Next Generation Media, the company that purchased the CD/DVD replication business from Allied Vaughn just over two years ago, has permanently closed its doors. If you or your organization had assets stored at the Next Generation branch in Portland, it’s going to be a while before you can reclaim them. In deciding how much NGM’s creditors will be paid, the bankruptcy courts have frozen all assets contained in all branches. That’s the bad news.
With that in mind, it’s critical to retain originals, or at least copies of your intellectual property at your location. Duplication/Replication companies only keep your masters and art files as a courtesy to you, and a convenience for them when placing re-orders. NEVER assume that your materials are 100% secure when held by a vendor. Your masters may be misplaced or lost, or, as in the case of bankruptcy, locked away with no access to them. This can cause frustrating delays at the least, and permanent loss of assets and income at the worst.
The good news is, as long as you have copies in your possession, you will most likely still be able to get the discs you need. Many believe duplication requires a “special” master to make additional discs from. Generally, that’s not the case. A copy will reproduce copies of exactly the same quality as the original. The only caveat is, if your disc contains copy protection such as CSS or Macrovision encryption, the original files or tape master will have to be located, and the program re-authored in order to make a disc that can be copied.
Finally, it’s important to note that Allied Vaughn IS still in the media delivery business. Their area of focus is on large scale media on demand customers, and asset library management tools for major companies. They are not in the traditional duplication or replication business, and do not retain any masters or other assets that Next Generation Media assumed responsibility for.
If you have further questions, please feel free to contact:
Kevin Felts
The Media Lab
503-314-0133 (direct)
503-206-4414 (fax)
[email protected]
www.themedialabco.com
