When Rick went sour on my production method. I offered to do EM or older titles, no response. I would think the licensing applies also to early work also. It's really no big deal to me at this time. He knows what I'm doing, I'm still trying to work on a deal for WMS for playfields also. But until uv inkjet production is accepted, my focus won't be in that direction quickly for Bally & Williams. The only people affected are those looking for another source of product.
John, I believe the WMS license does not go as far back as EMs. I was told the license covers games produced AFTER 1984 ish. So anything beforehand should be fine. But it would be worth contacting Williams to have it in writing.
Not sure you'll ever get this in writing.. it was the previous rights owners main weapon.. grey areas of copyright. The only thing that is absolute is that pre 1982 if copyright was not requested then it did not exist... a case in 1982 changed all this when the artwork was reproduced for profit.. artist claimed copyright and it was denied.. but... a precedence was then made that anything POST this case was subject to automatic copyright. So we then hit this ' grey area" where any copyright owners will not tell you what is subject and what is not.. reason for this?.. Common sense tells us that most is NOT subject to copyright and that is why owners will not disclose.
It is however good to get approval if you can as it shows a quality of reproduction... but it is not absolutely necessary
