With Spartacus: Gods of the Arena going to air in January, I've been asked by several AUSXIP readers if I will be posting screencaptures once again.

First a backstory to this:

During Season 1, I was posting screencaptures of ALREADY SCREENED episodes after they had been shown on the US West Coast. There was no Starz policy related to not create screencaptures (that I knew of).

During Season 1 some fans decided that they needed to be showoffs and start circulating screencaptures and/or video clips from episodes NOT screened. We're not talking about episodes that have gone to air on the East Coast and not the West Coast. We are talking episodes that
were to screen 2-3 weeks down the track. These fans were warned not to do it because it will have consequences.

Those consequences came in full force and it was Starz's absolute right to do so. Starz decided to ban ALL screencaptures from episodes; including already airred episodes. Now, how was Starz going to enforce this rule was the big problem considering how we all know the web works BUT that wasn't my concern.

The new Starz policy came into force because screencaptures and video were being circulated of Episode 9 (Whore) and 10. Two very pivotal episodes that Starz NEEDED to keep some surprise element too (Ep 9 was a complete game changer and of course episode 10 which changed the direction of everyone's life and ended poor Varro's life...still mourn for Varro) Those fans spoilt it completely. Up until episdoe 8, we posted screencaptures of airred episodes without any Starz comment but that leaking was too much. You can push the copyright boundaries so far and then when you step over that line...you are going to get whapped.

AUSXIP and the AUSXIP Talking Xena / Spartacus Chat boards enforced the no screencapture rule after I was asked by Starz to remove them. I also believe other websites and forums also enforced this rule. There are those sites who don't adhere to this request but that's their decision.

This decision also impacted on artwork. Artists could not use screencaptures to create art. I think is the biggest problem because fans have universally expressed their love for a show via their art.
AUSXIP was born to showcase my love for Xena/Lucy Lawless and to showcase my art...there wouldn't be an AUSXIP if RenPics came down on the fans like Starz did; RenPics, at the time, allowed fans alot of freedom but in turn, the fans also behaved and didn't cross any gross copyright infringement. I remember a couple of times when RenPics did come down on some fans who were selling artwork but that didn't have repercussians on the rest of the fandom.

I don't blame Starz at all; it's their right. I blame the boofheads (Aussie slang...google it) who created the problem.

Now back to the present. So the answer to this question about screencaptures for Gods of the Arena and for Season 2 is this: Starz have not indicated that this policy will change (I have asked). So until Starz gives me the nod to add screencaptures, no screencaptures are going to be created for GofA or Season 2.

AUSXIP has been authorised to use any official image and episode stills but no screencaptures. That's the policy until Starz reverse their decision.

Cheers,
MaryD