Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: When is Pirating a Good Thing?

my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

»	Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE » Community » Film-Yak » When is Pirating a Good Thing? (Page 2)

This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3

Author

Topic: When is Pirating a Good Thing?

Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 07-02-2004 01:36 AM

Going back off topic, there is no "default programming" for quotes. Brad must be smoking that I-30 stuff. So is Phil for thinking it is the program's fault. You have to type that crap in yourself. You have to type "quote=phil hill" There is no quote button on the actual posts that I have noticed. If there is, then it is very well hidden to me.

| IP: Logged

Stephen Furley
Film God

Posts: 3059
From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England
Registered: May 2002

posted 07-02-2004 01:47 AM

Joe wrote:

quote: Joe Redifer
I work at a movie theater, and am therefore entitled to see movies for free.

What do you mean by this? Do you mean that your work it the theatre requires you to see the piicture, e.g. a projectionist has to check the picture on screen from time to time, and may be requiired to pre-screen the entire film, or do you mean that if you wish to see the film when you are off duty, that you can get a free seat in the auditorium to do so? If the latter, where does this 'entitlement' come from? Some theatres may have a poliicy of giving free tickets to off-duty staff, but not all do, and they are certaiinly not required to do so. They may invite you to attend, if they so wish. What if your theatre isn't running the film you want to see, but one run by a rival company down the road is? You're certainly not 'entiitled' to see the film for free at their theatre, are you?

Since you are not 'entitled to see movies for free', I don't think you have valid grounds to claim exemption from downloading rules.

| IP: Logged

Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 07-02-2004 02:16 AM

I find it simple. Wait for the movie to come out on DVD or VHS. Then rent or buy it. Two bucks for the rented stuff. We lose that much over a period of time with coins falling out of pockets when we sit in a restaurant or a public outhouse.

| IP: Logged

William Hooper
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1879
From: Mobile, AL USA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 07-02-2004 06:58 AM

So you work at a concert venue & of course you get to see all the acts for free. One day, you get sick & can't work, & you don't get to see the Rolling Stones. So next week you go to the next venue they're playing, & say you should get in free because you would have seen it free anyway last week if you hadn't got sick.

Okay, I'm seeing that.

| IP: Logged

Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 07-02-2004 07:34 AM

Joe is correct in that no harm is done in his example, but that doesn't make it "right" in any sort of legal sense (I don't necessarily have an ethical issue with what he proposes, but I still wouldn't do it, for reasons indicated below). Copyright laws are fairly clear on this sort of thing (no, I'm not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV), and that should be enough to prevent anyone from pirating a copyrighted motion picture (PD is a different issue).

Anyone who doesn't like the existing laws (and I have a number of issues with the trend toward perpetual copyright protection, which is explicitly un-Constitutional) is free to campaign to change them, but that doesn't make it right to violate them in the meantime.

There are over a hundred years' worth of movies that are legally and inexpensively available in many formats, so there's no reason why (say) a hospital patient can't find another (legal) means to entertain himself.

(I am referring to US law here; I'm sure that nearly all other countries have similar copyright laws.)

| IP: Logged

Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 07-02-2004 08:01 AM

William you have a horrible example there. It is so absurd it makes me need to go diarrhea. If you work at a concert venue, you see the concert while you are working. I do not know of any movie theater that does not give free passes to employees who are off duty (key words there). It is among the limited "benefits" offered to employees and it is actually incentive to work at a movie theater. Employees can get their privileges revoked when per cap goes down or a manager screws up and must blame the staff (managers never make mistakes, seemingly).

If I wait like Paul says, then I am spending money on a movie that I would have otherwise not spent money on (unless I really liked it, then I would buy the DVD). The torso transplant cost enough as it is! I had to pay for that out of pocket since very few theaters offer health benefits.

| IP: Logged

Richard Hamilton
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1341
From: Evansville, Indiana
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 07-02-2004 08:31 AM

I just bought a DVD of "Matrix" at a video store in China. Even though the box has original artwork, it has mispelled words. On the back of the box, it has the description of Matrix, and then the credits for "Moulin Rouge". Obviously because of the typos and mistakes on the package, the film studio would probably have to junk it any way, so I think I did them a favor by buying it for 48 cents.

| IP: Logged

Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays

Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 07-02-2004 09:19 AM

quote:
Either that or employees seeing movies for free must be outlawed as hurting the filmmakers!

There was a kook manager at one of the drive-ins in my day, who obsessed over everyone on the lot having a ticket. Now, I can understand that for customers, but he was like this to employees, too. The company also had a policy of allowing a family member in with an employee, but not with this manager... he would make them all buy tickets! And heaven help the poor soul who dared try to sneak in by driving through the exit! What a sight it was to see this old guy running across the lot, waving a .38 revolver in the air, and shouting with his speech impediment, "I shoot yer dot-dam ass!"

One season, while my brother was projectionist there, there was a sound problem and he had to run on one projector (20-min. reels!). This nutty manager suggested that my brother call me to come out and fix it, so they wouldn't have to wait a day for their regular tech to travel from another state. So my brother called and, as a favor to him, I dropped by and got them running again.

As I was standing outside the booth, checking pix and sound before leaving, the manager approached and muttered, "Got ta hab uh tik-it!" The only thing I could think to do was laugh and say, "Are you kidding?! I just got you back on the screen! You should be paying ME."

What a scream.

| IP: Logged

Dustin Mitchell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1865
From: Mondovi, WI, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 07-02-2004 09:28 AM

You know Joe's original post seemed so ridiculous that I figured the whole thread would follow suit. Apparantly not.

To be clear, 'Its only wrong if you get caught' is not my philosophy just like 'All problems can be solved with physical violence' is not the real philosophy of most people here.

| IP: Logged

Thomas Procyk
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1842
From: Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 07-02-2004 03:14 PM

It's certainly not illegal, so if you don't think it's morally wrong, I'd say you're in the clear. It's illegal to capture and distribute, but acquisition and possession are not. There was an ABC Nightline special regarding this a year or two ago. If it's for personal use, and you're otherwise entitled to "free access" and viewing.... I dunno, gopher it! [Smile]

Then again, would it be "OK" if, after you paid to see the movie on opening weekend, had to go take a dump in the middle of the movie, missing about 10 minutes. Could you go home, download it, watch the scene you missed, and then delete the file? Or say that didn't happen... and you just wanted to re-watch some portion thereof... Grey areas everywhere.

=TMP=

| IP: Logged

John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 07-02-2004 03:30 PM

quote: Richard Hamilton
I just bought a DVD of "Matrix" at a video store in China. Even though the box has original artwork, it has mispelled words. On the back of the box, it has the description of Matrix, and then the credits for "Moulin Rouge". Obviously because of the typos and mistakes on the package, the film studio would probably have to junk it any way, so I think I did them a favor by buying it for 48 cents.

Typical of the poor quality of most pirated goods. Likely that you will find major defects with the technical quality when you try to play it too.

Has anyone ever had problems getting through US customs if you bought "gray market" or pirated goods overseas? I suspect if a customs inspector found anything that was obviously a pirated copy, they would confiscate it.

I'm afraid many have lost their sense of right and wrong today. It's sad that some think doing the right or ethical thing makes one a "sucker". [Frown]

| IP: Logged

Ron Yost
Master Film Handler

Posts: 344
From: Paso Robles, CA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 07-02-2004 08:01 PM

Decided to delete my post.
Ron Yost

| IP: Logged

Phil Hill
I love my cootie bug

Posts: 7595
From: Hollywood, CA USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 07-02-2004 09:08 PM

Ron, it was a good post... you should have left it!

>>> Phil

| IP: Logged

Aaron Sisemore
Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day!

Posts: 3061
From: Rockwall TX USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 07-02-2004 09:28 PM

quote: John Pytlak
Has anyone ever had problems getting through US customs if you bought "gray market" or pirated goods overseas? I suspect if a customs inspector found anything that was obviously a pirated copy, they would confiscate it.

Myself and several other members of the unit I was with in Saudi Arabia in 1992-93 came back with 'gray market' (probably legal over there, surely illegal in the US) cassette tapes, some of us had hundreds of them- Customs didn't say a damn thing about them, though I genuinely thought they would.

-Aaron

| IP: Logged

Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 07-03-2004 12:13 AM

OK, returning off topic about the "quote" thing. Phil, I pulled my quote from the original Post. Not from your quote of that post. I made it a "quote" simply by typing "quote" before and after with the appropriate brackets. (At least, that's what I meant to do...I was at work at the time and who knows, could have screwed something up.)

So that thing with your name was probably done by one of your fellow mods in an attempt to piss you off and make you quit the mod panel in disgust. I suggest some form of violent retribution.

| IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3

Printer-friendly view of this topic

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.