Web Hosting Talk : Other Forums : Web Hosting Lounge : Home Alone 3 - extra spicy - Blockbuster gets sued

[Acroplex]

WOODBURY, New Jersey (AP) -- A couple who says their 4-year-old daughter saw hard-core pornography on a PG-rated movie tape from Blockbuster has sued the video company.

The plaintiffs, who were not identified, said the footage appeared on a "Home Alone 3" tape rented April 7 from a Glassboro store.

The pornographic material allegedly appeared for 10 minutes after the movie credits for the 1997 film.

According to the lawsuit field in Superior Court, Blockbuster "had a responsibility and a duty to inspect, monitor and ensure the quality and propriety of all video products purchased by its customers."

Randy Hargrove, a spokesman for Dallas-based Blockbuster Inc., said Friday that the company does not carry X- or NC-17-rated movies, and depends on renters to return a tape "in the same condition it was given to them."

"Unfortunately there are those rare instances when someone will abuse that privilege and damage one of our tapes," he said.

[Rob83]

I do not feel Blockbuster is at fault. Now, if they want BlockBuster employees to inspect every video that is returned, than they can also expect the rental prices to go up.

[Tina J]

So, the couple left the tv to babysit their kid...and, because they obviously weren't watching her, something bad happened.

Hrm.

--Tina

[Acroplex]

Solution: eliminate VHS - use DVD only.

[JYC]

Originally posted by AffordableHost
So, the couple left the tv to babysit their kid...and, because they obviously weren't watching her, something bad happened.

Hrm.

--Tina

exactly... they should have been there to turn it right off when it showed up... but apparently they weren't and somehow that's the store's fault?

well... at least now their 4 year old has a head start in life

so... umm which blockbuster is this tape at again? not that I... well, just curious you see...

[JTY]

Yeah for Blockbuster to inspect every tape, rental prices would go drastically. Not to mention, the parents should have been watching the movie with their daughter.

[ichris]

A four year old alone? Not blockblusters fault. I personally don't use them, the library suits my needs.

[Acroplex]

well the movie was Home ALONE so it makes sense that the kid watches it by themselves

[digitok]

I wouldn't complain if I got pornos after a movie, would you?

[Acroplex]

Originally posted by digitok
I wouldn't complain if I got pornos after a movie, would you?

As long as you don't eat Cheetos at the same time.

[selake72]

LMAO...

Yeah, I agree the parents are at fault. I rarely go to Blockbuster, and still think their prices are high. Besides, how would the parents of an under-age employee feel if thier kid found that tape?

[akashik]

Originally posted by timechange.com
"had a responsibility and a duty to inspect, monitor and ensure the quality and propriety of all video products purchased by its customers."

Hmm, the average Blockbuster is going to rent out a few hundred videos a day at least. Every video then needs to be fully inspected, every time it's returned? If a judge decides Blockbuster is at fault I'd love to hear his/her ideas on how it'd be possible for them to do so.

[Tina J]

I think the most they can do is carry a warning label that says they can't gaurantee that the intended video has not been tampered with.

[Hiccups]

I'm not saying it's Blockbuster's fault at all. But where does it say that the parents left the video to babysit the kid or that they weren't watching it with her? They may have been watching and left the room for a few minutes and then come back and saw it, or they may have been sitting right there when the porn started and the kid got an eyeful before they could grab the remote and stop the video. In fact, how did the parents even KNOW there was porn on the tape if they weren't watching it too?

It may not be Blockbuster's fault, but I don't see a reason to start blaming the parents in what's posted about it either.

[RMF]

You can't expect blockbuster or any other movie rental store to watch EVERY tape that has been returned. It's impossible.

You can however expect a parent of a 4 year old to watch the entire movie with their child. This is possible.

Therefor, I believe I would have to say the parents are at fault in this matter.

I would hope that blockbuster would investigate the last people who rented that tape. They should also review any other video's that those people rented. They should also contact other video stores in the area to see if any other tapes have been edited by those same people.

RMF