Media Home Entertainment, Inc. Warning Screen
1st Warning
(1981-1985)
Warning: On a blue background, we see a white FBI square (with a rounded left side) with a standard blue FBI logo. On the right we see the white word "WARNING" (in larger script) and the white warning text below. It would later go to the next screen: On a blue background we see a larger white word "WARNING" in a somewhat odd font and the white INTERPOL text below inbetween the two white bars seen at the top and bottom at the screen.
Variant: A red background version of this also exists.
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: None.
Availability: Seen on Media Home Entertainment, Music Media, Nostalgia Merchant, and Hi-Tops Video releases of the era. Also seen on tapes from Imperial Entertainment and Trans World Entertainment. The red background variant was only seen on New Star Video releases. Also appears on Monarch Home Video releases (1st screen only).
Scare Factor: Depends on the following:
First screen: Like most warnings in this format, low to medium.
Second screen: Medium; the rather large "WARNING" and its font may surprise some.
2nd Warning
(1985-1987)
Warning: We see the Warning screen scrolling up. On a blue background we see the following text in white:
The motion picture contained
in this video cassette is
protected under the copyright
laws of the United States
and other countries. This
cassette is sold for home use
only and all other
rights are expressly
reversed by the copyright
owner of such motion
picture. Any copying or
public performance of
such motion picture is
strictly prohibited and may
subject the offender
to civil liability and severe
criminal penalties.
TITLE 17
UNITED STATES CODE
SECTIONS 501 AND 506.
FX/SFX: The scroll up of the Warning.
Cheesy Factor: The graphics are very early 1980s.
Music/Sounds: None.
Availability: Seen on Media Home Entertainment, Music Media, The Nostalgia Merchant and Hi-Tops Video releases of the era.
Scare Factor: Minimal.
3rd Warning
(1987-1992)
Warning: On a sky blue background, we see a large transparent white FBI logo in the center. The black text superimposed over it reads:
FBI WARNING
Federal law provides severe civil and
criminal penalties for the unauthorized
reproduction, distribution, or exhibition of
copyrighted motion pictures and video
tapes. (Title 17, United States Code,
Sections 501 and 506)
The Federal Bureau of Investigation
investigates allegations of criminal
copyright infringement (Title 17, United
States Code, Section 506)
_________________________
INTERPOL WARNING
International agreements and national
laws protect copyrighted motion pictures,
video tapes and sound recordings.
Unauthorized reproduction, exhibition or
distribution of copyrighted motion pictures
can result in severe criminal and civil
penalties under the laws of your country.
After a few seconds, the text will fade to this:
_________________________
INTERPOL WARNING
The International Criminal Police
Organization-INTERPOL-has expressed
its concern about motion picture and
sound recording policy to all of its member
national police forces. (Resolution adopted
at INTERPOL General Assembly,
Stockholm, Sweden, September 8, 1977)
FX/SFX: None except for the fading of the INTERPOL text.
Music/Sounds: None.
Variant: Lyrick Studios also uses this warning, except it uses yellow text, a Purple Stone Background, and the line above "INTERPOL" is absent, however, they initially used the normal variant.
Availability: Seen on Media Home Entertainment, Nostalgia Merchant, Hi-Tops Video, and Fox Hills Video releases of the era. Also seen on Southgate Entertainment releases as well as later Trans World Entertainment releases. Also seen on Lyons Group and early Lyrick Studios releases. However, on Canadian tapes of Hi-Tops Video released by Astral Video, the Astral warning is used instead. Also appears on Ardustry Home Entertainment releases (first screen only).
Scare Factor: None.