Kahle v. AshcroftOld-Time Radio scripts
originally submitted by Larry Groebe:
Scripts of 50-75 year old vintage radio plays from the so-called "Golden Age of Radio" may be unreproducable or performable
Stifled uses
Larry Groebe:
For years I have run a website called "www.genericradio.com" as labor of love and a service to other fans of old-time radio. On this site I publish as many original scripts from vintage radio shows as I can find, in their original format. My audience is primarily fans, scholars, and small drama groups looking for something different to perform.
Early this year I was contacted by a lawyer from Conde Nast Publications, who informed me that they were copyright holders on all matters related to "Doc Savage" and "The Shadow", including the 60-70 year old radio episodes and the scripts for these episod. They let me know that I (and other websites) were in violation of copyright by reproducing these scripts on my website, and I would be required to remove these online immediately, which I have done.
While people still recall "The Shadow", I doubt one person in 100 has heard of "Doc Savage" and sites such as a mine are in fact performing a service in keeping the character alive and viable.
Ironically, in a phone call to the Conde Nast lawyer, I asked about performance rights should a drama group want to recreat a Shadow episode. He said they routinely grant no-cost exemptions to groups who want to perform, as long as it's not broadcast nor recorded.
Unfortunately, they are now prevented from going to my website to select a script to perform!
--Larry Groebe
Cofounder, Generic Radio Workshop
Dallas TX
Andrea Rosney:
I would like to use the scripts in a basic english class for students who enjoy reading plays as a group