texas_takeover

Texas Takeover Brouhaha

Hey look! Extortion on Ebay! (February 17, 2009)

However when the folks resort to outright, and blatant extortion, then they have crossed the proverbial line. I have removed their email...seller name also to protect their identity, not sure why I would bother to do that, but just until they present proof they didn't scam one of my original tapes thru the decades and claiming it is now theirs:

Dear eddiestakes,

Hi Eddie
I see you have relisted Texas Takeover. We are in process of
removing your listing from Ebay by use of VERO.
We are registered as
copyright owner of this dvd, and other dvds we hold copyright to with
Ebay's VERO program.

What we prefer to do in these situations is
become business partners and avoid the legal process.
You will become a
reseller for xxxxxxx.com

I will send in the first wholesale order 10
Texas Takeover dvds and sample of other dvds you may be interested
in.
Please paypal $105.00 to shempee@xxx.xxxx
This is a first order
special, including delivery.

And this was February 11th, 2008.....................

Recently I had a annoying call from someone claiming copyright of the Texas Takeover, American Motors' promotional film shot here in Marshall, Texas. I have enclosed a few photos here of interest. The film 16mm reel shown is a
original in my collection, and I have been making copies available since AMC WAS STILL IN BUSINESS in the 1980s. I have copies of this, and other on VHS and if you can believe it, Beta format, and also DVD. It is one of many original AMC films in my personal collection. Did you see me mention me taking a 16MM Texas Takeover film to class in 5th grade at Corpus Christi Cathedral as a school project? Yes, my dad brought home a copy, I was 11, and took it to Sister Anderson's class and she showed it, the guys liked it the girls didn't care for it, but I got a "A".

You can watch The Texas Takeover *****FREE***** on www.youtube.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLvCfbyIqa8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk1Hwb6npwc

or you can also get them from another AMC fan who has been also selling them since the 1980s.....Brent Havekost, who painstakingly put TONS of old AMC films on various formats DECADES AGO.. Here is his site to order same PUBLIC DOMAIN FILM:

http://www.freewebs.com/nashparts/Videos/JavBreedTexas.htm

While Steve in AZ among dozens of others, also offers it. Maybe their copies are better or worse than mine, as some copies are simply better than others depending on the film. Have you ever opened up a original film container like below? You get a better buzz smelling those chemicals opening it than hanging out with Michael Phelps and his bong.

The "copyright" long since expired on this, and other American Motors films decades ago. It was not a problem selling them in the 1980s, as I sold copies at National AMC Meets for $5 a VHS of this and other films.

Some of my ads are shown here from......1989...in a National AMC publication of which this club folded up shop in early 2001, but something I want to heavily emphasize is that these old American Motors films are public domain and have been for many, many years.

I, along with others, have sold them since the 1980s when the copyrights expired, then AMC sadly, folded. There were NO (not to my knowledge) "New" copyrights on them and if there were, I would like to see them, as would others who have given away copies, or sold any AMC promotional film, training film, or other promotional movie, record or film made by AMC.

Look closely, that is a original 16MM Texas Takeover film reel there, and the old VHS is from 1987 when I put it on that "modern" format. The old Mitchell newsletter (can't believe I still have any of those, I thought I used them up during hurricane Ike as we hads no water or electricity for 2 weeks after hurricane and needed toilet paper) but figured would show just how long I have sold....and given out free (to national host clubs) copies.One more thing. These films....were ALSO given out for free to dealers to show off (and gloat) AMC's racing successes. Everyone seemed to have one back then. When I bought out a number of AMC dealerships in the 80s and 90s I ended up with a lot of their archives. And some of them had these films still in there, so like AMC did (and individuals also) before me, I made
copies at places like Walgreens, Radio Shack or friends who could transfer them to the format of time in with the best equipment. I may sell 2-4 a year if that, not sure about others. I would be more than happy to put these on ebay for a fucking penny and FREE SHIPPING you know to prove a point.

You can still find AMC promotional films, salesmen's training films, videos and more at AMC national events from time to time. Years ago in the 1990s, my wife and I went to a meet and the host club had a "video room" set up so
attendees could watch these "public domain" films. And they also sold copies to benefit the chapters.

Finally, I wish to add that anyone adding a watermark to a public domain film, photo, anything don't make it "thier's". So feel free to make copies and sell them of old Chevy, Ford, Mopar and import films, but please don't call me claiming you have copyright of this. If you do, I will be more than happy to first review it after I turn in a copy to my mean bitch Houston attorney Miss Bresieno who would be happy to also look at it, and make sure it, unlike your frantic call that first said you had copyright, then offered to send me a pricing list when I would not back down and push you on coming up with proof, yes, she would be more than happy to tackle it as opposed to dealing with criminal cases in Harris County, the Capital Punishment/Death Penalty Capital of the fucking world! Now feel free to keep offering old car films to the public, but again, unless you can send me proof (not your damned price list "so we can both make money" YOUR WORDS, then please don't make claims like this, much less call me wasting my time when I could be doing laundry.

And there is probably a better than average chance this goofball got a hold of one of the hundreds of copies I have given out to AMC chapters, or sold once in awhile......and simply added their watermark to make it 'official' which of course it takes more than that.