San Jose #3

This tape features raw footage from the television show "Wired In." While the  program never actually came to fruition, the footage offers an interesting look into the the technological trends and innovations of the 1980s.  This video features an interview with an executive at Atari, who speaks about legal and copyright issues with the rise of technology and home computers.

00:00Copy video clip URL Color bars

00:44Copy video clip URL Opening shot of police car outside the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Department.

02:15Copy video clip URL Interview with an executive at Atari who talks about legal implications with the advent of technology and home computers.  He comments on copyright laws and the emerging trend toward piracy with copyrighted materials such as video games or other software.  He uses the example of photocopying a book at the library to illustrate this, pointing out that because people can reproduce these materials in the privacy of their own homes, it is more difficult to communicate that this is an infringement of copyright laws.

10:00Copy video clip URL He outlines some of the potential actions that Atari could take in terms of responding to piracy, including prosecution, public education, and prevention techniques such as making it tougher for people to copy the programs.  He comments on complaints that these people have, finding it ironic when the “shoe is on the other foot” when those who copy Atari’s material complain that others illegally copy from them.

13:20Copy video clip URL In response to the question, “How do you find people who are doing this?” He says that “Sometimes they find us.” He says that on a fairly regular basis, people submit their own written games and programs to Atari and sometimes these are copies of Atari’s games.  He says that at times they prosecute these people and at other times they try to hire them to work for Atari, because their dedication and skill could be an asset to Atari.  He also discusses issues of other companies producing games that are similar to those that Atari produces.  He illustrates this with the case of Magnavox, who produced a game deemed to be too close to Pac-Man and was taken off the market.

16:10Copy video clip URL He also points out that Atari will sometimes “go undercover” and advertise on billboards or other means to attract people to submit their games in an attempt to find people who are breaking copyright laws against Atari.  He further comments on the partnership Atari has with law enforcement in order to maintain their rights and prosecute those who violate the law.

19:15Copy video clip URL End of Tape