Mr.Pytlak, would you be able/allowed/willing to identify either the theater or print number of a feature from a video tape mailed to you?

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I helped develop CAP Code over 18 years ago, and am pleased that it has effectively helped combat film piracy for almost two decades.

All of the proprietary decoding information and technology was given to the MPAA in 1982, and is owned and managed by them.

The question was whether CAP Code could be used to trace the origin of a collector's print. I said yes, even if all the other identifying information, including leaders, was removed. My point was that CAP Code could not be removed by simply cutting off the leaders, since it is throughout the length of the print.

Ok, I thought you meant the labs actually went to the trouble to CAP code the leaders! How useless would that be? After all, no bootlegger would ever copy them!

I'm still not done here. Time for you to make me a believer with my Top Ten list of more questions. Please answer each question individually as they are all generic and won't unveil any real secrets (in other words, no dodging the questions please )

#1 The CAP code is "applied" (for lack of a better term) at the lab, correct?

#2 Is this code applied before or after processing?

#3 What is the actual frequency of CAP coding? Obviously it would be on virtually all "major" prints of interest to a bootlegger, but would you say 1 in 10? 8 in 10? Are there actually studios who code each release regardless of how crappy the movie is? (You don't need to say which studio.)

#4 Are all reels of a print CAP coded or just select ones? If only one or two "chosen" reels are coded, are ALL of those reels in every print coded, or does the reel choice vary from print to print?

#5 Does CAP coding have any effect in regards to that one reel that always comes wound reverse of all the rest in the cans, forcing a rewind of that reel before buildup? (Damn I hate that.)

#6 What is the extra cost to CAP code a typical run of say 2500 prints?

#7 Does EACH print really have it's own INDIVIDUAL code, or are there runs where "these 100 prints" have this code and "these 100 prints" have that code?

#8 To distinguish a coded print, would the MPAA need any given single second, or would they have to have a stretch of video, say 10 seconds worth, or a minute's worth, or an entire reel to track it? (Not to worry, what moron bootlegger wouldn't duplicate entire reels?)

#9 Can all labs print this code? In other words, let's say for example (no I'm not implying anything here) that the Deluxe Toronto lab did not have the capability, but the Deluxe lab in Hollywood did. I'm assuming if that were the case, all prints of a given run would have to be done at that lab. Or, could any small lab print this code? Is any special equipment required?

#10 How are replacement reels handled? Let's say for example that I get a print with a bad reel (very common in today's level of quality control by the way) and need a replacement reel. Now, will that replacement reel have the exact same code that the other reels of my print do? Will it have no code? Will it have a separate code that the depot will track to my theater? Will it have a code stating "replacement reel"?

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Mr. Miller and others have asked very detailed questions about CAP Code. Fortunately, the MPAA web site has complete information posted on its web site, including a comprehensive guide for film pirates:
http://www.mpaa.org/CAP/piracy-help/index.html

The Federal Bureau of Investigation also has information of use in pirating feature films and circumventing the CAP Code:
http://www.fbi.gov/programs/CAPCode/countermeasures.htm

INTERPOL mirrors the FBI site, with useful translations available in twelve languages for foreign film pirates:
http://www.interpol.lyon.fr/compte-rendu-CAP

You must accept any and all "cookies" these sites place on your computer.

"Inquiring minds" only NEED to know the following:

CAP Code has been successfully used to investigate and prosecute film piracy for 18 years.

A video copy of a print having CAP Code will be tracable to that print.

Film piracy is a crime , and will be aggressively prosecuted.

Now we'll release Mr. Pytlak.

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Didn't I hear on a previous thread somewhere that most films aren't printed in the same lab, but each separate reel could be printed at a different lab?

How could a code be printed on an entire print if the reels were printed at seperate houses? Sounds like a lot of confusion to me.

Also, and don't ask how I got this info, but bootleggers usually don't include the credits because they think the print # is printed in the credits, or on the ratings band at the end of the movie. I think this is more of a possiblility than a frequency code throughout the film.

On the credit issue, I saw a couple of bootlegged tapes about five years ago and I wrote the lack of credits off to the fellow trying to grab his camera and get the hell out of the theater before he gets caught. I would think if such a CAP code really exists and isn't just an empty scare tactic, that it wouldn't just be constricted to the credits.