Classic Mode

Play Meter

Issue: 1982 July 01 - Vol 8 Num 13

UP FRONT
There is a controversy presently raging within this
industry that has me deeply concerned. It has to do
with the interpretation of the U.S. Copyright law that
renders most enhancement kits or speed-up kits on
video games illegal. The reason for my concern is that
this controversy is between manufacturer and
operator-two vital segments of this industry that
should, ideally, never be at odds with each other.
With all the other serious problems this industry
faces, one thing we don't need is in-fighting between
manufacturer and operator.
Until this most recent development in the video
game copyright wars, there was general agreement
with the decisions reached by the various courts
involved. In fact, most of us recognized that recent
rulings in U.S. district courts have been, to a great
degree, the salvation of video games in this country .
One need only look to Japan and Europe to see what
horrors were brought about by the number of copy
games that flooded those markets. Counterfeit games
have ruined the video game business in those parts of
the world and could have easily done the same in our
country had it not been for the protection afforded
copyright holders under the law.
The vast majority of the people in this industry
agree that the manufacturers have the right to protect
their own creations from video game pirates. Copy
games are a serious detriment to this industry and, as
such, deserve to be illegal. But the questions now
arise: Where do you draw the line? Why is it illegal for
operators to install speed-up kits in games that they
own? What criteria should be used to decide whether
or not one game falls just short of being a copy of
another? Has the copyright law, in regard to video
games been stretched beyond its intended purpose?
6
These are serious questions that need answers
because they pose a real threat to the relationship that
exists between manufacturers and operators.
As a trade publication for this industry, we don 't
like to see operators pitted against manufacturers, or
battling with any other segment of the industry for
that matter. One of our main goals has been to draw
this industry into closer harmony and bridge the gaps
that exist between the various levels of the industry. A
lot of progress has been made in that direction and we
don't want to see that trend reverse itself. We have
everything to gain by working together and every-
thing to lose by working against each other.
We respect the rights of manufacturers to protect
their games from copiers and, at the same time, the
rights of operators to maximize their profits on the
investments they make in video games. Our loyalty is
to no one level of the industry, but to the industry as a
whole. And , therefore, our position will be to tell the
stories from all industry levels with responsibility . We
will continue to present both sides of the various
issues and report the story as it unfolds.
When the fallout from the enhancement kit
struggle settles, there will , most likely, be no clear cut
winner. We only hope that, in the process we don 't
destroy the things we need most-mutual respect,
open communication , and industry unity.
.@+-----
Editor and Publisher
PLAY METER,.July 1, 1982
Letters to
the editor • • •
Difficult issue
In response to your article published in
the May I, 1982, edition of Play Meter
titled "How To Make Big Bucks And
Not Go To Jail," we fail to understand how
you could ever have included Counter Top
Amusements as a firm associated with or
involved in such outrageous conduct.
Counter Top Amusements is not now nor
has it ever been involved in the selling of
less than a quality product. Since its
inception in 1978, Counter Top Amuse-
ment has always stood behind the products
it has sold with vigor, offering full cus-
tomer service and support well beyond the
expected norm. Nationally, customers in
vast numbers hold Counter Top Amuse-
ments in the highest esteen for its efforts in
honest marketing and innovative sales
support. Counter Top Amusements
strictly complies with all state and federal
laws concerning the sale of a seller assisted
marketing plan, including full disclosure
pursuant to the Federal Trade Commission
rules, as well as total compliance with all
individual state laws regarding the sale of a
business opportunity. This can be easily
verified through the highly-respected law
firm of Freeman, Atkins & Coleman, Ltd.,
Chicago, Illinois, a firm specializing in
such matters.
. .
In the May I , 1982, article, you edtton-
alized a growing industry problem-~ast
buck artists, preying upon uns_uspectmg
investors familiar with the mcredtble
success of video games and the n;any
lucrative investment benefits the vtdeo
industry offers . Counter Top Amusements
applauds your courage to address the
.
W do have serio us problems,
1ssue.
e
· ·
h honest
however' with your assoctatmg t e
marketing of a good product to an eager
business community with the ~nscrupul~-~~
tactics employed by other ft~ms to ~
investors simply on the basts that t _ey
th at~ract the business opport~mty
b o
th of a vtable
investor on the streng
industry ·
·
tu-
We maintain that the busmess oppor
nity investor has the same right to operate
PLAY METER, July 1,1982
video equipment for profit as does the
long-established operator, so long as he
does so ethically and without harm or
malice to others . Even in yo ur article, you
state that there is a place in the industry for
a n honest company appealing to the busi-
ness opportunity market segment. Counter
Top Amusements is such a company. We
encourage and support the swift enactment
of additional laws to protect the private
investor from harrassment by unethical
firms peddling putrid products for profit
and the funding to enforce the existing
statutes aimed at protecting innocent
people and their money. Unfortunately, as
things presently exist, the potential
investor must act to protect himself by
thoroughly exammmg any company
a pproaching him with a video game invest-
ment opportunity- Counter Top Amuse-
ments invites such an examination.
Don Hale
President
Counter Top Amusements
Nashville, Tennessee
[Ed. Note: The conduct of firms selling
business opportunities in the video game
field is a difficult issue . The presence of
such firms has caused a plethora or image
problems to the industry, led to innumer-
able difficulties for unwary investors, and
theatened the "natural order" of things in
our industry (that is, the way machines
Audio Visual
Amusements
Offering the fi nest
new and used
equipment
REP RESENT IN G LEADING FACTORIES
• SA LES, PA RTS, SERVICE •
ARCADE PLANNING
SPECIALISTS
Eve ry new and used video
i n stock at a II times
YOU'VE TRIED THE REST,
NOW TRY THE BEST
WE'RE EAGER TO SERVE
1809 Olive Street
St. Louis,Missouri 63103
(31 4) 421-5100
.
For further information, call Pete Entnnger
(collect)
7

Download Page 6: PDF File | Image

Download Page 7 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.