Maaaaybe we could go official?

[Grimbot]

Shout! is thinking of releasing Headmasters, Masterforce and Victory. And people are asking for new dubs. Doubt they would do that since hiring original cast and aditional professional voices would most likely be too expensive for them. So maybe we could offer our cheaper services?

True, some music tracks contain non-TF stuff, but that's easily replacable. (especially if Hasbro would provide us with G1 ost  )
And yeah, it would mean that we'd have to work faster if this crazy idea of mine is realistic at all. But it would be totaly worth it.

http://www.shoutfactory.com/community/2724/thread.aspx

[Taggenagger]

Don't think they'd ever use fandubs for it, especially since none of the series are complete, or available in the desired quality. But it would be cool, of course.

[HadesVXC4]

Don't think they'd ever use fandubs for it, especially since none of the series are complete, or available in the desired quality. But it would be cool, of course.

If a deal were struck, they would most likely provide you with everything needed. But it sounds like Grimbot's not talking fandubs, sounds like he's talking about working for them. So it would be a professional thing, not a fan thing. So there'd be a lot of differences... Probably including having people go into their studios, instead of using "inferior quality" products.

Regardless, it should be understood by now that Grimbot is a troll... Heck, I've been here since after you all knew him, and even I get that. This topic is rather obviously not something serious.

[Cypherplex]

Odds are they'll publish the Malay-English dub version, despite it's less than stellar interpretations.

But if there is a new pro-dub made... ah, dreams.

[Black Bumblebee]

Here's a BIG problem, though, that MIGHT occur.

Transformers Headmasters, Masterforce, and Victory are not currently sold in the US, and thus, it is moderately legal to create fandubs of these materials in the US.

(I know, I know, most of you guys aren't in the US. I get that. Let me finish).

Once they "do" come out in the US, then Shout "could" start using the same tactics that Warner uses to get things taken down. And looking at their wikipedia page, one of the head honchos of Shout is a former Warner Music Group executive.

We could get a big "cease and desist" from them for interfering with their sales. Heck, they could even make a case that we hampered the sale of their product and sue for loss of damages.

I don't want to scare anyone, but it "might" be a good idea to send an email asking what their position is in regards to fandubs. I wouldn't mind contacting them if no one else wants to.

[HadesVXC4]

No, worst case scenario is that everyone bows out cause they can't legally do anything except keep you locked in a court case for years, costing all involved money - except they can afford it. That's usually how they scare people off. By all rights, they can't do diddly squat. All they can do is waste their money in the hopes it forces you all to back off.

However, a good enough lawyer could combat them... But that also costs.

[Grimbot]

Here's a BIG problem, though, that MIGHT occur.

Transformers Headmasters, Masterforce, and Victory are not currently sold in the US, and thus, it is moderately legal to create fandubs of these materials in the US.

(I know, I know, most of you guys aren't in the US. I get that. Let me finish).

Once they "do" come out in the US, then Shout "could" start using the same tactics that Warner uses to get things taken down. And looking at their wikipedia page, one of the head honchos of Shout is a former Warner Music Group executive.

We could get a big "cease and desist" from them for interfering with their sales. Heck, they could even make a case that we hampered the sale of their product and sue for loss of damages.

I don't want to scare anyone, but it "might" be a good idea to send an email asking what their position is in regards to fandubs. I wouldn't mind contacting them if no one else wants to.

Doubt it.
Otherwise all G1 TF stuff would get removed from youtube.

[Taggenagger]

I say don't bring their attention to us, and they'll let us continue.

[Time Lord]

I'm gonna repeat what Gabe said: The cheapest and easiest option to them would be to release the STARdub (They did it with our release of Headmasters a few years back, and on all the Austrailian boxsets). I would love to see a professional dub (with a few of the remaining G1 VA's for Headmasters), but as everybody else is saying more or less, it might not be a viable option to them.

[HadesVXC4]

I don't want to scare anyone, but it "might" be a good idea to send an email asking what their position is in regards to fandubs. I wouldn't mind contacting them if no one else wants to.

I say don't bring their attention to us, and they'll let us continue.

Yes, do as Peter suggests.

[Grizzlor]

I seriously doubt Shout would release those series, since none have ever aired in the United States, and only the most learned Transformers fans have ever heard of.  Not to mention few actually have seen it.  Also, Hasbro does not own the rights to any of those, and I find it even less likely they would want any TF media to be sold in the USA without their name on it. 

The other piece is that Hasbro, which is soon to start its new television network, is not going to circumvent the voice actors guilds by hiring non-union actors such as any of us fans.  Furthermore, good chance finding professional writers, directors, producers, or anyone else to work on such a production which doesn't have union personnel.  It's just not something even Shout is going to be for, unless it's a fully professional and thus expensive production.

[Brandon]

Yeah, this could end badly for us... Horrible idea to release these, by the way. I don't see how it's viable. Who wants to buy those dubs?

[HadesVXC4]

Horrible idea to release these, by the way. I don't see how it's viable. Who wants to buy those dubs?

It would most likely kill Shout's good reputation. (The one they built with the recent G1 re-release.)

[Cypherplex]

Also, Hasbro does not own the rights to any of those, and I find it even less likely they would want any TF media to be sold in the USA without their name on it.

Hasbro probably own the rights, now.

Sunbow did back when the series was made. They're responsible for putting the odd "TRANSFORMERS" name over the Victory "V" in their bashed up attempt at releasing the three series in English using the Omni dub (AKA English/Malay or STAR TV dub). The bootlegs still running around on DVD are made from Sunbow's VHS release, apparently (the ones that smell like the inside of a tire...).

Which in turn means that Sony owned them when they bought Sunbow.

So does Sony Home Entertainment still own the rights to the Takara series? Maybe, maybe not.

Hasbro, in 2008, reacquired all rights to the materials produced by Sunbow and Marvel from SHE, an agreement over their intellectual property or something.

The Takara material wasn't produced by Sunbow/Marvel, but Sunbow did have the rights to it in the late 80s / early 90s, so I'm pretty sure Hasbro at least owns the American release rights to those series.

The reason I'm thinking that way? Scramble City was released on the 20th Anniversary DVD of "Transformers: The Movie". The fact that its sound track was swapped with a fan commentary track could imply that Sony managed to own the images, since they were based on material that Sunbow had the rights to, but not the sound, which was probably still owned by the Japanese studio that made Scramble City. And even that isn't airtight, since the Japanese material did use some sound effects and some music from the american material (although, for the sound effects, Sunbow probably used stuff that was already out there, an no rights can be claimed on that).

What this means for Headmasters/Masterforce/Victory/Zone? Odds are it means Hasbro currently at least has the rights to the images, and probably the english Omni-dub, since the Japanese material is probably owned by TakaraTomy, somehow, somewhere.

I think I've proven my point. If Shout decides to release this stuff in America, there's a lot of legal digging to be done, and it seems like it would get very expensive to untangle the whole mess, especially since Sony is potentially still involved. As for the Metrodome and other UK releases, those were apparently made by a prior leasing of Sunbow's catalogue to other distributors (Rhino was part of that deal at some point) prior to its foreclosure.