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49-518: 2 Entertain Video Limited , trading as BBC Studios Home Entertainment , is a British video and music publisher founded in 2004 following the merger of BBC Video and Video Collection International by BBC Worldwide & Woolworths Group respectively. BBC Video was established in 1980 as a division of BBC Enterprises (later BBC Worldwide) with John Ross Barnard at the head, just as home video systems were starting to gain ground. At launch,

98-420: A DBA must be registered with a local or state government, or both, depending on the jurisdiction. For example, California, Texas and Virginia require a DBA to be registered with each county (or independent city in the case of Virginia) where the owner does business. Maryland and Colorado have DBAs registered with a state agency. Virginia also requires corporations and LLCs to file a copy of their registration with

147-467: A DBA statement, though names including the first and last name of the owner may be accepted. This also reduces the possibility of two local businesses operating under the same name, although some jurisdictions do not provide exclusivity for a name, or may allow more than one party to register the same name. Note, though, that this is not a substitute for filing a trademark application. A DBA filing carries no legal weight in establishing trademark rights. In

196-707: A North American subsidiary called Strand VCI Entertainment , which would distribute content in North America. Strand VCI held the North American rights to several properties including Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends , the ABC Kidtime video lineup, the 1989 The Jungle Book anime series, as well as content from ITN . The company also released music content on VHS, including Queen 's " We Will Rock You " live concert. They were rebranded as Strand Home Video in 1992. In March 1993, Strand signed

245-476: A contract, invoice, or cheque, they must also add the legal name of the business. Numbered companies will very often operate as something other than their legal name, which is unrecognizable to the public. In Chile , a trade name is known as a nombre de fantasía ('fantasy' or 'fiction' name), and the legal name of business is called a razón social (social name). In Ireland , businesses are legally required to register business names where these differ from

294-724: A data channel on a consumer video format led directly to the development of the BBC Domesday Project in 1984–1986. Since videos could have stereo soundtracks, BBC Video produced stereophonic versions of many programmes that had been broadcast in mono. These included The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy and the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer . The label grew significantly from £13 million turnover in 1989 to nearly £39 million in 1994, enjoying success from television and film serials which had proved popular when first televised and faced high demand for

343-417: A deal with RDF Rights to secure video rights to Mister Maker and Big Barn Farm . In March 2009, the company extended their Aardman deal to include Timmy Time . On 26 November 2008, BBC Worldwide announced that it was in talks about purchasing Woolworths Group's 40% stake in 2 Entertain. BBC initially offered £100 million, but by December following Woolworths' collapse into administration they reduce

392-548: A five-year joint venture with the Granada Media Group to launch the "Granada Video" label. The deal would bring a further 15,000 hours worth of content into VCI's catalogue, including programmes from GMG-owned ITV franchisees ( Granada Television , LWT , Tyne Tees Television and Yorkshire Television ), but did not include GMG's film division. On 8 September 1998, SMG , who already held a 26.1% share in VCI, approached

441-594: A long-term partnership with both ABC Commercial and Roadshow Entertainment that began in 1996 and was renewed many times, with one of them being a four-year extension occurring in September 2008. On 30 April 2012, BBC Worldwide signed a five-year standalone Australian and New Zealand deal with Roadshow Entertainment within a five-year period, beginning 1 July. Following the expiration of this deal, BBC Worldwide/Studios began distributing its products through Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. After this deal expired,

490-447: A range of budget-priced video releases that were promoted as being "A video for the price of a blank tape" that would be sold at Woolworths stores across the country. Both Braveworld and The Video Collection were seen as sister labels, with The Video Collection mainly handling re-releases of classic films and special interest titles. In 1986, Thames Television began releasing their home media products through The Video Collection, under

539-506: A seven-year extension with Quality Family Entertainment to continue to be the exclusive distributor for Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends home videos in North America until 1999. They also signed a distribution deal with British distributor Abbey Home Entertainment to release their products in North America, including Bump's First Video . In December 1993, VCI plc exited the North American market and sold Strand Home Video to

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588-434: A simpler name rather than using their formal and often lengthier name. Trade names are also used when a preferred name cannot be registered, often because it may already be registered or is too similar to a name that is already registered. Using one or more fictitious business names does not create additional separate legal entities. The distinction between a registered legal name and a fictitious business name, or trade name,

637-413: A trade name is known as a nombre de fantasía ('fantasy' or 'fiction' name), and the legal name of business is called a razón social (social name). In Brazil , a trade name is known as a nome fantasia ('fantasy' or 'fiction' name), and the legal name of business is called razão social (social name). In some Canadian jurisdictions , such as Ontario , when a businessperson writes a trade name on

686-647: A video release once the new technology became widespread, thus reducing the need for television reruns. In 1991, BBC Video was the number-one video label in the UK when it sold more prerecorded videotapes, by value as well as by unit count, than any other company, even all of the Hollywood studios combined. In October 1985, K-Tel and Braveworld , subsidiaries of the New Southgate -based Prestwich Group, in partnership with Paddy Toomey, launched "The Video Collection",

735-591: A £31 million bid to purchase the company outright. On 22 September, the Kingfisher Group approached with a higher offer of £46.8 million. Kingfisher won out, with SMG selling their stake over to Kingfisher in October. Kingfisher's £59.3m purchase of Video Collection International was closed by December. On 6 October 2000, Carlton Communications purchased book publisher André Deutsch from VCI plc, including literature rights to Granada Media's properties and

784-525: Is called a razón social . Hat Trick Productions Hat Trick Productions Limited is an independent British production company that produces television and radio programmes, mainly specialising in comedy, based in London . The company's logo is depicted as a rabbit pulling a man out of a hat instead of the other way around. Hat Trick Productions was founded in 1986 by Rory McGrath , Jimmy Mulville , and Denise O'Donoghue . Its first commission

833-498: Is important because fictitious business names do not always identify the entity that is legally responsible . Legal agreements (such as contracts ) are normally made using the registered legal name of the business. If a corporation fails to consistently adhere to such important legal formalities like using its registered legal name in contracts, it may be subject to piercing of the corporate veil . In English , trade names are generally treated as proper nouns . In Argentina ,

882-499: Is used to designate a trade name. In the United States , the phrase " doing business as " (abbreviated to DBA , dba , d.b.a. , or d/b/a ) is used, among others, such as assumed business name or fictitious business name . In Canada , " operating as " (abbreviated to o/a ) and " trading as " are used, although " doing business as " is also sometimes used. A company typically uses a trade name to conduct business using

931-466: The United Kingdom , there is no filing requirement for a "business name", defined as "any name under which someone carries on business" that, for a company or limited liability partnership, "is not its registered name", but there are requirements for disclosure of the owner's true name and some restrictions on the use of certain names. A minority of U.S. states, including Washington , still use

980-433: The 2 Entertain brand replaced the VCI brand on packaging, and the transition was fully completed by September 2005 with the addition of BBC's releases. BBC Worldwide continued to hold standalone rights to children's, music, and educational releases. Three of VCI's divisions - Demon Music Group (Music label), Cinema Club (Budget label) and Banana Split Productions (Production/Commercial label) were also brought along. Much of

1029-524: The BBC had no agreement with British talent unions such as Equity or the Musician's Union (MU), so BBC Video was limited in the television programming it could release. Initially, video cassette and laser-disc releases were either programmes with no Equity or MU involvement, such as natural history and other documentaries, or material licensed from third parties, including feature films such as High Noon and

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1078-492: The BBC label once again started to be solely used for BBC broadcast content, while the 2 Entertain label was reduced to being used for non-BBC broadcast content, in addition, the company was eventually renamed BBC Studios Home Entertainment (although 2 Entertain is still the legal name of the company). In April 2022, BBC Studios Home Entertainment (and therefore 2 Entertain) signed a distribution deal with British distributor Spirit Entertainment to represent its physical catalogue in

1127-709: The BBC transitioned distribution over to Madman Entertainment beginning in September 2023. In Latin America and Brazil, BBC Worldwide signed a deal with En Pantalla in March 2007 for the distribution of BBC's factual titles. The Video Collection label was briefly used in European territories throughout the mid-late 1980s, operating in France as Vidéo Collection France , and in Spain as Vídeo Colección S.A . In 1989, VCI formed

1176-480: The Handleman Company, who would absorb Strand into the company's Video Treasures division, VCI would stick to UK VHS releases from then-on. For a brief period in 1994, Strand released audio cassettes under the "Strand Music" imprint, which like with their VHS releases was distributed through Video Treasures. Trading as In a number of countries, the phrase " trading as " (abbreviated to t/a )

1225-570: The Manchester United Books imprint. In July 2001, VCI plc was divested with Woolworths as part of the newly-formed Woolworths Group. By then, VCI plc consisted of the Demon Music Group , Disc Distribution, VCI and Cinema Club (the latter still being a joint-venture with Columbia-TriStar Home Entertainment). In September, the company signed a seven-year agreement with longstanding partner Ragdoll Productions to release

1274-418: The U.S., trademark rights are acquired by use in commerce, but there can be substantial benefits to filing a trademark application. Sole proprietors are the most common users of DBAs. Sole proprietors are individual business owners who run their businesses themselves. Since most people in these circumstances use a business name other than their own name, it is often necessary for them to get DBAs. Generally,

1323-575: The United Kingdom, after their deal with Sony DADC expired, previously having a deal with BBC in 2011. In the United States, BBC Video's releases were initially distributed by CBS/Fox Video throughout the 1980s and 1990s until the end of June 2000, when the two companies decided not to renew their deal. On 28 June 2000, BBC Worldwide announced a new partnership with Warner Home Video that would begin effectively on 1 July 2000, excluding

1372-559: The Woolworths Group would hold 40%, additionally, both BBC Worldwide and Woolworths Group wanted 2 Entertain to better compete with the major studios . The deal was completed on 27 September with Video Collection International being renamed 2 Entertain Video Ltd. in October. During this transition period, BBC Worldwide continued distributing their releases while 2 Entertain continued to use the VCI brand for theirs. By June 2005,

1421-441: The beginning of 1998, their deal with Thames Television ended after its parent company Pearson Television formed their own video label "PT Video". Within that year, VCI signed 2 deals with both Feature Film and Channel 4 . Channel 4 had initially been self-releasing its titles through its home video label, (Channel 4 Video), and had followed their prior deal with FilmFour in which VCI only handled retail. In March, VCI entered into

1470-498: The club. In September, the company secured a £300 million deal to purchase the football club, which Manchester United rejected. At the end of the year, as the result of Central's takeover by Carlton Communications , Central ended their home video contract with VCI, with their releases now going through Carlton Home Entertainment . VCI would also take over retail distribution of FilmFour releases, FilmFour would however retain rental rights, as VCI only operated retail and not rental. At

1519-525: The company expanded rapidly, securing the market lead in retail video sales in the mid to late 1980s and the early to mid-1990s. In 1989, VCI launched the "Cinema Club" budget label, signing a deal with RCA Columbia Pictures International Video/Columbia-TriStar Home Video to release their back catalogue. Also that same year, Central Independent Television 's home video label, (Central Video), began distributing its products through The Video Collection, replacing Pickwick Video . The "Strand VCI plc" subsidiary

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1568-486: The company for their programmes before the deal. Within the same year, the company renewed its home video deal with Thames Television. while Cinema Club became a standalone division of VCI, becoming a joint-venture with Columbia-TriStar Home Video. On 20 January 1996, the company secured a ten-year extension to its home video deal with Manchester United and purchased the club's book and publishing interests for £2.4 million, allowing VCI to publish books and magazines based on

1617-566: The company secured smaller deals with other companies and distributors. In August 2005, the company signed a deal with Five to launch a Milkshake! branded video label. For 2006, the company expanded their video partnership with Chapman Entertainment to include Roary the Racing Car , signed a video deal with CCI Entertainment for Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs , and a major video deal with Bristol-based animation studio Aardman Animations . In September 2008, 2 Entertain signed

1666-577: The company sold Disc Distribution to Deluxe Video Services, allowing them to physically distribute VCI's products. In July 2002, Woolworths Group announced their intentions to sell off the business. On 12 July 2004, BBC Worldwide and Woolworths Group announced they had entered into a joint venture to form 2 Entertain (stylized as 2 | entertain ), which would combine BBC Worldwide's video publishing unit (BBC Video) with Woolworths Group's video publishing, music publishing and video production unit (Video Collection International). BBC Worldwide would hold 60%, while

1715-534: The county or city to be registered with the State Corporation Commission. DBA statements are often used in conjunction with a franchise . The franchisee will have a legal name under which it may sue and be sued, but will conduct business under the franchiser's brand name (which the public would recognize). A typical real-world example can be found in a well-known pricing mistake case, Donovan v. RRL Corp. , 26 Cal. 4th 261 (2001), where

1764-497: The first video release of Deep Purple 's California Jam concert. For the first few years, the BBC produced videotapes in both VHS and Betamax formats. The company also worked with Philips on early Laserdisc releases, including a notable ornithology disc called British Garden Birds , presented by David Attenborough . This disc was released in 1982 and included digital data in the form of Teletext , which could be read by any suitably-equipped television. This pioneering use of

1813-423: The home video deals and partnerships that were previously held by VCI were also retained including HIT Entertainment For Thomas & Friends releases, Ragdoll Productions for Brum , Boohbah and Rosie and Jim , and their worldwide home video deal with Manchester United . However, they would lose their two major partners; Granada Media and Channel 4. Granada's contract with VCI expired within 2004 and

1862-615: The label "Thames Video Collection" (later shortened to "Thames Video"). On 16 July, Karl-Lorimar Home Video signed an agreement with The Video Collection to distribute children's, family and special interest programs and Scholastic-Lorimar Home Video releases for the British market. Shortly afterward, The Video Collection underwent a management buyout. It began operating independently through the holding company Rushstage Limited (later renamed to "Future Vision Limited", then eventually, "Video Collection International Limited" in 1987). With this,

1911-402: The law is to protect the public from fraud, by compelling the business owner to first file or register his fictitious business name with the county clerk, and then making a further public record of it by publishing it in a newspaper. Several other states, such as Illinois , require print notices as well. In Uruguay , a trade name is known as a nombre fantasía , and the legal name of business

1960-461: The named defendant, RRL Corporation, was a Lexus car dealership doing business as " Lexus of Westminster ", but remaining a separate legal entity from Lexus, a division of Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. . In California , filing a DBA statement also requires that a notice of the fictitious name be published in local newspapers for some set period of time to inform the public of the owner's intent to operate under an assumed name . The intention of

2009-575: The offer to £40 Million. In July 2009, BBC Worldwide had written off £15 million after the collapse of the chain. and would end up winning a court case over 2 Entertain's rights to BBC content. In March 2010, BBC Worldwide announced that they had finally reached an agreement to purchase Woolworths Group's 40% stake in 2 Entertain, making it a fully owned subsidiary. After the deal closed, BBC Worldwide's standalone rights to children's, music and educational products transferred to 2 Entertain. Starting in May 2012,

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2058-439: The release of Walking with Dinosaurs , which was instead transferred over from CBS/Fox to Warner on 1 September 2000. In December 2006, 2 Entertain (which had been releasing most of the BBC's output in the UK around that time) renewed their US distribution agreement with Warner Home Video for BBC content. In Australia and New Zealand, BBC Worldwide initially distributed their products through PolyGram Video before entering into

2107-662: The revival of Brum on home video, which was expanded in November 2002 to include Boohbah as a five-year deal. At the end of May 2002, the Cinema Club joint venture with Columbia-TriStar Home Entertainment was terminated. Shortly afterward, VCI relaunched Cinema Club as a specialist budget catalogue division while former partner CTHE signed a new joint-venture deal with Universal Pictures UK called UCA (Universal Columbia Alliance) to release their back catalogue. Also in June,

2156-459: The surname(s) of the sole trader or partners, or the legal name of a company. The Companies Registration Office publishes a searchable register of such business names. In Japan , the word yagō ( 屋号 ) is used. In Colonial Nigeria , certain tribes had members that used a variety of trading names to conduct business with the Europeans. Two examples were King Perekule VII of Bonny , who

2205-469: The term trade name to refer to "doing business as" (DBA) names. In most U.S. states now, however, DBAs are officially referred to using other terms. Almost half of the states, including New York and Oregon , use the terms assumed business name or assumed name ; nearly as many, including Pennsylvania , use the term fictitious name . For consumer protection purposes, many U.S. jurisdictions require businesses operating with fictitious names to file

2254-409: Was Chelmsford 123 , a situation comedy for Channel 4 . Two years later, Geoffrey Perkins became company director, and helped to produce shows such as Father Ted , Whose Line Is It Anyway? , and Have I Got News for You . Perkins left the organisation in 1995, to become head of comedy for BBC Television . Hat Trick International struck a first look deal with Cardiff Productions and has

2303-553: Was known as Captain Pepple in trade matters, and King Jubo Jubogha of Opobo , who bore the pseudonym Captain Jaja . Both Pepple and Jaja would bequeath their trade names to their royal descendants as official surnames upon their deaths. In Singapore , there is no filing requirement for a "trading as" name, but there are requirements for disclosure of the underlying business or company's registered name and unique entity number. In

2352-539: Was not renewed, this was after the merger of Granada and Carlton into ITV plc , which also brought along Carlton Visual Entertainment, which was renamed Granada Ventures. Channel 4 announced the end of their contract with 2 Entertain in June 2005 in favour of distributing Channel 4 and FilmFour releases in-house as "Channel 4 DVD" (initially under Lace International), certifying that they were uncomfortable with BBC Worldwide's status in 2 Entertain and that it jeopardized their DVD sales. Despite losing their two major partners,

2401-564: Was rebranded simply to "VCI plc" in May 1993. In 1995, VCI plc rebranded "The Video Collection" as simply "VCI". In April, VCI acquired a 49% minority stake in Hat Trick Productions ' film unit - Hat Trick Films. VCI's deal would allow the company to invest £250,000 in the company's films, with a further £450,000 available for the next 18 months. The deal would expect 10 projects a year, with £50,000 paid per script. VCI already held an existing home video distribution agreement with

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