStar only): "When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, F.A.C.T., on 0181-568-6646. Or in the case of the Republic of Ireland 01-678-9022"1998-2005 (Columbia TriStar only): "When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft... or in the case of the Republic of Ireland..."
  • 1998-2003 (DreamWorks/Universal/Paramount only, although DreamWorks and Universal stopped in 2000 with the Paramount version remaining): "When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, F.A.C.T., on 0181-568-6646."
  • 2001-2002 (Warner Home Video only): None.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover Variants:

  • On Fox Video releases and early 20:20 Vision and Columbia TriStar Home Video releases, the voiceover has been lowered down.
  • On early Warner Home Video and CIC Video releases as well as some early Columbia TriStar releases, the voiceover is quicker.
  • On post-1997 Columbia TriStar Home Video and 20:20 Vision releases, the voiceover has a different accent and is slightly deeper in tone.

Availability: Used by several VHS companies in the UK. Examples of where to find each of them:

  • Columbia TriStar: The Best of The Muppet Show, Universal Soldier: The Return, The Net, Charlie's Angels, Kermit's Swamp Years, The Pagemaster, Legends of the Fall, Street Fighter, Evolution, Never Talk to Strangers, Jerry Maguire, Hollow Man, In Pursuit of Honor, Tomcats, xXx, Dick, Desperado, Muppets from Space, The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, The Cable Guy, The 6th Day, What Planet Are You From?, Bicentennial Man, The Thirteenth Floor, Cruel Intentions, Wishmaster, Urban Legend, Urban Legends: Final Cut, Bad Boys, First Knight, Call Me Claus, Jumanji, Matilda, The Mask of Zorro, Stuart Little, The Swan Princess, The Swan Princess and the Secret of the Castle, Bear in the Big Blue House videos, The Swan Princess Sing-Along, The Swan Princess and the Mystery of the Enchanted Kingdom, Men in Black II, Spider-Man (rental), Sense & Sensibility, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Sleepless in Seattle (retail), Spider-Man 2, The Bone Collector, Fly Away Home
  • Columbia TriStar (early variant): Groundhog Day (rental), Philadelphia, In the Line of Fire, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Backbeat
  • Fox Video/20th Century Fox Home Entertainment: Once Upon a Forest, Mrs. Doubtfire, The X-Files: Tooms
  • Warner Home Video/Icon Film Distribution/Redbus Film Distribution/Helkon SK Video: The Lord of the Rings (1978), You've Got Mail, The Gift, Free Willy, The Man Who Knew Too Little, A Clockwork Orange, Executive Decision, Eraser, Vegas Vacation, Three Kings, Eyes Wide Shut, Mars Attacks, Bless the Child, GoldenEye, Thinner, What Women Want, Under Suspicion, A Time to Kill, The NeverEnding Story III, Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles, Three to Tango, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
  • MGM/UA Home Video: The Man in the Iron Mask, Tomorrow Never Dies (rental), Get Shorty, Species, Species II, Red Corner
  • 20:20 Vision: Mixed Nuts, The Dark Half, Sleepless in Seattle (rental), Last Action Hero, It Could Happen to You, Striptease
  • Paramount: Tomb Raider, Twilight (1998), In and Out, Primal Force, Save the Last Dance, Harriet the Spy, The Education of Little Tree, Escape from L.A., Drop Zone
  • Universal: Junior, Apollo 13, The Chamber, Schindler's List, Jurassic Park (rental)
  • DreamWorks: Deep Impact, In Dreams


4th Bumper (Silver Vision) (B) (1993-1996)

Bumper: Over a blue shiny background, we see the blue spine from the first Silver Vision bumper, but with the tape label showing the WWF logo and the Silver Vision logo and a very small copyright notice. The same text as the first Silver Vision bumper appears. Then, the FACT hotline appears, but now in lowercase.

Technique: Fading in of the text and the hotline numbers.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on retail WWF videos by Silver Vision from the '90s, such as UK Rampage 1993.



5th Bumper (Guild) (A) (1993-1995)

Bumper: On a blue marble background, we see a darker blue polarized hologram (which was static this time around) that uses a yellow version of the Guild Home Video print logo. After that, it shrinks and a videocassette fades in behind it, with the hologram residing on the label part. The same text as above appears.

Technique: The hologram shrinking, the fade in of the cassette.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: A man, who sounds more enthusiastic this time, says "Beware of illegal video cassettes. Check whether this video cassette carries a genuine label hologram. Video piracy is a crime. Do not accept it. Demand a genuine cassette from your video store. Poor quality illegal video cassettes reduce your viewing pleasure and jeopardize future film production. When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, F.A.C.T., on 081-568-double 646."

Availability: Used on early Guild Home Video releases with the 1993-1997 logo. Seen on The Shawshank Redemption.



6th Bumper (Guild) (B) (1994-1998)

Bumper: On a green background with lens flare circles, we see the Guild Home Video hologram from the previous version, but now it shines. After that, it fades to not one, but two videocassettes using the hologram, with the one on the left using a BBFC 15 rating on its label and the other using an IFCO 15 rating. The text is the same.

Technique: The shining of the hologram, the reveal of the two cassettes.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: The enthusiastic announcer from the company's previous warning says "Beware of illegal video cassettes. Check whether this video cassette carries a genuine label hologram. Video piracy is a crime. Do not accept it. Demand a genuine cassette from your video store. Poor quality illegal video cassettes reduce your viewing pleasure and jeopardize future film production. When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, F.A.C.T., on 081-568-double 646. Or in southern Ireland, I.N.F.A.C.T., on (1) 6 triple 7071."

Availability: Used by Guild Home Video during this era. Seen on North and James and the Giant Peach. Also seen on early Pathé releases including the rental of Austin Powers: International Man of Rescue and The Fifth Element.



7th Bumper (BBC) (1995-1997)

Bumper: This is completely the same as the 1991 BBC Video warning screen. Over a black background, we see the following text scrolling up in a Futura typeface:

A MESSAGE FROM THE

BRITISH VIDEO ASSOCIATION

AND THE FEDERATION

AGAINST COPYRIGHT THEFT

It fades out before linking to the Market PIF.

Variant: There was an alternative variant where the text is set in an italicized serif font and it just fades in and fades out.

Technique: The scrolling up.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Extremely rare. It's found on retail BBC Video releases, such as They Think It's All Over - No Holds Barred. The variant is seen on Comic Relief: The Pick of the Nose.


8th Bumper (1997)

Bumper: On a black background, we see a white poster. On top is the text "FACT Pirate Video 'Amnesty'", and underneath is the logo, featuring a black Skull and Crossbones along with a stamp with the FACT logo and "Pirate Video" in a small font, and "'AMNESTY'" in a large font inside the stamp. Underneath is some text. It reads:

Pirate videos are a rip off - Don't give them house room!

Hand in pirated videos at your local video store

28th March - 5th May 1997 Every pirated tape will help NCH Action for Children's "House Our Youth 2000" Campaign


Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on Buena Vista/Hollywood/Miramax tapes such as Jack and the 20:20 Vision release of Striptease.



9th Bumper (Fox/Pathé) (1996-2003)

Bumper: On a dark teal background, a shining polarized hologram fades in. After that, it shrinks and a videocassette zooms in behind it, with the hologram residing on the label part. Uses either the 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment or Pathé print logos, depending on the hologram and tape label. Again, the text is the same, but it fades to a letterbox address to INFACT, the Irish version of FACT.

Variants:

  • There is a prototype version of the Pathé bumper where the hologram uses the 1993 logo.
  • There was an early version where the tape label is rotating and in 3-D; also, the hologram was enlarged, and when the cassette rotates, the hologram shrinks down to the front end of the tape which is also enlarged.
  • On 1996-2000 tapes with the early version, the tape fades in with a white label which has a PG rating and a copyright notice.

Technique: The shining of the hologram, the reveal of the cassette.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: The same enthusiastic announcer from the Guild Home Video warnings says "Beware of illegal video cassettes. Check whether this video cassette carries a genuine hologram. Video piracy is a crime. Do not accept it. Demand a genuine cassette from your video store. Poor quality illegal video cassettes reduce your viewing pleasure and jeopardize future film production. When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, F.A.C.T., on 020-8568-double 646. Or alternatively, if you live in Eire, please contact I.N.F.A.C.T., Suffolk Chambers, 1 Suffolk Street, Dublin 2, Eire. Telephone 01-6 triple 7071."

Music/Sounds/Voiceover Variant: On said early version, the voiceover says "Beware of illegal video cassettes. Check whether this video cassette carries a genuine hologram. Video piracy is a crime. Do not accept it. Demand a genuine cassette from your video store. Poor quality illegal video cassettes reduce your viewing pleasure and jeopardize future film production. When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, F.A.C.T., on 0181-568-double 646. Or alternatively, if you live in Eire, please contact I.N.F.A.C.T., Suffolk Chambers, 1 Suffolk Street, Dublin 2, Eire. Telephone 01-6 triple 7071."

Availability: Used by Fox Pathé Home Entertainment, such as on 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment titles in the UK. Appears on Chicken Run, Titanic, Sleepy Hollow, Star Wars videos, What Lies Beneath, Planet of the Apes (2001), Speed 2: Cruise Control, The X-Files videos, Casper Meets Wendy, Big's Momma House, The Blair Witch Project, Office Space, X-Men, Black Knight, Love's Labour's Lost, Moulin Rouge, Memento, Full Monty, Independence Day, Romeo + Juliet and Thunderpants.


Final Note: Starting in 2003, Fox/Pathé used the standard FACT "The Pirates are Out to Get You" PIF.

10th Bumper (Paramount) (2003-2005)

(skip to 3:12)

Bumper: This is completely the same as the 2003-2005 Paramount Home Entertainment UK Warning Screen except Piracy Warning is added to the filmstrip and displays the text and the FACT Hotline. (Which is a bit different as with the other ones.)

Technique: Same as the 2003-2005 Paramount Home Entertainment UK Warning Screen.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: Same music and sound effects as before with a British announcer (John Sachs) saying the standard text out loud.

Availability: Seen on later Paramount rental releases such as The Core and Clockstoppers.


11th Bumper (2004-2013)

Bumper: TBA

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on some UK DVDs, such as The Day After Tomorrow and the UK DVD of Rio. This was preceded by the 2002 "Piracy: It's A Crime" bumper.

12th Bumper (2009- )

Bumper: On a light grey-blue gradient background with some clouds in the sky, we see a boy from a distance looking at a disc. He then turns to look at us as the disc shines once. He then looks up to notice something - the large gold-orange words "THANK YOU" falling down just next to him, that shine and twinkle. As it lands, the sky background colour changes to purple-pink-orange, with some stars seen in the sky. The camera slowly pulls back as the boy recovers, turning back to look at us.

Technique: The kid holding the disc, "THANK YOU" falling down, the sky background changing colour. All CGI effects.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: A male announcer says "By purchasing this DVD/Blu-Ray Disc, you are supporting your local film industry. Thank you!" Sometimes, "You are supporting the UK film and television industry." is in place of "You are supporting your local film industry." This is accompanied by the sound of birds tweeting, a loud whistling noise before "THANK YOU" falls onscreen, a loud thud as it lands, the sound of a crowd cheering, and a peaceful, dreamy synth hum with twinkling noises.

Availability: Very common. Seen on DVDs and Blu-rays from the era, mostly releases from HiT Entertainment and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, such as Angry Birds Toons - Volume One and Blue Crush 2.

Public Information Films

1st Bumper (1983-1985?)

FACT Video Piracy Ad

Bumper: TBA

Technique: Aside from the trail effect, nothing special, really.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: A male announcer, the same from the 1991-1994 Piracy Warning says "FACT, the Federation Against Copyright Theft, is fighting an organised crime. The crime: video piracy. Whether a professional gang or a lone individual, video pirates are thieves, thieves who are getting very rich at your expense. The video business has become very important to film companies. The money earned from video has helped finance many new films. Yet, unbelievably, over half the video tapes available to the public are illegal copies. The money from those illegal copies is going directly into the pockets of crooks; not to the filmmakers. Counterfeit gangs are earning, literally, millions of pounds every week. The film industry can't withstand that sort of loss of income forever. Studios will close..., thousands of jobs will be lost..., no new films will be made..., and cinemas could disappear for good. Under a new law, passed by parliament, video pirates can now be sentenced to two years in prison, and given unlimited fines. Unless these criminals are caught, prosecuted and sentenced, the film industry will, quite simply, die. That's a fact. If you think you can help FACT in its fight against video piracy, please ring this number in complete confidence. Thank you."

Availability: Can be found at the end of British VHSes in the early 1980s, such as the ones for Warner Home Video, Palace Video and on B-movie videos. Two examples with this PIF are the Palace Video releases of La Marge and Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.

2nd Bumper (1995-Early 1997)

A.I.M. Anti-Piracy (1995, UK)

Bumper: We see a man going off to work and before he sets off he gives his wife the video that his daughter Rebecca wanted. Later Rebecca watches the video, as it flashes to the black background with the text "Video Pirates copy 50 million videos a year...". We cut back and forth between Rebecca giggling and the same background with the following texts: "Video Pirates make 250 million a year..." and "Most of the money goes to organised crime..." We then cut to Rebecca's mum outside watering and we flash back to the same background with the text "Drug Dealers". We cut to the video going static and Rebecca looking on in shock as we flash back to the same background with the word "Terrorism". We cut to a side shot of Rebecca looking at her mum through the window as a Dolly Zoom effect occurs. Then we cut to a black background with a blue spotlight and he VCR falling and crashes, letting out dust as the text "VIDEO PIRACY" fades in and "It's not worth it" fades in underneath it.

Technique: Live-action, the flash, the text zooming, the VCR falling, the text "VIDEO PIRACY/It's not worth it" fading in.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover (This is an approximately complete transcript of the PIF):

  • We see a woman walk down the stairs of her house, where she sees her husband, putting his coat on.
  • Dad: (To Mom) I'm off. Oh, I've got that video Rebecca wanted. (Hands the mom the video) And it cost a fiver from that bloke, down the market.
  • Mom: Great! It's not even out yet, she'll love it.
  • Dad: I know. See you later. (He kisses the Mum on the cheek)
  • Mom: See you.
  • Dad: Okay.
  • Mom: Bye, now.
  • The dad walks out the door. Inside a living room, we see Rebecca watching the video, where we can hear cartoon music, sound effects and dialogue from the video. She watches it in delight. Cutting to the words appearing, we hear the music stop abruptly, and a muffled explosion sound occurs as the words appear. This continues, then we cut outside to see the mom in the garden, watering her plants. The music can be heard playing faintly. After 'Drug Dealers', we hear the cartoon music replaced by loud VCR hiss, and Rebecca looks slightly worried. After 'Terrorism', we cut to her, looking out the window to her Mum who is in the garden.
  • Mom: (Notices Rebecca) You okay, honey?
  • We cut to a VCR falling against a black background with a small blue spotlight, which makes a crash noise as it hits the ground.

Availability: Can be seen on mostly rental VHS releases in the UK from the following companies:

  • Columbia TriStar Home Video: First Knight, The Net, Street Fighter: The Movie, The Swan Princess, In Pursuit of Honour, The Madness of King George, Lion Strike
  • 20/20 Vision: Canadian Bacon, Mixed Nuts, The Quick and the Dead
  • First Independent: Slam Dunk Ernest, The Babysitter, Mortal Kombat, National Lampoon's Senior Trip, The Plague, Dead Cold, Killer: A Journal of Murder
  • Fox Video/20th Century Fox Home Entertainment: Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
  • Manga Video: Patlabor 2

3rd Bumper (Late 1996-Early 2002)

Bumper: We pan down to reveal a market, then it cuts to a man walking up to a seller. He walks up to the seller attempting to return a pirated copy of Trainspotting, complaining about the picture and sound quality. The seller ignores this, and we cut to a flashback of the man with his mates looking on in horror as they are watching the pirated VHS. Back at the market scene, the clerk asks for the receipt, and the man walks off annoyed as the seller tries to attract more customers by rapping two videos together (in the style of the Crimestoppers advertisement). We cut to a grey background with a black X behind two bars reading "Pirated Videos: Daylight Robbery".

Variants:

  • There are two versions, one with the letterbox, the other without the letterbox.
  • On rare occasions, the PIF runs longer and has a different narrator, with a different accent and a lower tone.

Technique: Live-action.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: (This is a complete transcript of the Market PIF)

  • We hear a train coming down on the bridge and a bicycle bell. A man who is walking in a market can hear a seller nearby.
  • Seller: Here you are darling, Four Weddings. Here you rookie four, five or six.
  • Man: Excuse me. I brought this video from you last Saturday.
  • Seller: So?
  • Man: Well, I can't understand a word.
  • Seller: Trainspotting. Not surprised. Don't get my scarf shaving eh?
  • Man: No. I mean, it's-- it's the sound. It's hopeless! Absolutely hopeless!
  • Seller: Yeah, yeah, not trying to get it over. Not supposed to be my fault as well. Here you are darling, £4.99.
  • Man: Well the picture's rubbish as well!
  • Seller: Well that's your tracking mate.
  • Man: Well, it's alright on my other videos.
  • Seller: Hmmm, tracking, starching.
  • Narrator: Be careful! (We cut to a flashback of the Man and his mates watching in horror) Most pirates are unwatchable and there's no comeback.
  • (We cut back to the market)
  • Seller: Got a receipt eh? Got a receipt?
  • Man: But, you said last week-
  • Seller: Says no good, mate. Moral contract. Not worth the paper printed on. Here you are darling, Four Weddings. (The man walks off annoyed) Trainspotting. (He picks up two videos and raps them together several times to get everyone's attention as he speaks) As advertised on Crimestoppers!
  • (We cut to the tagline)
  • Narrator: Pirated Videos, Daylight Robbery!

Availability: Fairly common. Appears on mostly rental UK VHSs from the following companies:

  • Columbia TriStar Home Video/Entertainment: Call Me Claus, Evolution, Godzilla, The Patriot, Charlie's Angels, Still Crazy, The Mask of Zorro, Hollowman, The End of the Affair, Cruel Intentions, Anaconda, Just the Ticket, The Cable Guy, Fools Rush In
  • Buena Vista/Touchstone/Hollywood/Disney Videos: Tom and Huck
  • PolyGram Video: Bean, Fargo, The Game, Sleepers, Jude, Dracula: Dead and Loving It, Spice World
  • 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment/Pathe/Guild Home Video: James and the Giant Peach, Independence Day, Broken Arrow, Courage Under Fire
  • Warner Home Video: Empire Records, You've Got Mail, Mars Attacks!, The Man Who Knew Too Little, Lethal Weapon 4, The Glimmer Man, Payback, Vegas Vacation, Friends: Series 2 - Episodes 1-4, FairyTale: A True Story, Batman & Robin, Bogus, Eraser
  • MGM/UA Home Video: Bio-Dome, The Man in the Iron Mask, Fled, Escape Clause, Hackers, Tomorrow Never Dies, Species II, Red Corner
  • 20/20 Vision: Money Train, The Last Supper, Striptease, The Juror
  • First Independent: Ernest Goes to Africa, Ernest in the Army, White Squall, Mortal Kombat, Crimetime, Now & Then, Normal Life
  • Manga Video: Blood, The Last Vampire, Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, Detonator Orgun, Macross Plus: The Movie, Grappler Baki, Blue Sonnet: Volume 2, Armageddon (1996)
  • BBC Video: Only Fools & Horses: Heroes and Villains, Comic Relief: The Pick of the Nose, They Think it's All Over: No Holes Barred

4th Bumper (March 4, 2002-2008)

Bumper: We start off with a scene where a man is seen heating something in a fire. The camera then changes its angle to point at the fire, and what is heating is removed by the man. The camera then suddenly changes angles again to show us that he had been frying an X all along. He shows a flaming red X to us. The camera then suddenly again changes angles to reveal a treasury of videocassettes. The camera then suddenly changes again to the flaming red X as the man moves it away from the camera. The camera then suddenly changes to the treasury of videocassettes, which now has the flaming red X with its fork attached to it dropping on it. Then, there is a very large explosion, which dies down to reveal the treasury of videocassettes now destroyed. We then fade to a view of the man himself grinning with the camera, which zooms in suddenly. The camera then suddenly changes to another view of the fire, which is now frying another flaming red X. The camera suddenly changes to a view of the man, who is removing the flaming red X and setting it someplace else. Then, there is another very large explosion, which dies down to reveal a stash of compact discs now destroyed. The camera then again suddenly changes to another view of the man with flames reflecting in his eyes, and another sudden zoom in. The camera then suddenly changes again, and the scene before the first explosion plays. There is then a third very large explosion, which dies down to reveal a stash of other things now destroyed. We then fade into a view of a water bucket with the camera. The flaming red X is placed in that bucket of water, and suddenly, a huge amount of steam comes pouring out from the bucket. The flaming red X is removed to reveal that it had been changed to what appears to be the copyright symbol. The copyright symbol is then moved away from the water bucket, in which the camera then suddenly changes to another view. Once the copyright symbol is in a comfortable spot, it then turns white and lights itself on fire. The background then burns up to reveal a white background, the copyright symbol changes colours from white to sky blue, and two pieces of filmstrip come in from the left and right sides of the screen (one on the left and one on the right) The one on the left has the letters "F" and "A". The one on the right has the letter "T". The completed word zooms out, and the same letters, but in standard black and the normal "C" is added, appear above the word. Some more letters appear after the words to reveal the phrase "FEDERATION AGAINST COPYRIGHT THEFT". "HOTLINE" then appears below the word "FACT" in the same colour as the copyright symbol. They both then move upward, and "HOTLINE" then turns yellow and lights itself on fire. "020 8568 6646 (UK)" then appears along with "(01) 882 8565 (EIRE)" below "HOTLINE". A flame then appears at the bottom of the screen, wiping out the completed bumper. When the flame has finished wiping out the bumper, it itself then disappears off of the top of the screen.

Variants:

  • On some tapes, it was stretched in 16:9 widescreen with black bars on top and bottom.
  • There is an alternative variant where the UK and Ireland hotlines fade out as the smoke from the burning "HOTLINE" disappears. The "AFVSO (Australia) Freecall 1800 251 996" fades in along with "NZFVSO (New Zealand) Freecall 0800 275002" before the flame wipes out the bumper.
  • On DVDs, the quality is improved.

Technique: The man destroying many items with an X, the fading in of the Hotline numbers, the flame wiping out the bumper.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: Some scary music is playing in the background along with three explosions as a male voiceover says "The pirates are out to get you. Don’t let them brand you with their mark. Piracy funds organised crime and will destroy our film and video industry. Piracy costs jobs and will destroy our music and publishing industry. Piracy funds terrorism and will destroy our development and your future enjoyment. Don’t touch the hot stuff. Cool is copyright. Copyright is a matter of fact" Then a different announcer says "If you have any knowledge about the manufacture sale or counterfeit videos or related software, please call our UK Hotline on 020 8568 double 646 or in the Republic of Ireland 01 double 82 8565. Your support can end the distribution of poor quality products" Then the first announcer continues "Don't let the pirates burn a hole in your pocket" as the explosion sets off as the flame wipes out the bumper.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover Variant: On the variant with the Australia/New Zealand hotlines, the voiceover continues "In Australia, you should call the Australian Film and Video Security Office on 18 hundred 251 double 96 or for New Zealand, the New Zealand Film and Video Security Office on 08 hundred 275 double 02. Your support will help end the distribution of poor quality products."

Availability: Very common for the time. Seen on either the beginning or at the end of VHS tapes/DVDs in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. This can be seen on many releases by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Pathé, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, DreamWorks Home Entertainment, Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, Warner Home Video, Walt Disney Home Entertainment, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Icon Film Distribution, MGM Home Entertainment, Helkon SK, Redbus Home Entertainment, and other home video companies. Examples of videos from these labels where this bumper can be found include:

  • 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment: Moulin Rouge! (first appearance), Like Mike, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Just Married, Phone Booth, Say It Isn't So, Daredevil, The X-Files videos, The Simpsons videos, Minority Report, Solaris, Behind Enemy Lines, Don't Say a Word, Joe Somebody, X2 - X-Men United, 28 Days Later, Action Man: Storm Front
  • Pathé: Talk to Her, Thunderpants, Buffalo Soldiers, Dog Soldiers, Bulletproof Monk, Resident Evil, The Score, Jeepers Creepers 2
  • Universal Studios Home Entertainment: The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, Slap Her, She's French!, Johnny English, Love Actually, Peter Pan (2003), 2 Fast 2 Furious, Shaun of the Dead, 8 Mile, Hulk, Battlestar Galactica (2003), Peter Kay's Special Kay (DVD Only)
  • DreamWorks Home Entertainment: The Terminal, Shrek 2, The Tuxedo, The Ring, The Cat in the Hat, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Road Trip: Unseen
  • Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment: Spider-Man 2, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, National Security, Hellboy, 13 Going on 30, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, xXx, Gothika, Mona Lisa Smile, Bad Boys II, Daddy Day Care, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, L4yer Cake, Starship Troopers II: Hero of the Federation, S.W.A.T., Monty Python's Life of Brian, Monty Python and the Holy Grail
  • Warner Home Video: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Ocean's Eleven, Showtime, Scooby-Doo: The Movie, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, Troy, Catwoman, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Spartan, Eight Legged Freaks, Murder by Numbers, Cradle 2: The Grave, Queen of the Damned, Somebody's Gotta Give, Kangaroo Jack, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, The Powerpuff Girls Movie, Looney Tunes: Back in Action, The Majestic, The Challenge, The Matrix Revolutions, Blood Work, Ghost Ship, Training Day, Torque, Juwanna Mann, Looney Tunes: All Stars Volume 2, Friends videos
  • Walt Disney Home Entertainment: Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Snow Dogs, George of the Jungle 2, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, The Lizzie McGuire Movie
  • Buena Vista Home Entertainment: Veronica Guerin, Bruce Almighty, Signs, King Arthur, The Ladykillers, Shanghai Knights, Starsky & Hutch, Chicago, Kill Bill: Volume 1, Kill Bill: Volume 2, Finding Neverland, The Others, Bringing Down the House, The Count of Monte Cristo, Seabiscuit, Calendar Girls, The Recruit, The Royal Tenebaums, The Village
  • MGM Home Entertainment: Legally Blonde, Legally Blonde 2, Good Boy!, The Merchant of Venice, Bandits, Die Another Day, Agent Cody Banks, Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London
  • Icon Film Distribution: Sweet Sixteen (2002), And Your Mother Too, Whale Rider, Anita & Me, Swimfan, We Were Soldiers, Basic
  • Helkon SK/Redbus Home Entertainment: Bend it Like Beckham, Cabin Fever, Welcome to Collinwood, The Hunted, The Big Kahuna
  • Prism Leisure: Donnie Darko (DVD Only)
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