Media Home Entertainment (Warning Screens)

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum

1st Warning (1981-1987)

Visuals: On a blue background, there is 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 a larger font) and the white warning text below. It then cuts to a blue background with the word "WARNING" in a larger white font and the white INTERPOL text below, between the two white bars seen at the top and bottom at the screen.

Variant: A bright maroon background version of this also exists.

Technique: Digital graphics.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on Media Home Entertainment, Music Media, Nostalgia Merchant, and Hi-Tops Video releases of the era. [Examples?]

  • Also seen on tapes from Imperial Entertainment, BridgeStone Media, and Trans World Entertainment. [Examples?]
  • The bright maroon background variant was only seen on New Star Video releases. [Examples?]
  • Also appears on Monarch Home Video releases (1st screen only). [Examples?]
  • This appeared at the end of tapes until 1985.
  • For some reason, this appears on the UK pre-cert VHS of I Drink Your Blood.

2nd Warning (1981-1987)


Visuals: Same as the 1st VCI warning at the time.

Variant: Some releases use a different font.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen at the start of Media Home Entertainment, Music Media, The Nostalgia Merchant and Hi-Tops Video releases of the era. [Examples?]

  • May also be on Alliance Entertainment Group releases such as Choices (1985).
  • It may also make appearances on Active Home Video releases, such as How to Beat a Speeding Ticket.

3rd Warning (1987-1996)

Visuals: On a sky blue background, there is 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)

Moments later, the first screen fades out and the next screen fades in, featuring the following text:

_________________________
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 fades to the following:

_________________________
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)

Variant: Lyrick Studios also uses this warning (and some releases of VeggieTales from Word Entertainment), except it uses yellow text, a purple stone background, and the line above "INTERPOL" is absent.

Technique: Digital graphics with cross-dissolve transitions.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on Media Home Entertainment, Nostalgia Merchant, Hi-Tops Video, and Fox Hills Video releases of the era. [Examples?]

  • Also seen on Southgate Entertainment, later Trans World Entertainment, and Schlessinger Video Productions releases. [Examples?]
  • Also seen on Lyons Group and early Lyrick Studios releases (which at first used the original version, but started using the purple stone version in 1996). The Lyrick/Lyons Group version can also be seen on VeggieTales tapes from Word and Everland Entertainment, likely due to VeggieTales also being released by Lyrick Studios in the late '90s.
  • 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). [Examples?]
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