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Home Video Anti-Piracy Advices (Europe)

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United Kingdom

1983–85 (RCA/Columbia) (A)

Nickname: "If It Isn't Red, It Isn't Real"

Bumper: On a white background is a red open big box with an RCA/Columbia VHS cassette inside, mainly showing the red spine with the words "RCA/COLUMBIA PICTURES INTERNATIONAL VIDEO" surrounded by two copies of the company's logo. On the bottom is the red text:

If it isn't red,

it isn't real.

As the voiceover gets to the hotline number part, "01-636 8373" appears underneath the text.

FX/SFX: Just the hotline number appearing.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: A British announcer says "You should have noticed a red leading edge bearing the RCA/Columbia Pictures logo on the cassette you're now watching. If you didn't, have a quick look now before the film starts. You see, this unique packaging is our guarantee of quality. It means you'll see a top quality film on top quality tape, and it means this copy will have been taken straight off a master tape. So whatever film you watch, the picture you see will be sharp, and the sound you hear will always be clear. If this video cassette hasn't got a red leading edge, we'd like to hear about it. So call us on 01-636 8373 right now. Because if it isn't red, it isn't real."

Availability: Extremely rare. It can be seen on some pre-cert RCA/Columbia releases from the era.

1983–85 (RCA/Columbia) (B)

Nickname: "If It Isn't Red, It Isn't Real II"

Bumper: On a white background, a VHS cassette appears sitting with a Beta cassette, both of them sporting red spines. Thirty-two seconds later, this cuts to a still shot showing the front of the VHS cassette, which sports an RCA/Columbia tape label (The Dark Crystal) and a white RCA/Columbia logo that was printed on the left reel side, then it cuts to the VHS's red spine facing us (actually the same one from the previous bumper), and finally a camera zoom-in on the white logo. Afterwards, it cuts to the front of the Beta cassette, sporting another RCA/Columbia label (Death Wish II) and a red trapezoid-shaped sticker on the reel shield that only has the logo's RCA and Columbia Pictures parts, omitting the Torch Lady. This cuts to the Beta's red spine facing us (also the same one), and finally another camera zoom-in on the red trapezoid sticker. Then finally, it cuts back to the VHS cassette and the Beta cassette sitting together, with the text "If it isn't red, it isn't real" shown underneath them, now in a single line and in a different font. As the voiceover gets to the hotline number part, "01-636 8373" fades in underneath the text.

FX/SFX: The camera zoom-ins, and the hotline number appearing.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: The same British announcer from the previous bumper says "You should have noticed a red leading edge bearing the RCA/Columbia Pictures logo on the cassette you're now watching. If you didn't, have a quick look now before the film starts. You see, this unique packaging is our guarantee of quality. It means you'll see a top quality film on top quality tape, and it means this copy will have been taken straight off a master tape. So whatever film you watch, the picture you see will be sharp, and the sound you hear will always be clear. If your cassette is VHS format, it should look like this, with a red leading edge bearing the RCA/Columbia Pictures logo, and the logo also engraved on the cassette window. If your cassette is Beta format, it should look like this, with a red leading edge bearing the RCA/Columbia Pictures logo, and the logo printed in red on the reel spring visible through the window. If this video cassette is not like this, then we'd like to hear about it. So call us on 01-636 8373 right now. Because if it isn't red, it isn't real."

Availability: Even rarer than the previous bumper, used in tandem with it. Seen on Conan the Destroyer and Jabberwocky.

1985–90 (RCA/Columbia) (C)

Bumper: On a white background, we see both a Beta and VHS cassette sporting an RCA/Columbia label and the same red spine from the previous bumper sitting beside each other. It cuts to the front of the VHS cassette with a camera zoom-in on a white RCA/Columbia logo that was printed on the left reel side, which then cuts to the front of the Beta cassette with a camera zoom-in on a red trapezoid-shaped sticker on the reel shield that only has the logo's RCA and Columbia Pictures parts, omitting the Torch Lady. Then it goes back to the same still of the two cassettes sitting together. As we get to the contact part of the voiceover, we fade to the RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video logo itself on a white background with the hotline number "01-636 8373" fading in below.

Variants:

  • From 1988-89, the white background is changed to the still picture of the 1985 Spinning Cube on a blue background and the text is white and typed in.
  • From 1989-90, the Beta front zoom-in and the repeat of the first shot were cut out, and the standard RCA/Columbia logo on the white background was replaced by the ending freeze frame of the Spinning Cube with "01-636 8373" in white appearing via a wipe effect.

FX/SFX: Same as the second bumper.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: An announcer with a full-on British English RP accent says "The red spine on the cassette you are now watching is your assurance of first class audio and video presentation, guaranteed by RCA/Columbia Pictures Video. If your cassette does not look like this, if it's a VHS format - or a Beta format like this - it is likely to be a pirate copy, and you won't be getting your money's worth in either picture quality or sound. In that case, phone RCA/Columbia Pictures on: 01-636 8373. We'd like to hear from you."

Music/Sounds/Voiceover Variants:

  • On some tapes such as Cromwell, as well as in the 1988 version, the part at the end of the voiceover with the announcer saying "We'd like to hear from you" was cut out.
  • In the 1989 version, the voiceover was shortened to "The red spine on the cassette you are now watching is your assurance of first class audio and video presentation, guaranteed by RCA/Columbia Pictures Video. If your cassette does not look like this, phone RCA/Columbia Pictures on: 01-636 8373."

Availability: Rare; seen on some old RCA/Columbia Beta and VHS rental releases from the era. Examples include Macbeth, Mr. North, Eat the Peach, R.O.T.O.R., Return from the River Kwai, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, The Big Hurt, Brutal Glory, Desert Bloom, Daddy's Boys, Hope and Glory, Homeboy and Miles from Home. Later tapes used the RCA/Columbia variant of the 1991 bumper.

Editor's Note: On the 1988 version, the finished bumper looks like it was on an Amiga computer.

October 24, 1988 (CIC Video) (A)

Bumper: On the black-dark blue gradient starfield background as seen on the CIC Video warning scroll, we see the film's logo zoom in as revealed by a lens flare, and then, the film's logo zooms into a comfortable distance for the text to fade in. The text reads:

CIC Video's cassette of "E.T. - The Extra-
Terrestrial" reproduces the high quality of
picture and sound insisted upon by the
producers of this exceptional film

Afterwards, the text fades out for some more text to fade in. The text on the top space reads:

BEWARE OF ILLEGAL VIDEO CASSETTES OF
"E.T. - THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL"

And the text on the bottom space reads:

Check whether the video cassette of
"E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial"
provided to you carries the -

CIC VIDEO POLAROID STICKER

The text fades out and the film's logo zooms in to cover the whole screen retaining the space background, revealing a shining polarized hologram (with many copies of the CIC Video logo on it), and then, a video cassette fades in behind it and they zoom out, revealing that the hologram is on the front end of the cassette. The text above and below the cassette read:

All legal video cassettes of
"E.T. - THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL"
have the polaroid sticker attached

(cassette)

VIDEO PIRACY IS A CRIME DO NOT ACCEPT IT
DEMAND A GENUINE CIC VIDEO CASSETTE
FROM YOUR DEALER

Poor quality, illegal video cassettes reduce your viewing
pleasure and jeopardise future film production

FX/SFX: The film's logo zooming in and zooming into a comfortable distance, the reveal of the cassette, the text fading in.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Only seen on the rental release of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

1989–91 (CIC Video) (B)

Bumper: On the black-dark blue gradient starfield background as seen on the CIC Video warning scroll, as well as the previous piracy warning, we see the text:

BEWARE OF ILLEGAL
VIDEO CASSETTES

CHECK WHETHER THIS
VIDEO CASSETTE CARRIES
THE CIC VIDEO
SECURITY STICKER

Then a shining polarized hologram (which is same as the previous bumper) appears. Then a video cassette fades in behind it and they zoom out, which has the same look as the previous bumper. The text above and below the cassette read:

VIDEO PIRACY IS A CRIME
DO NOT ACCEPT IT.

(cassette)

DEMAND A GENUINE CIC VIDEO CASSETTE
FROM YOUR DEALER.
POOR QUALITY ILLEGAL VIDEO CASSETTES
REDUCE YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE AND
JEOPARDIZE FUTURE FILM PRODUCTION.

FX/SFX: The shining of the hologram, the reveal of the cassette, the text fading in.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Rare, used on rental releases by CIC Video in the UK. Appears on Crocodile Dundee 2, Twins, Ghost, Fat Man and Little Boy (known as Shadow Makers in the UK), Internal Affairs, King Ralph, Back to the Future: Part III, Child's Play II, and Black Rain.

1989–93 (Silver Vision) (A)

Silver Vision Piracy Warning (1989)

Bumper: After the Silver Vision logo fades in, a VHS cassette with a blue spine is shown on a brick red background. This zooms out, and the text "VIDEO PIRACY IS THEFT", along with the text reading "TO IDENTIFY THIS VIDEO TAPE AS AN ORIGINAL COPY, WE HAVE INCORPORATED A SPECIAL BLUE SPINE WITH OUR SILVERVISION LOGO ONTO EACH CASSETTE. IF THIS VIDEOCASSETTE DOES NOT HAVE THIS IDENTIFICATION, IT IS NOT AN ORIGINAL AND MAY BE AN ILLEGAL COPY." fades in. This remains for 20 seconds, before, via a blinds effect, fading out to reveal the FACT hotline.

FX/SFX: The text fading, the zoom out of the VHS cassette, the blinds transition to hotline.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Rare; on most '80s and 90's WWF wrestling retail VHS's with a blue spine, like WWF WrestleMania IV. This is the first anti-piracy bumper to use the FACT hotline.

Editor's Note: Even for its time, the graphics are way too simple.

1991–1994

Bumper: On a gray background appears a shining polarized hologram coloured in silver and red and the warning text shown above reading:

BEWARE OF ILLEGAL
VIDEO CASSETTES

(hologram)

CHECK WHETHER THIS VIDEO CASSETTE
CARRIES A GENUINE SECURITY STICKER

Then a video cassette fades in behind it and both zoom out, revealing that the hologram is on the front end of the cassette. The same text appears reading:

VIDEO PIRACY IS A CRIME!
DO NOT ACCEPT IT
DEMAND A GENUINE CASSETTE
FROM YOUR VIDEO STORE!

And the text underneath the cassette reads:

POOR QUALITY ILLEGAL VIDEO CASSETTES
REDUCE YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE AND
JEOPARIDISE FUTURE FILM PRODUCTION

Then the text underneath fades out and the text fades in reading:

WHEN IN DOUBT TELEPHONE
THE FEDERATION AGAINST COPYRIGHT THEFT
(FACT)

081 568 6646

Depending on the hologram, the following print logos are:

  • Warner Home Video and MGM/UA Home Video (The Warner Home Video "Cheesy Shield" print logo with "WARNER HOME VIDEO" below)
  • Fox Video (A modified version of the 20th Century Fox print logo with "FOX VIDEO" replacing "20th CENTURY FOX")
  • Buena Vista Home Video, Walt Disney Home Video, Touchstone Home Video, and Hollywood Pictures Home Video (The Disney stylised, segmented castle with an arc around it and "Buena Vista Home Video Ltd." below)
  • CIC Video (The 1970-1981 CIC chain logo with the words "CIC" with "VIDEO" below)
  • Entertainment in Video (The 1987 "V" triangle on a blank rectangle with two lines and "ENTERTAINMENT IN VIDEO" on it)
  • Guild Home Video (The 1980 "G" hexagon with "GUILD Home Video" below)
  • First Independent (The 1991-99 print logo with "FIRST INDEPENDENT" below)
  • 20:20 Vision (The 1990-97 20:20 Vision bird on the box with "20·20 VISION" below the bird)
  • RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video and Columbia TriStar Home Video (The 1981-1993 Columbia Torch Lady logo on a dome, and on an outlined box with 3 box sections with the 1968 RCA logo on top and with "Columbia Pictures VIDEO U.K." below)

Variant: On early releases, it has a brownish sea-wave animated background, different text in a Times New Roman Font, and no voiceover. It is apparently like this:

BEWARE OF ILLEGAL
VIDEO CASSETTES.

The hologram fades in, and the text also fading in:

CHECK WHETHER THIS VIDEO CASSETTE
CARRIES THE FACT SECURITY STICKER.

The rest plays like normal and the text reads:

VIDEO PIRACY IS A CRIME!
DO NOT ACCEPT IT.
DEMAND A GENUINE VIDEO CASSETTE
FROM YOUR DEALER.

and below the tape reads:

POOR QUALITY ILLEGAL VIDEO CASSETTES
REDUCE YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE AND
JEOPARDIZE FUTURE FILM PRODUCTION.

and the bottom text fades out and the text below the tape:

WHEN IN DOUBT RING

081-568 6646

FX/SFX: The shining of the hologram, the reveal of the cassette.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: Mark Roman firmly says "Beware of illegal video cassettes. Check whether this video cassette carries a genuine security sticker. Video piracy is a crime. Do not accept it. Demand a genuine cassette from your video store. Poor quality illegal video cassettes reduce your viewing pleasure and jeopardize future film production. When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, F.A.C.T., on 081-568-double 646."

Music/Sounds/Voiceover Variant: On early releases, the bumper is silent, with the exception of The Pope Must Die, where Roman begins from "Video piracy is a crime..."

Availability: Used only on rental releases by the above-mentioned labels. Some examples of where to find them are:

  • Warner Home Video and MGM/UA Home Video: 50/50, American Cyborg: Steel Warrior, American Ninja 5, American Samurai, Angel Street, Babylon 5, Bed of Lies, The Bodyguard, Brother's Future, Carry on Columbus, Cast a Deadly Spell, Citizen Cohn, City of Joy, Class Act, Company Business, CrissCross, Crooked Hearts, Curly Sue, The Curse of the Dragon, The Cutting Edge, Dark Justice, Dead-On, Delirious, Dirty Tricks, Disturbed, Doc Hollywood, Dogfight, Doublecrossed, Dragonfight, Empire City, Final Analysis, Final Pulse, Fires Within, The Flash II: Revenge of the Trickster, The Flash III: Deadly Nightshade, Flirting, Freejack, Frogs!, Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man, The Hitman, A House of Secret and Lies, The Human Shield, Hurricane Smith, In the Arms of a Killer, It's Nothing Personal, Ivory Hunters, JFK, Killer Rules, Kung Fu, The Last Boy Scout, The Last of the Mohicans, Liebestraum, The Mambo Kings, The Man in the Moon, Mannequin on the Move, McBain, Meeting Venus, Memoirs of an Invisible Man, Midnight Ride, Midnight Sting, A Mother's Justice, Mortal Sins, Naked Tango, New Jack City, Night Visions, No Place to Hide, Nothing But Trouble, Of Mice and Men, Other People's Money, Out for Justice, The Power of One, Power Play, Prison Heat, Rescue Me, Roots of Evil, Rover Dangerfield, Rush, Sarafina!, Showdown at Little Tokyo, Singles, Stalin, Stay Tuned, Stephen King's The Tommyknockers, Street Knight, Sweet 15, Taking Back My Life, Tales from the Crypt Volume III, Teen Agent, Thelma and Louise, Til I Kissed You, Time Trax, To the Death, and White Sands.
  • FoxVideo: The Commitments, Point Break, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Alien 3, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hot Shots!, Jack the Bear, Doing Time on Maple Drive, For the Boys, Marked for Death, Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, Edward Scissorhands, Driving Me Crazy, Toys, and FernGully: The Last Rainforest.
  • Buena Vista, Walt Disney, Touchstone, and Hollywood Pictures Home Video: Straight Talk, Blood in Blood Out, Tina: What's Love Got to Do with It (AKA What's Love Got to Do with It), Shipwrecked, Sister Act, One Good Cop, As You Like It, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, What About Bob?, White Fang, Ernest Scared Stupid, 3 Ninjas, California Man (AKA Encino Man), Captain Ron, Mark Twain and Me, The Air Up There, Born Yesterday, Consenting Adults, Deceived, The Distinguished Gentleman, and Give Me a Break (AKA Life with Mikey).
  • CIC Video: The Babe, Blind Man's Bluff, Body Parts, Boomerang, The Butcher's Wife, Cape Fear, Child's Play 3, Cool World, Dead Again, Frankie and Johnny, Hear My Song, Jungle Fever, A Kiss Before Dying, Love Kills, Lower Level, The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear, Necessary Roughness, Problem Child 2, Scent of a Woman, Soapdish, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Wayne's World, Wife, Mother, Murderer, Beethoven, and Doctor Mordid.
  • Entertainment in Video: By the Sword, Delta Heat, K2, Kuffs, Live Wire, Lost in Time, The Nutcracker Prince, Peter's Friends, The Princess and the Goblin, Split Second, Super Mario Bros., and Wild Orchid: The Red Shoe Diary.
  • Guild Home Video: 1492, Blue Ice, Chained Heat II, Chaplin, The Dark Wind, Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare, Hoffa, Light Sleeper, Malcolm X, Medicine Man, Past Midnight, The Opposite Sex, Strictly Ballroom, The Taking of Beverly Hills, and Universal Soldier.
  • First Independent: Deadbolt, Wild West, The Lawnmower Man, And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird!, Carnosaur, Christmas in Connecticut, Cold Sweat, Conagher, Crazy from the Heart, Deep Cover, Dream Rider, Late for Dinner, Lucky Luke, Miracle in the Wilderness, Mr. Saturday Night, Neon City, and Night and the City.
  • 20:20 Vision: Another You, Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, Bugsy, Coupe de Ville, Creepers, Drop Dead Fred, The Fisher King, The Indiana Runner, A League of Their Own, Little Man Tate, Pump Up the Volume, Rock-a-Doodle, Thunderheart, Toy Soldiers, The Unborn, Under Suspicion, and Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael.
  • RCA/Columbia and Columbia TriStar: My Girl, The Addams Family, F/X2: The Deadly Art of Illusion, Return to the Blue Lagoon, and Tales from the Darkside: The Movie.
  • Early variant: Highlander II: The Quickening, Where Angels Fear to Tread, Predator 2, The Silence of the Lambs, The Pope Must Die, and Desert Law.

1993–2005

Bumper: On a blue gradient background appears a shining polarized hologram. The text is the same, except it mentions a label hologram instead of a security sticker. The text reads:

BEWARE OF ILLEGAL
VIDEO CASSETTES

(Hologram)

CHECK WHETHER THIS VIDEO CASSETTE
CARRIES A GENUINE LABEL HOLOGRAM

A tape label with the BBFC U rating fades in behind it and both zoom out from the top right corner, revealing a video cassette. The text fades in and reads:

VIDEO PIRACY IS A CRIME!
DO NOT ACCEPT IT
DEMAND A GENUINE CASSETTE
FROM YOUR VIDEO STORE!

The text under the video cassette reads:

POOR QUALITY ILLEGAL VIDEO CASSETTES
REDUCE YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE AND
JEOPARDISE FUTURE FILM PRODUCTION

The text at the bottom fades out and the text fades in reads:

WHEN IN DOUBT TELEPHONE THE FEDERATION
AGANIST COPYRIGHT THEFT (FACT)
081 568 6646

Depending on the hologram and tape label, the following logos are:

  • Columbia TriStar Home Video (The print logo appears on the hologram along with the wording "COLUMBIA TRISTAR HOME VIDEO" fading in and out, the hologram animation repeats, and the full colour print logo appears on the label, while the label is coloured orange, using the BBFC 18 rating. The hologram is seen at the bottom left corner of the label.)
  • Warner Home Video (The "Cheesy Shield" print logo appears on the hologram while the tape label is blue with the shield in a bunch of clouds. Used until 2002.)
  • Fox Video (The 1991 print logo appears on the hologram, while the tape label is nearly blank but it uses the BBFC PG rating, and the spine on the tape is white. Used until 1996.)
  • MGM/UA Home Video (The hologram's print logo is same as Warner Home Video's, while the tape label is white with duplicates of MGM/UA's print logo. Used until 2000.)
  • Paramount Home Entertainment (The 1968 Paramount print logo with "A Paramount Communications Company" below on the hologram, while the tape label is nearly blank. Used until 2003.)
  • Universal Studios Home Entertainment (The 1990 Universal print globe with "AN MCA COMPANY" below on the hologram, while the tape label is the same as Paramount Home Entertainment. Used until 1999.)
  • DreamWorks Home Entertainment (The "DREAMWORKS" text with a stacked "HOME ENTERTAINMENT" below on the hologram, while the tape label is the same as Paramount Home Entertainment and Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Used from 1998 to 1999.)
  • 20:20 Vision (The print logo appears on the hologram while the tape label is white and the spine is either silver or metallic, using the BBFC 15 rating. Like the Columbia TriStar version, the hologram is seen at the bottom left corner of the label. Used until 1997.)

Variants:

  • Starting in 1994 (except for FoxVideo, as described below), the FACT hotline info now fades out and the INFACT hotline info fades in reading:

OR IN THE CASE OF
THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
(01) 6777 071

  • Throughout the decade, the FACT and INFACT hotline numbers changed multiple times.
    • From 1995-2001 it became 0181 568 6646, before it finally changed to 020 8568 6646 (Columbia TriStar modified the bumper in 1999).
    • From 1997 (mid-1997 for CIC Video), the INFACT hotline became 01 678 9022. However, on post-2001 Warner Home Video releases, it was changed to 00353 1678 9022.
  • On the 1997-2003 Paramount rental and retail releases and 1997-99 Universal and DreamWorks rental releases, the bumper is customized: the background is the same aurora background from the 1997 CIC Video logo, and the text is in the same font as the CIC Video 1997-2001 warning screen. Also the hologram shrinks down to reveal the background before the text and the video cassette fades in afterwards and the bumper goes on as normal (from 1993-97, the regular background and font are used). Rental releases, such as Mission: Impossible, had the original INFACT Hotline, before later in mid-1997, it was replaced with the new number.
  • On early Columbia TriStar Home Video releases, the hologram looks like the full colour movie print versions of the Torch Lady and Pegasus logos, while the tape label is pink, using the BBFC 15 rating and the spine on the tape is red.
  • On early retail Columbia TriStar releases like In the Line of Fire, the hologram still looks like the full colour movie print versions of the Torch Lady and Pegasus logos, except it had a bright yellow label, using the BBFC PG rating.
  • On early DreamWorks rental releases, such as The Peacemaker, the hologram looks like the regular DreamWorks print logo with the moon and fishing boy and the clouds.
  • On 1993-94 releases, the bumper fades out early after the FACT hotline fades in.
  • On Columbia TriStar releases, the "A" in "AGAINST" is smaller.
  • On some post-1994 Columbia TriStar releases, it links to the BBFC rating bumper after it's done. Some tapes such as Sleepless in Seattle have the bumper fade out early. This occurs mainly on rental releases and some retail releases.
  • On 1994-96 FoxVideo releases, it cuts to the same background with a different INFACT address, fading in and out. The text reads as follows:

OR ALTERNATIVELY,
IF YOU LIVE IN EIRE, PLEASE CONTACT:

IN FACT
SUFFOLK CHAMBERS
1 SUFFOLK STREET
DUBLIN 2
EIRE

TEL № 01 6777071


  • On 1999-2001 Columbia TriStar releases, a bluish-purple line plasters over the previous FACT and the INFACT hotlines in order to place in the new hotlines.
  • On Warner Bros., MGM/UA and pre-1997 Paramount and Universal releases, the top text is spaced.
  • On post-2001 Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment releases, the bumper was slightly redone, the font in the text has been changed where the line used to plaster the old hotline numbers is no longer required.

FX/SFX: The shining of the hologram, the reveal of the cassette.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: A stoic man (John Leader) says "Beware of illegal video cassettes. Check whether this video cassette carries a genuine label hologram. Video piracy is a crime. Do not accept it. Demand a genuine cassette from your video store. Poor quality illegal video cassettes reduce your viewing pleasure and jeopardize future film production." Then, the same stoic man says the last sentence. It changed multiple times:

  • 1993-96 (1993-94 for Paramount, Universal, MGM/UA, WB, 20:20 Vision, and CTHV): "When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, F.A.C.T., on 081-568-6646."
  • 1994-95: "When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, F.A.C.T., on 081-568-6646. Or in the case of the Republic of Ireland, telephone 01-6777-071."
  • 1995-2001 (1995-97 for Columbia TriStar, 20:20 Vision, Paramount, and Universal): "When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, F.A.C.T., on 0181-568-6646. Or in the case of the Republic of Ireland, 01-6777-071."
  • Mid-1997-2003 (DreamWorks, Universal, and Paramount only, although only Paramount used it past 2000): "When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, F.A.C.T., on 0181-568-6646."
  • 1997-98 (CTHV only): "When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, F.A.C.T., on 0181-568-6646. Or in the case of the Republic of Ireland, 01-678-9022."
  • 1998-99 (CTHV only): "When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, F.A.C.T. ... or in the case of the Republic of Ireland..."
  • 1999-2005 (CTHV only), 2002 (Warner Home Video only): "When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft... or in the case of the Republic of Ireland..."
  • 2001-02 (WB only): None.
  • Early 2002 (WB only): "When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, F.A.C.T., on 020-8568-double 646." The same enthusiastic announcer from the Guild Home Video warnings (Peter Dickson).

Music/Sounds/Voiceover Variants:

  • On FoxVideo releases, such as Once Upon a Forest, early 20:20 Vision releases like The Dark Half, and early Columbia TriStar Home Video releases like Groundhog Day, the voiceover has been lowered down.
  • On releases from MGM/UA Home Video, Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, and some early releases from Warner Home Video, Columbia TriStar, and 20:20 Vision, the voiceover is quicker.
  • On post-1997 Columbia TriStar and 20:20 Vision releases as well as some Warner Home Video releases during 2002, the voiceover has a different accent and is a bit deeper in tone.

Availability: Used by several VHS companies in the UK. Examples of where to find each of them:

  • Columbia TriStar Home Video/Entertainment: The Best of The Muppet Show, Universal Soldier: The Return, The Net, Charlie's Angels, Kermit's Swamp Years, The Pagemaster, Legends of the Fall, Street Fighter, The Net, Evolution, Never Talk to Strangers, Jerry Maguire, Hollow Man, In Pursuit of Honor, Tomcats, xXx, Dick, Desperado, Muppets from Space, The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, Seeing Double, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, The Cable Guy, The 6th Day, What Planet Are You From?, China Moon, Bicentennial Man, The Thirteenth Floor, Godzilla, The Patriot, The Trumpet of the Swan, The Rundown (also known as Welcome to the Jungle in the UK and some other terrorities), Cruel Intentions, Wishmaster, Urban Legend, Urban Legends: Final Cut, Double Team, Fortress, Maximum Risk, Bad Boys, Call Me Claus, Citizen X, First Knight, Jumanji, Matilda, The Mask of Zorro, Stuart Little, The Swan Princess, The Swan Princess and the Secret of the Castle, Bear in the Big Blue House videos, The Swan Princess Sing-Along, The Swan Princess and the Mystery of the Enchanted Kingdom, Men in Black II, Spider-Man, Sense & Sensibility, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Sleepless in Seattle (retail), Spider-Man 2, The Bone Collector
  • Columbia TriStar Home Video (early variant): Groundhog Day (rental), Philadelphia, In the Line of Fire, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Backbeat
  • Fox Video/20th Century Fox Home Entertainment: Once Upon a Forest, Mrs. Doubtfire, Potitically Correct Party Animals, The X-Files: Tooms
  • Warner Home Video, Icon Film Distribution, Redbus Film Distribution, and Helkon SK Video: The Lord of the Rings, You've Got Mail, The Gift, A Clockwork Orange, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (rental), Any Given Sunday, Bless the Child, Dave, The Day Lincoln Was Shot, The Devil's Advocate, Dirty Work, Eraser, Evidence of Blood, Executive Decision, Eyes Wide Shut, Fail Safe, Fallen, Fathers' Day, Felicia's Journey, Fire Down Below, Fled, Free Willy, The Fugitive, G:MT – Greenwich Mean Time, GoldenEye, Goodbye Lover, Grand Isle, Hackers, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Home Fries, Hope, A House in the Hills, House on Haunted Hill, Incognito, Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles, L.A. Confidential, Last Stand at Saber River, Lord of Illusions, Lost & Found, The Man Who Knew Too Little, Mars Attacks, Message in the Bottle, The Mod Squad, The NeverEnding Story III, Ordinary Descent Criminal, Purgatory, Rob Roy, Second Best, Shiloh, Soldier, The Specialist, Species II, Stolen Hearts, Sunchaser, Tank Girl, Thicker Than Blood, Thinner, Three Kings, Three to Tango, Thumbelina (rental), A Time to Kill, Trial by Jury, Two for Texas, U.S. Marshals, Under Suspicion, Vegas Vacation, The Virginian, What Women Want, The Wizard of Oz, Wrongfully Accused, and You Know My Name.
  • MGM/UA Home Video: The Man in the Iron Mask, Tomorrow Never Dies (rental), Get Shorty, Species, Species II, Red Corner
  • 20:20 Vision: Mind Warp, Mixed Nuts, The Dark Half, All Shook Up! (AKA Hexed), Sleepless in Seattle (rental), Full Eclipse, Last Action Hero, One False Move, It Could Happen to You, Striptease
  • Paramount Home Video: Naked Gun 33 1⁄3: The Final Insult, Tomb Raider, Twilight, In and Out, Primal Force, Save the Last Dance, Harriet the Spy, The Education of Little Tree, Escape from L.A., Drop Zone, Mission: Impossible (rental)
  • Universal Studios Home Video: Apollo 13, The Chamber, Darkman II: The Return of Durant, Junior, Schindler's List, Tales from the Crypt: Bordello of Blood, Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight, Tremors 2: Aftershocks, Jurassic Park (rental)
  • DreamWorks Home Entertainment: Deep Impact, In Dreams
  • DreamWorks Home Entertainment (early): The Peacemaker

Editor's Note:

  • Though the Warner Home Video tape label changed to a representation of the 1996 logo by 1997, the tapes they released prior to the debut of the FACT "Pirates Are Out to Get You" PIF still had the "Cheesy Shield"-era label!
    • On the post-2001 Warner Home Video variants, the INFACT hotline is set in Arial Narrow.
  • On the 1994-96 FoxVideo variant, the INFACT address is very cheap, along with the background. Even after 1995, the FACT Hotline number hasn't changed.
  • For most of the Paramount variant's existence, it still retained the Paramount Communications byline, despite Paramount having been acquired by Viacom in 1995. From at least 2000-03, the FACT hotline should be "020 8568 6646" after being left unchanged as well, and at least to trim out the voice over reading the FACT info out loud.

1993–96 (Silver Vision) (B)

Bumper: Over a blue shiny background, we see the blue spine from the first Silver Vision bumper, but with the tape label showing the WWF logo and the Silver Vision logo and a very small copyright notice. The same text as the first Silver Vision bumper as appears. Then, the FACT hotline appears, but now in lowercase.

FX/SFX: Fading in of the text and the hotline numbers.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on retail WWF videos by Silver Vision from the '90s, such as UK Rampage 1993.

1993–95 (Guild) (A)

Bumper: On a blue marble background, we see a darker blue polarized hologram that uses a yellow version of the 1985-1998 Guild Home Video print logo that shines and the warning text reads:

BEWARE OF ILLEGAL VIDEO CASSETTES
CHECK WHETHER THIS VIDEO CASSETTE
CARRIES A GENUINE LABEL HOLOGRAM

(hologram)

VIDEO PIRACY IS A CRIME
DO NOT ACCEPT IT
DEMAND A GENUINE CASSETTE
FROM YOUR VIDEO STORE

After that, it shrinks and a tape cassette fades in behind it, with the hologram residing on the label part, using the BBFC 15 rating. The bottom text changes to the text below reads:

POOR QUALITY ILLEGAL VIDEO
CASSETTES REDUCE YOUR VIEWING
PLEASURE AND JEOPARDISE
FUTURE FILM PRODUCTION

The bottom text changes. It reads:

WHEN IN DOUBT TELEPHONE THE
FEDERATION AGAINST COPYRIGHT THEFT
(F.A.C.T.) 081-568-6646

FX/SFX: The hologram shining, shrinking, the fade in of the cassette.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: A more enthusiastic-sounding man, Peter Dickson, says "Beware of illegal video cassettes. Check whether this video cassette carries a genuine label hologram. Video piracy is a crime. Do not accept it. Demand a genuine cassette from your video store. Poor quality illegal video cassettes reduce your viewing pleasure and jeopardize future film production. When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, F.A.C.T., on 081-568-double 646."

Availability: Used on early Guild Home Video releases with the 1993-97 logo. Examples include the rental releases of Man's Best Friend and The Shawshank Redemption.

1994–98 (Guild) (B)

Bumper: On a green background with lens flare circles, we see the Guild Home Video hologram, having the shining animation from the previous version, along with some white text. The text reads:

BEWARE OF ILLEGAL VIDEO CASSETTES
CHECK WHETHER THIS VIDEO CASSETTE
CARRIES A GENUINE LABEL HOLOGRAM

(hologram)

VIDEO PIRACY IS A CRIME
DO NOT ACCEPT IT
DEMAND A GENUINE CASSETTE
FROM YOUR VIDEO STORE

Afterwards, it fades to not one, but two VHS cassettes using the same hologram and the same label from the previous bumper, with the one on the left using the BBFC 15 rating on its label and the other using the IFCO 15 rating. The bottom text changes to the text below that reads:

POOR QUALITY ILLEGAL VIDEO
CASSETTES REDUCE YOUR VIEWING
PLEASURE AND JEOPARDISE
FUTURE FILM PRODUCTION

Afterwards, the bottom text changes to the text below that reads:

WHEN IN DOUBT TELEPHONE THE
FEDERATION AGAINST COPYRIGHT THEFT
(F.A.C.T.) (I.N.F.A.C.T.)
081 568 6646 (1) 677 7071 (S. IRELAND)

FX/SFX: The shining of the hologram, the reveal of the two cassettes.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: Peter Dickson says "Beware of illegal video cassettes. Check whether this video cassette carries a genuine label hologram. Video piracy is a crime. Do not accept it. Demand a genuine cassette from your video store. Poor quality illegal video cassettes reduce your viewing pleasure and jeopardize future film production. When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, F.A.C.T., on 081-568-double 646. Or in southern Ireland, I.N.F.A.C.T., on (1) 6 triple 7071."

Availability: Used by Guild Home Video during this era. Examples include the rental releases of Brainscan, Color of Night, North, Welcome II the Terrordome, Judge Dredd, and James and the Giant Peach. Also seen on early Pathé titles distributed by 20th Century Fox, such as the rental releases of Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and The Fifth Element.

1994–95 (Disney) (A)

Bumper: On a black/blue gradient background, we see a VHS cassette with the BBFC U rating, with a sticker label depending on the Disney movie, and a grey polarized hologram. On the bottom "BEWARE OF ILLEGAL VIDEO CASSETTES" fades in and fades out, "POOR QUALITY ILLEGAL CASSETTES" fades in at the top and "REDUCE YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE" at the bottom fades in. "JEOPARDISE FUTURE FILM PRODUCTION" appears along with "AND CAN DAMAGE YOUR VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDER" after it. The texts wipe out to reveal "CHECK IF THIS VIDEO CASSETTE CARRIES THIS GENUINE SECURITY STICKER" and the circle fades in around the hologram which turns to shining green and grows to the screen for clarification. Then it shrinks down back on the label and changes back to grey. The text at the bottom wipes out and "TELEPHONE THE FEDERATION AGAINST COPYRIGHT THEFT (FACT)" wipes in from the side on each row. The hotline, "081 568 6646" appears after each column. The text wipes out to reveal "VIDEO PIRACY IS A CRIME" as the circle around the hologram fades out and "DO NOT ACCEPT IT" appears. The text disappears as "ENSURE YOU PURCHASE OR RENT A GENUINE COPY FROM YOUR VIDEO RETAILER" slides up.

Variant: On Aladdin, the hologram is coloured silver with changing multicoloured grain, grows up to the screen for clarification and shrinks back down, and the cassette looks different. This was likely to be a prototype version.

FX/SFX: The changing text, the zooming in animated hologram.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: Rupert Farley says "Beware of illegal video cassettes. Poor quality illegal cassettes reduce your viewing pleasure, jeopardize future film production, and can also damage your video cassette recorder. Check if this video cassette carries a genuine security sticker. If your video cassette does not have this security sticker, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, on 081-568-6646. Video piracy is a crime. Do not accept it. Ensure you purchase or rent a genuine copy from your video retailer."

Music/Sounds/Voiceover Variant: On The Return of Jafar, John Sachs says the same voice lines, but the number is instead said as "081-568-double 6-46".

Availability: Seen on the UK retail releases of Aladdin, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and The Return of Jafar. Might also possibly be seen on rental VHS releases.

1995–96 (Disney) (B)

Bumper: On a black/blue gradient background, we see a VHS cassette with the BBFC U rating, with a sticker label depending on the Disney movie, and a grey polarized hologram. On the top, "Poor quality, illegal video cassettes..." fades in, and at the bottom, "...available from sources other than reputable retailers" fades in as well, then fades to "reduce the sound and picture quality", and finally to "may also damage your video cassette recorder". After that, it fades out and the text on the above fades to "The genuine product" and a circle fades in around the polarised hologram on the label, which turns shining green and grows to the screen for clarification, while the bottom text fades back in reading "check for this security sticker on the cassette" and then "ensure you purchase your videos from a reputable retailer" before fading out again. Then, the hologram shrinks back down onto the label and changes back to grey, and the circle around it fades out. Finally, the F.A.C.T. contact information using the same font fades in on the bottom, followed by "Video piracy is a crime".

Variants:

  • Starting with The Lion King, the piracy warning is updated where it shows the INFACT address fading in as the FACT address fades out and before "Video piracy is a crime." fades in.
  • On videos from other Buena Vista-owned labels like Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures and Miramax, the tape label uses the PG, 12, 15, and 18 ratings instead of the standard U rating. One tape with this is The Nightmare Before Christmas, where the variant of the later version of this warning can be seen. The version with the PG rating is also seen on some Disney releases.

FX/SFX: The changing text, the zooming in animated hologram.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: The same announcer from the previous bumper (Rupert Farley) says "We want you to enjoy this video as much as possible. Unfortunately, there are many poor quality, illegal video cassettes now available to buy or rent from sources other than reputable retailers. Not only do these reduce the sound and picture quality of the film, but they may also damage your video cassette recorder. To make sure you're watching the genuine product, check for this security sticker on the cassette, and ensure you purchase your videos from a reputable retailer. If you can't find this sticker on your video cassette, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, on 0181-568-double 646. Video piracy is a crime. Please help us to fight it."

Music/Sounds/Voiceover Variant: On the revised variant, John Sachs says the same lines as before, but with "Or in the Republic of Ireland, on 353-16 double 7-7071" added into it.

Availability: Seen on Disney retail releases from 1995-96 in the UK. The current "INFACT hotline" variant is seen on The Lion King, Pocahontas, Sleeping Beauty, The Fox and the Hound, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and other releases, whereas the early variant is seen on The Aristocats and Pinocchio. May also appear on rental VHS releases.

1995–97 (BBC)

Bumper: This is completely the same as the 1991 BBC Video warning screen. Over a black background, we see the following text scrolling up in a Futura typeface:

A MESSAGE FROM THE
BRITISH VIDEO ASSOCIATION
AND THE FEDERATION
AGAINST COPYRIGHT THEFT

It fades out before linking to the Market PIF (see this page for details).

Variant: There was an alternative variant where the text is set in an italicized serif font and centered, and it just fades in and fades out.

FX/SFX: The scrolling up.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Extremely rare. It's found on retail BBC Video releases, such as They Think It's All Over - No Holds Barred. The variant is seen on Comic Relief: The Pick of the Nose and Only Fools and Horses: Heroes and Villains.

1996–2002 (Disney) (C)

Bumper: The already formed UK Disney Videos logo is shown for one second and then it cuts to the clips of the Disney movies. A clip of Dumbo plays, while a "pirated" version. Underneath are captions reading: "PIRATE COPY" and "DISNEY COPY" in two of the boxes. Then It cuts to the clip from 101 Dalmatians in pirate copy format then another one in the normal format. And then, it cuts to the VHS cover with the BBFC U rating and the closed-captioning symbol (Depending on which film) on the blue and green gradient background from the Disney Videos logo, it tilts to reveal the holograms. The Camera hologram (A standard film camera on a tripod with duplicates of BVHV in rows) zooms up to the top right corner and the Mickey Mouse hologram (Sorcerer Mickey in a TV screen with multicoloured swirls on the outside) zooms up to the bottom right corner for clarification. They fade out and the tape with the BBFC U rating fades in with the label and hologram (depending on which film). The hologram zooms up to the top right corner for clarification, finally, it cuts back to the clips and it fades to black and the FACT number in a white Helvetica font reads:

(UK) FEDERATION AGAINST
COPYRIGHT THEFT
0181 568 6646

fades in on a blue background with the INFACT number in the same font fades in reads:

(EIRE) INFACT
(00) 353 1677 7071

and then they fade out. Shortly, the still UK Disney Videos logo fades in and fades out.

Variants:

  • Some releases, such as Toy Story, Aladdin and the King of Thieves, Peter Pan, A Bug's Life, Tarzan, The Tigger Movie, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins, and Dinosaur, have the still Disney Videos logo omitted from the end.
  • Post-2001 releases now have the last seconds of the open matte Walt Disney Home Entertainment logo in place of the Disney Videos logo before the piracy warning starts. In addition, the still Disney Videos logo was removed from the end.
  • Over the years, the FACT and the INFACT hotlines have been updated:

For the FACT Hotline, it was changed to 0208 568 6646 in 1999, before it was later reformatted as 020 8568 6646 in 2000.

For the INFACT Hotline, it was changed to 01 678 9022 from 1997 onwards.

  • On 1996-97 releases, the holograms look different, the Camera hologram has a higher tripod and the Mickey Mouse hologram has Sorcerer Mickey on a gradient background with duplicates of "Disney" in its trademark script font, all around it and the tape box uses the 101 Dalmatians artwork.
    • On 101 Dalmatians, this variant is used, but the tripod is at its usual height.
  • On Toy Story, the tape label has a BBFC PG rating.
  • Some releases can reuse the tape cover from the previous release, though the tape label can sometimes be changed depending on which film.
  • On Toy Story 2 and Fantasia 2000, the closing Disney Videos still is replaced with the full logo.
  • On Monsters, Inc., the new Mickey Mouse hologram as seen in the next bumper is seen on the tape label. Also, the spine holograms are cropped and pasted off-center downwards.

FX/SFX: The clips of Disney movies shown, the cover tilting and the holograms appearing, clips shown again and fading in of the Hotline numbers.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: Silence, when the Disney Videos logo is shown for one second, then "Disney is Magic" plays in the background as John Sachs says "Welcome to a world of fantasy, music and magical entertainment, the Disney video collection! But don't be tempted to buy a cheap illegal pirate copy, or you might just hear about it from your children." At the Dumbo clip, the boy says "Mum, it's no good! The picture's all funny!" then at the muffled Cruella De Vil song from 101 Dalmatians, the boy says again "I can't hear it!" John Sachs then continues with the normal Cruella De Vil song in the background "For the best in quality entertainment, people look to Disney. You can recognize an authentic Disney video, either by the camera, or the new Mickey Mouse hologram on the spine of the video cover, or by the logo hologram on the cassette. It's your guarantee of buying a true Disney original with the quality of our standards that you and your family deserve." with "Disney is Magic" resuming in the background. And finally the music finishes, and John Sachs concludes: "If you have any worries concerning pirate videos, call one of these numbers now."

Music/Sounds/Voiceover Variant: Starting on post-2001 releases, the shortened fanfare of the Walt Disney Home Entertainment logo is heard at the start before the piracy warning starts.

Availability: Seen on most rental and retail Disney releases, including Pixar films, from 1996-2002 in the UK.

  • It was first used on 101 Dalmatians and last used on Monsters, Inc.
  • It was also seen on 2000 reprints of selected Walt Disney Classics, such as The Aristocats, The Fox and the Hound, Sleeping Beauty, Pinocchio, and The Jungle Book.
  • It was seen on 1997-98 reprints of the digitally remastered versions of Cinderella, Peter Pan, and Lady and the Tramp.
  • Only a few releases, such as The Santa Clause, Muppet Treasure Island, the 1997 release of Dumbo, and 102 Dalmatians, remove it.

1996–2003 (Fox/Pathé)

Bumper: On a dark teal grainy spotlight like background, a shining polarised hologram with the 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (The 1987 20th Century Fox print logo with the stacked "HOME ENTERTAINMENT" below) print logo, fades in with the text reads:

BEWARE OF ILLEGAL VIDEO CASSETTES

(hologram)

CHECK WHETHER THIS VIDEO CASSETTE
CARRIES A GENUINE HOLOGRAM

After that, it shrinks and a CGI model of a tape cassette with the white label which has the BBFC PG Rating and the copyright notice, fades in behind it, with the hologram residing on the label part or on the front end where the tape cassette will rotate 45 degrees clockwise. The text fades in and it reads:

VIDEO PIRACY IS A CRIME.
DO NOT ACCEPT IT.
DEMAND A GENUINE CASSETTE
FROM YOUR VIDEO STORE.

And the text underneath the tape reads:

POOR QUALITY, ILLEGAL VIDEO CASSETTES
REDUCE YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE AND
JEOPARDISE FUTURE FILM PRODUCTION.

Both texts fades out and the another pair of texts fade in. They read:

WHEN IN DOUBT, TELEPHONE
THE FEDERATION AGAINST COPYRIGHT THEFT
(F.A.C.T.)

and underneath the tape, the hotline reads:

0181 568 6646

The text and the tape fade out and the text and the INFACT address fades in reads:

OR, ALTERNATIVELY, IF YOU LIVE
IN EIRE, PLEASE CONTACT

IN FACT,
SUFFOLK CHAMBERS,
1, SUFFOLK STREET,
DUBLIN, 2,
EIRE

TELEPHONE 01 6777071

Variants:

  • Starting in 2000, the bumper was modified where the hologram is smaller, and tape cassette (either at the 45 degree angle or at the top view) now zooms in as the hologram shrinks, and it is also smaller. Also, the FACT Hotline is now changed to "020 8568 6646".
  • On Pathé tapes, the hologram contains the standard "PATHÉ!" print logo.
  • On early Pathé tapes like Sleepy Hollow, The Blair Witch Project, and Love's Labour's Lost, the prototype version had the 1993-1997 Pathé logo shown on the hologram and the tape label which is coloured in yellow.

FX/SFX: The shining of the hologram, the reveal of the cassette.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: The announcer from Guild's warnings (Peter Dickson) says "Beware of illegal video cassettes. Check whether this video cassette carries a genuine hologram. Video piracy is a crime. Do not accept it. Demand a genuine cassette from your video store. Poor quality illegal video cassettes reduce your viewing pleasure and jeopardize future film production." Then the same enthusiastic voiceover saying the FACT Hotline sentence reading: "When in doubt, telephone the Federation Against Copyright Theft, F.A.C.T., on..."

  • 1996-2000: "0181-568-double 646."
  • 2000-2003: "020-8568-double 646."

Then, Dickson continues: "Or alternatively, if you live in Eire, please contact In FACT, Suffolk Chambers, 1 Suffolk Street, Dublin 2, Eire. Telephone 01-6 triple 7071."

Availability: Used by Fox Pathé Home Entertainment, such as on 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment titles in the UK and on post-1998 Guild Home Video/Pathé releases in the UK. Appears on these tapes:

  • 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment: Titanic, Star Wars videos, The X-Files videos, Casper Meets Wendy, Big Momma's House, Independence Day, Romeo + Juliet, The Full Monty, What Lies Beneath, Office Space, X-Men, Black Knight, Planet of the Apes, Speed 2: Cruise Control
  • Pathé: Chicken Run, Sleepy Hollow, The Blair Witch Project, Love's Labour's Lost, Moulin Rouge, Memento, Talk to Her, Thunderpants

Editor's Note: It should be noted that INFACT has changed their hotline number in the midst of 1997. Plus, when the voice-over is re-recording his line for the new FACT Hotline, it has a change in tone and accent.

Summer 2002–June 7, 2005 (Disney) (D)

Nickname: "Film Clips Strike Back"

Bumper: Following the end of the Walt Disney Home Entertainment logo of the time is a new version of the 1996 piracy warning featuring clips from Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Monsters, Inc. and House of Mouse with the "Pirate Copy" and "Disney Original" demonstrators. After the clips, the giant tiled TV screen from Monsters Inc. is shown. The Disney VHS cassettes appear in each tile and the Monsters, Inc. VHS cover with the BBFC U rating and the closed-captioning symbol is shown in two tiles which fades to a starry blue background (where this is reused from the 2002 Walt Disney Classics promo) in which the same Mickey Mouse hologram grows to the side of the screen for clarification and shrinks back down, the tape with the U rating slides in next to the cover and the new Mickey Mouse hologram on the tape grows to the screen and shrinks back down. It cuts back to the clips before cutting to the hotline numbers appear reading:

(UK) FEDERATION AGAINST
COPYRIGHT THEFT
020 8568 6646

(EIRE) INFACT
01 882 8565

but in a gold, sans serif font zooming out on the same background.

Variant: Starting in late 2003 (except on some 2004 releases), the information and the animations of the holograms are cut out.

FX/SFX: The clips, the cover zooming in, the holograms appearing, clips shown again and zooming out of the hotline numbers.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: A different male announcer (Andrew Lincoln) says "Welcome to a world of fantasy, music and magical entertainment, the Disney collection! But the sound and picture quality will not be magical if you buy illegal pirate copies. For real entertainment, it has to be original. Make sure you buy the true Disney Experience by looking for the Mickey Mouse hologram on the spine of the cover... and the new Mickey Hologram on the cassette. It's your only guarantee of buying the Disney quality that you and your family deserve. If you have any worries concerning pirate videos, call one of these numbers now." The voiceover, along with the audio from the film clips are spoken over a portion of the music from a home video trailer for Return to Never Land (which was apparently the first tape to contain this PIF).

Music/Sounds/Voiceover Variant: From late 2003 onwards (except on some 2004 releases), the audio from where to look for the holograms has been removed.

Availability: Seen on rental, demo, timecode, and retail Disney and Buena Vista VHS releases from 2002 to 2005, including Beauty and the Beast: Special Edition, Freaky Friday, The Haunted Mansion, Return to Never Land, Power Rangers videos, Lilo & Stitch, The Santa Clause 2, Mulan II, Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers, Brother Bear, The Legend of Tarzan videos, Piglet's Big Movie, Stitch!: The Movie, Inspector Gadget 2, and reprints of Pinocchio: Special Edition and The Muppet Christmas Carol. Also seen on the Miramax releases of the first two Bionicle films and the Dimension release of Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams. Some releases, such as The Lizzie McGuire Movie, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Snow Dogs and National Treasure, used the regular FACT "The Pirates Are Out to Get You" PIF (see below for details). Other tapes, such as those from Buena Vista Home Entertainment, didn't contain any PIF at all.

2003–05 (Paramount)

Bumper: Following the 2003 Paramount Home Entertainment UK warning, we cut to different shots of the the projector, with the filmstrip now reading "PIRACY WARNING." The usual text appears below it.

FX/SFX: The filmstrip spinning around the film projector heads.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: The continued music and sound effects from the preceding warning, with John Sachs reading the text.

Availability: Seen on later Paramount rental releases such as The Core, Orange County, Star Trek: Nemesis and Clockstoppers.

Editor's Note: The FACT hotline number should be "020 8568 6646". The INFACT hotline, "(01) 882 8565" is also absent.

June 14, 2005–March 13, 2006 (Disney) (E)

Bumper: A still image of an outlined skull and crossbones reading "DVD piracy is a crime" on a blue gradient background with the Mickey Mouse heads with Disney all over it appear before this bumper begins. The bumper begins with the last seconds of the Walt Disney Home Entertainment logo and an assortment of "Good Vs. Evil" Disney film clips, after which the skull and crossbones motif on the blue background reappears. This cuts in a "glitchy" style of a "pirated" DVD to a clip from Brother Bear, which is the demonstration of fake vs. real, in a very similar style to the previous VHS warnings, showing a crystal clear Disney DVD, and a "glitchy" Pirate DVD. Afterwards, a demonstration of where to locate the holograms on both DVDs and DVD cases in an almost identical style to the previous adverts with the BBFC U rating and the Disney DVD logo is shown on the same blue background as before. The clips play again before the FACT and INFACT hotlines appear reading:

(UK) FEDERATION AGAINST COPYRIGHT THEFT
020 8568 6646

(EIRE) INFACT
(00-353-1) 8828565

appears in a black font on the same blue background as before.

FX/SFX: The 3-D holograms, CGI DVD case, animated sequences, and glitchy effect piracy demonstration.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: At the beginning, "In the Hall of the Mountain King" by Edvard Grieg (from Peer Gynt) plays as an announcer (The same one from the alternate VHS variant) says "In every great Disney DVD, there are the heroes, and the villains. The good guys, and the bad guys. But with pirated DVD copies, there are only ever villains. DVD piracy is a crime and needs to be stopped. And the inferior quality of these pirated DVDs will spoil your enjoyment of watching the film. Only a Disney DVD is guaranteed. If it has the Disney hologram on the disc, and the Mickey Mouse hologram on the side of the case, then you know you'll be bringing home all the wonder... all the magic... and all the fun that only a genuine Disney DVD can give. If you have any worries concerning pirated DVD copies, please call one of these numbers now."

Availability: Rare. Seen on a limited number of Disney DVDs from the time, such as Chicken Little, Cinderella: Special Edition, Lady and the Tramp: Special Edition, and Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch. Strangely, it also appears on the VHS versions of My Scene Goes Hollywood: The Movie (a Miramax release) and Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch.

France

1989–2005 (CIC Video)

Bumper: Same as the 1989-1991 CIC Video UK anti-piracy warning, but the text is translated to European-French.

Variants:

  • On 1992-2000 titles, the text is in Optima font. The background is a black-blue gradient with no stars. Another variant also featuring the similar and a bit different blue-black gradient background.
  • On 2000-2005 titles, the text is in a different font. This features the shining Paramount polarized hologram, due to CIC Video's merging with Paramount in 2000, which also resulting in the CIC Video hologram sticker being replaced by the Paramount one, as shown above.

FX/SFX: Same as the 1989-1991 CIC Video UK anti-piracy warning.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on European French CIC Universal/Dreamworks/Paramount VHS releases. The Paramount variant can also be seen on a few European French VHS tapes released by Paramount in 2000-05, including Rules of Engagement.

Germany

PolyGram (1980s?-1990s?)

Bumper: After the Polygram Spectrum logo, an sliver polaroid sticker with duplicates of Polygram logos appears on a orange background, and then the German texts "ÜB' IMMER TREU UND REDLICHKEIT" appears below it. Then the scene pans to a female German narrator behind the orange background with the Polygram sticker. As she points at the sticker on the background for a while, she then picks the VHS and the scene cuts to a close view of her finger pointing at the sticker on the tape spine, demonstrating the sticker. Then the camera zooms out. Then the scene cuts back to the narrator pointing at the sticker on the background for a while, and after a few seconds, the scene cuts to workers working at a VHS factory, an film-shooting studio with a man holding a script, and another man dancing. Then the scene cuts to the female narrator explaining things again before it cuts to a zoom-in of the 50 Deutsche Mark against a black background, as gridlines appear on the screen after a while. Then the scene cuts to the female narrator explaining things again for the last seconds.

FX/SFX: TBA.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: The female narrator speaking narrator, with no background music accompanying the bumper aside from a few ryhming dings sound on the sticker part and the dancing man part.

Availability: Seen on German Polygram VHS tapes released in Germany.

Editor's Notes: The German texts "ÜB' IMMER TREU UND REDLICHKEIT" is a reference to Franz Baumann's old German song of the same name from 1772.

Greece

Disney (1990s-2000s)

Bumper: This is a Greek variant of the Taiwanese Chinese variant of the Southeast Asian "Disney Is Magic" bumper, and as such follows the same pattern and even uses most of the same video clips, except that the instrumental version of "Disney Is Magic" is used as the background music. The announcement is in Greek, but appears to follow the same pattern as the Southeast Asian and Taiwanese Chinese version (with the Chinese subtitles on pirated video clips kept intact, but with the blue squares with Chinese texts removed). Towards the end, a Disney VHS case appears showing other identifiers: the Walt Disney brand flashes for a while, and the blue ENOE hologram sticker zooms in from the spine of the VHS before they return to their respective places, and the blue VHS appears and Mickey Mouse hologram appears before they disappear, as well as the VHS cassette spine with the words "AUDIO VIDEO ENTERPRISES" surrounded by two copies of the company's logo. The VHS case then zooms in, hiding the videocassette, and the scene follows the same manners as the UK English bumper, excluding the FACT hotline, which is replaced by the last few seconds of the Disney Videos logo.

Variants:

  • On Disney tapes released in Greece on late 1990s such of Doug's First Movie and Sleeping Beauty, the Dumbo (1941) VHS case and a sky background are used.
  • On some Disney tapes released in Greece on early-to-mid 2000s such of Monsters, Inc., Walt Disney Fables: Volume 3, Around the World with Timon & Pumbaa, and Finding Nemo, the Walt Disney Home Entertainment logo replaces the Disney Videos logo, the Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure VHS case is used, the tape is grey, and the text "AUDIO VIDEO ENTERPRISES" surrounded by two copies of the company's logo is removed from the cassette spine with the voiceover explaining it cut out, and the background used is a blue sky with clouds and the Walt Disney logo.

FX/SFX: TBA

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: The music and dialogue from "Disney is Magic", along with a Greek announcer.

Availability: Rather rare. It appears on a few of official Greek Disney VHS tapes distributed by Audio Video Enterprises, including Sleeping Beauty, Doug's First Movie (2000), Monsters, Inc., Walt Disney Fables: Volume 3, Around the World with Timon & Pumbaa, and Finding Nemo.

Italy

1990–1999 (CIC)

LA PIRATERIA E'UN CRIMINE NON ACCETTATELA CIC

Bumper: Same as the 1989-1991 CIC Video UK anti-piracy warning, but the text is translated to Italian.

FX/SFX: Same as the 1989-1991 CIC Video UK anti-piracy warning.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on Italian CIC VHS tapes, such as Beverly Hills Cop and The Untouchables.

1991–2001 (Disney)

Bumper: On a black/blue gradient background, we see a VHS cover, depending on the film where it's on. Then, the VHS cover tilts to reveal the hologram. Next, it fades to the Univideo security sticker. After it shines, the Univideo security sticker zooms to the left side for the hologram to fade in, with the company's logo underneath. Finally, it fades to the Italian text shown here.

Variants:

  • From 1991 to 1994, the Camera hologram is used.
  • Up to 1995, it has the Walt Disney Home Video white logo underneath the holograms and the text reads "Non accettate i falsi, esigete sempre e solo videocassette originali Walt Disney Home Video".
  • From 1994 to 2000, the Mickey Mouse hologram is used.
  • From 1995 to 2000, the Disney Video logo is used below but stays on the screen and no fade-out effect and the text reads "Non accettate i falsi, esigete sempre e solo videocassette originali Disney Video".
  • Starting from 2001, the Disney Castle hologram is used.
  • Starting from 2001, the Walt Disney Home Entertainment logo is used below but stays on the screen and no fade-out effect, and having animation when the logo appeared underneath the holograms. Then, the text reads "Non accettate i falsi, esigete sempre e solo videocassette originali".

FX/SFX: All motion control graphics.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: Two swooshes and a ding, accompanied by a male announcer saying "È un vero Walt Disney solo se ha la garanzia di autenticità e qualità dell'ologramma argentato ed il marchio Univideo presenti sulla confezione."

Music/Sounds/Voiceover Variant: From 1991-95, the announcer would also say "Non accettate i falsi, esigete sempre e solo videocassette originali Walt Disney Home Video."

Availability: Seen on Italian Disney VHS tapes from the era, such as Cinderella (1950), The Jungle Book (1967), Robin Hood (1973), The Lion King (1994), 101 Dalmatians (1961), The Aristocats, and The Lion King II: Simba's Pride.

Portugal

Coming soon!

Spain

1988–1992 (RCA/Columbia)

RCA_Columbia_Pictures_International_Video_(1988)-2

RCA Columbia Pictures International Video (1988)-2

Bumper: The 1988 RCA Columbia Pictures International Video animates as normal, but when it finishes, it turns to silver print. After the silvery print version of the RCA Columbia Pictures International Video logo appears, three duplicates of the logo spread out. Then a black-blue gradient background appears, and the three RCA/Columbia duplicates merge into a hologram, which shines. A videocassette flies in, and the hologram is placed on the right side of the videocassette, and the hologram flashes.

FX/SFX: All CGI animation.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: A re-orchestrated version of the RCA Columbia Pictures International Video fanfare and a Spanish announcer says "Atención a los videocasetes ilegales. Compruebe que el vídeocasete que le han entregado lleva el sello holográfico de RCA/Columbia en la carcasa de la cinta. Exija un videocasete original de RCA/Columbia. La baja calidad de los videocasetes ilegales reduce su satisfacción de visionado y es un fraude que pone en peligro futuras producciones cinematográficas."

Availability: Seen on some RCA/Columbia VHS tapes from Spain.

1989–1999 (CIC Video)

LA PIRATERIA EN VIDEO ES UN DELITO NO LA ACEPTE

Bumper: Same as the 1989-1991 CIC Video UK anti-piracy warning, but the text is translated to European-Spanish.

FX/SFX: Same as the 1989-1991 CIC Video UK anti-piracy warning.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on European Spanish CIC Universal/Dreamworks/Paramount VHS releases, such as Stepping Out.

1992–2005 (Disney/Buena Vista)

Bumper: On a light green background with copies of the Disney Castle with the words "Buena Vista" under it, a VHS cassette flies into the screen, and the hologram is shown in for clarification, and then, the hologram comes back into the VHS cassette, revealing it's on the front end, and the VHS cassette flies away. Some Spanish text types in, reading:

Exija videocassettes originales.
Las copias ilegales tienen
mala calidad de visionado
y son un fraude al consumidor,
que además ponen en peligro
la continuidad del mercado
del cine.

Afterwards, more Spanish text types in, reading:

Evite el fraude, que perjudica
tanto al consumidor como
a las compañías distribuidoras
y a los legítimos propietarios
de los derechos de autor.

For the next warning, see Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Warning Screens.

Variants:

  • There is an early variant where it used motion control graphics. It was set on a light blue background with copies of the Disney Castle. After the second part of the Spanish text is finished typing in, it fades out, segueing via fade in to the warning screen.
  • Depending on the variant, this would use either the Camera hologram or the Disney Castle hologram.

FX/SFX: All CGI animation. In the early variant, it used motion control graphics.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover:

  • Early BVHV Variant: An unknown music plays in the background while an Spanish narrator says: "Esta película debe ilevar el sello holográfico de Buena Vista con vídeo pegado en la cinta y en la carátula a discrección ar el holograma bajo una luz brillante podrá ver la imagen tridimensional de una antigua cámara de cine sobre un fondo con las letras de BVHV si gira de holograma de derecha a izquiedra aparecerá un arcoiris de colores y podrá ver como la cámara gira ligeramente ilegando incluso a poder mirar a través del objetivo de la misma." The Spanish narrator then speak the warning text.

Translation (Early BVHV Variant):

This video must bear the Buena Vista holographic seal which pasted on the tape and on the cover at your discretion. If you rotate the hologram under a bright light, you will be able to see the three-dimensional image of an old movie camera on a background with the letters BVHV. From left to right,, a rainbow of colors will appear from the hologram and you will be able to see how the camera rotates slightly, even being able to look through the camera lens.

Demand original videocassettes. Illegal copies have poor viewing quality and they are a consumer fraud, which also endanger market continuity of the cinema.

Avoid fraud, which harms both the consumer and to distribution companies and the legitimate owners of copyright.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover Variant: In one of the European Spanish Disney VHS tapes released in 1992-1993, the background music is the looped and edited version of the music of the Walt Disney Home Video International logo that used on international Disney VHS tapes that released from Early 1983 to March 1987.

Availability: Seen on some Disney VHS tapes from Spain, such as Pinocchio (1940) and Monsters, Inc..

Early 1990s-1997 (Warner Home Video)

Bumper: On a dark blue gradient background with stars, the word "ATENCION" flashes three times and the text "ESTA PELICULA DEBE LLEVAR UN SELLO QUE GARANTIZA SU LEGALIDAD" fades in at the center of the screen. Then it fades out and a CGI VHS cassette flips in while a silver CGI hologram with a metallic version of the 1986 Warner Home Video print logo flies in and places itself on the left reel window of the VHS and "COMPRUBE QUE SU VIDEOCASSETTE LLEVA EL AUTENTICO HOLOGRAMA DE WARNER HOME VIDEO" fades in below it, followed by "EN LA CINTA Y EN LA CARATULA", "LA PIRATERIA VIDEOGRAFICA ES UN FRAUDE AL CONSUMIDOR QUE PERJUDICA GRAVEMENTE", and "PONIENDO EN PELIGRO LA CONTINUIDAD DEL MUNDO DEL CINE". Afterwards, both the VHS and the text fade out and the same WHV hologram flips in and shines between silver and gold while "EXIJA SIEMPRE PELICULAS LEGALES NO PERMITA EL FRAUDE SOLO BENEFICA A QUIEN LO REALIZA." fades in below it.

FX/SFX: TBA

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: A man reads the white Spanish text out loud.

Availability: Seen on Warner Home Video releases in Spain, such as A Clockwork Orange and presumably several VeggieTales tapes.

Editor's Note:: It is unknown if the WHV hologram sticker really appears on European Spanish WHV videotapes, but the hologram sticker does appears on covers (or spine) of European Spanish WHV VHS: it appears on top of the front cover, or the spine.

Czech Republic

1990s (Hollywood Classic Entertainment)

Bumper: Continuing from the warning screen, we see the red bar with the yellow words "NENECHTE SE OKRÁDAT!" (which, in English, means "DON'T GET ROBBED!") fading in with the continuation of the warning text and stops. The bumper's white text reads, as follows:

(translated from the original Czech)

THIS LEGAL VIDEO CASSETTE BY HOLLYWOOD CLASSIC ENTERTAINMENT IS PROTECTED BY A HOLOGRAPHIC STICKER OR A SAFETY LABEL, WHICH ARE PLACED ON THE PAPER COVER UNDER A TRANSPARENT FOIL ON THE PLASTIC BOX AND ON THIS VIDEO CASSETTE.

IN CASE IF YOU'VE RENTED OR BOUGHT A VIDEO CASSETTE WITHOUT THESE PROTECTIVE SIGNS, THEN YOUR PIRATE ROBS NOT ONLY YOUR MONEY, BUT ALSO SUPPORTS AN INFERIOR PRODUCT, WHICH COULD SERIOUSLY DAMAGE YOUR VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDER.

IN ANY CASE, YOU CAN AT 24 HOURS DAILY, CALL THE HOLLYWOOD CLASSIC ENTERTAINMENT ANTI-PIRATE HOTLINE ON THE PRAGUE TELEPHONE NUMBER 02/44 464 393

FX/SFX: The fading, scrolling and stopping.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Rare. Found on Hollywood Classic Entertainment releases of the time.

Anti-Piracy Advices
Bumpers by region or continent Europe • Oceania • East Asia • Southeast Asia • North America • South America
Miscellaneous PIF • "Piracy. It's a Crime." • DVD Copy Penalties • TCFHE Anti-Piracy Promo
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