WWE Network... It's Here

[pantherwagner]

That sucks - I started with the AWA stuff (no particular reason for it, really) and now I was making my way through Stampede but only got to catch three shows.

 

I wonder if this has got anything to do with Bret Hart's ownership of matches featuring himself.

[grapplin' apple]

yeah, I'm not happy about it either. I was trying to get through all the episodes and generally enjoyed it.

[Bix]

That would be the only thing that makes sense. Wouldn't be the first time stuff was taken down temporarily to be re edited for IP reasons. I would think the deal would be simple enough to make though?

[Bix]

That would be the only thing that makes sense. Wouldn't be the first time stuff was taken down temporarily to be re edited for IP reasons. I would think the deal would be simple enough to make though?

[C.S.]

I wonder if this has got anything to do with Bret Hart's ownership of matches featuring himself.

 

Looks like it...

 

"The Stampede Wrestling episodes that WWE Network added last week have been removed. PWInsider reports that there may be rights issues with the material featuring Bret Hart. WWE owns the Stampede library but Bret has the rights to his matches that were transferred to him personally by his parents before they passed. WWE would technically need to license the footage from Hart to use it."

 

http://wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2015/1207/604522/wwe-pulls-classic-promotion-due-to-bret-hart-matches/

[cpst]

 

I wonder if this has got anything to do with Bret Hart's ownership of matches featuring himself.

 

Looks like it...

 

"The Stampede Wrestling episodes that WWE Network added last week have been removed. PWInsider reports that there may be rights issues with the material featuring Bret Hart. WWE owns the Stampede library but Bret has the rights to his matches that were transferred to him personally by his parents before they passed. WWE would technically need to license the footage from Hart to use it."

 

http://wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2015/1207/604522/wwe-pulls-classic-promotion-due-to-bret-hart-matches/

 

 

When did WWE buy the Stampede library? Presumedly it was in 1984 when they bought the promotion. Did his parents really transfer him ownership of his matches before that?

[JNLister]

They didn't buy the tape library until a couple of years ago.

 

Even if it had been part of the purchase of the Stampede promotion itself, it presumably would have reverted back to the Harts when they stopped making the agreed payments.

[The Chief]

Wasn't a big reason Bret made nice with WWE was that he wanted his matches to be available for people to see and not buried? Hopefully they can get something worked out.

[Matt D]

Yeah, Stampede isn't coming back anytime soon. Dave talked about it today. Bret contacted Vince and apparently said he might have to sue and Vince said he'd take care of things and did.

[goc]

I don't see Vince thinking having Stampede footage on the Network is worth giving Bret any money for so yea, I wouldn't expect it to come back.

[JerryvonKramer]

Bret screwed Bret.

[Beast]

Isn't it more, Bret screwed us?

[The Man in Blak]

Yeah, Bret really shows some nerve in wanting to be compensated for matches that he legally owns by a publicly-traded company that just profited* off of their surprise inclusion to the service.

 

* Though the number of people that jumped into the Network specifically for Stampede could very well be marginal, of course.

[The Chief]

Yeah, if they're legally his and WWE used the footage without his permission, he's not in the wrong at all.

[shoe]

Bret has every legal right to keep them off the network. I just don't think he gains anything by it unless he attempts something like nwa classics.com

[Beast]

I'm not saying he's wrong. I totally agree with him.

 

But the fans are the ones that suffer in this case. So yeah "Bret screwed us". But it's a totally understandable screwing.

[sek69]

It's just like when companies get flak for going after small companies that pose no threat to them. One of the points of copyright law is the owner has to go after any and all infringements lest they create the appearance of not protecting their property.

[MikeCampbell]

I'm picking up what you're putting down, Beast.

 

Yes, Bret is completely within his right to tell Vince and co. "Fuck you, pay me!" as far as the Stampede footage goes. But, Bret also always tries to paint this picture of his fans meaning everything to him. Hell, he first made nice with Vince ten years ago to participate in the WWE produced Bret Hart DVD, to make sure it was the best possible product for the fans, instead of another Ultimate Warrior hatchet job.

 

So, you'd think that Bret would try to work something out with them, so that the fans could enjoy this footage that probably 95% of the network subscribers have never seen and would thoroughly enjoy.

[JerryvonKramer]

My question would simply be this:

 

What is the point of holding onto the rights to those matches if he's not going to sell them? And let's face it, if Vince doesn't buy them will there be a single other bidder?

 

So Bret is fighting for the right to keep those matches in his bedroom?

 

Surely he wants to get paid or there wouldn't be an issue.

 

I said Bret screwed Bret on the basis that he's likely holding out for a better offer, and given that Stampede is probably the lowest thing possible on anyone's priority list, this means they likely never see the light of day again.

[shoe]

My question would simply be this:

What is the point of holding onto the rights to those matches if he's not going to sell them? And let's face it, if Vince doesn't buy them will there be a single other bidder?

So Bret is fighting for the right to keep those matches in his bedroom?

Surely he wants to get paid or there wouldn't be an issue.

I said Bret screwed Bret on the basis that he's likely holding out for a better offer, and given that Stampede is probably the lowest thing possible on anyone's priority list, this means they likely never see the light of day again.

Shocker of shockers. I made this same point on the previous page . Of course with less sentences. Lol

[JerryvonKramer]

It's like on a show Pete, when I say the same thing ten minutes later and you say "I said that just now!"

[Eduardo]

Some of this reaction towards this Stampede footage and Bret Hart is hilarious to me. So y'all really think a person, who owns something, should just let a major corporation use what he owns without his permission, compensation, or without working something out with him first? Yikes.

[JerryvonKramer]

I don't expect him to do that no. Just seems strange that they couldn't work something out.

 

I'd imagine he was offered *something*, but he's holding out for more?

 

I guess it is possible he was offered *nothing*, which is approaching what I'd imagine he'd get for it.

[Eduardo]

Why do you imagine he was offered something?

 

According to Meltzer, it seemed like a pretty cut and dry situation. Hart called them a few times, the company didn't do anything. Then as soon as Hart said he would have his lawyer look into the situation, McMahon quickly got involved and told him the footage would be taken down the next day (which it was). No mention of any compensation or prior consent. Maybe something is getting worked out now afterwards, which would be cool, since I would like to see the footage if a deal is struck with Hart.

 

I guess Ray Carney should just have kept those Mark Rappaport films, done whatever he wants with them, because they can't possibly be worth anything and who cares what Rappaport wants.

 

Anyways, wish WWE would upload more footage it actually owns, which is more than plentiful, but whatever.

[MikeCampbell]

Anyways, wish WWE would upload more footage it actually owns, which is more than plentiful, but whatever.

 

With all the Starrcade events being available in the PPV section, even the ones that predated PPV. I hope to see Crockett Cups and Superstars on the Superstation get added too.