Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: MPAA's Anti-Piracy website.

This is topic MPAA's Anti-Piracy website. in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Michael Gonzalez (Member # 593) on 03-25-2006, 07:41 PM:

Interesting some of the info on the site as well as the cash awards being offered.

http://www.fightfilmtheft.org

quote:
Illegal camcording in movie theaters is the source of over 90% of all illegally copied movies in their initial release form. Camcording in movie theaters is a federal felony punishable by steep fines and up to three years in prison, and is also a criminal violation under state law in most states.

Posted by Jeremy Jorgenson (Member # 2989) on 03-25-2006, 07:46 PM:

90% eh?

Posted by Dave Macaulay (Member # 813) on 03-25-2006, 09:46 PM:

But how do they stabilize the camcorder picture and why insert the timecode readout?

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 03-25-2006, 11:27 PM:

The operative words are:

quote:
in their initial release form

The timecoded pre-screener is NOT the initial release form.

Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 03-26-2006, 09:00 AM:

Yes, but Dave has a point; The question really is: What percentage of illegally copied movies come from theaters? I don't see that number on the MPAA. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it's a problem, but theaters are not the only problem. You what Mark Twain said about statistics [Smile]

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 03-26-2006, 09:30 AM:

quote:
Suspect Seating Arrangements — Movie thieves try to place themselves in the middle of the theater, and they will often try to shield themselves by having accomplices sit on either side. Please remain alert.

Yes, it's really suspicious when somebody sits in the middle of the theater, and there's somebody sitting on either side of them; isn't it?

Posted by John Joseph Fink (Member # 3619) on 03-26-2006, 09:42 AM:

The police need to crack down on those selling it on the streets for five bucks - put those people in jail, threaten them and then go after the larger distribution networks. If the MPAA would box them in from both sides they may actually make some progress in this country.

Posted by Jeffry L. Johnson (Member # 453) on 03-26-2006, 10:42 AM:

Canada becomes film piracy target

quote:
Canada becomes film piracy target

TORONTO, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Canada is the newest enemy in the film industry's war against piracy and Montreal is the No. 1 city in the world for illegal recording of feature films.

Ninety percent of illegal DVDs being sold are the result of a camcorder recording straight off a cinema screen, Serge Corriveau of the Canadian Motion Picture Distribution Association told Variety. He said 40 percent to 50 percent of the camcorded DVDs are made in Montreal.

Because movies are released in French and English in Montreal, it gives pirates a leg up on the European market, Corriveau said.

While the duplication is done in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver have become major players in the bootleg black market.

Variety said 40,000 pirated DVDs were seized in Canada last year. So far this year, the number is around 500,000.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 03-26-2006, 06:23 PM:

Ideas for MPAA:

1. Day & date releases to video. This saves the thief the bother of the camera. He just buys what he needs.

2. Other plan, start your own MPAA piracy firm, be good at it and put the other pirates out-of-business. Louis

Posted by Scott Jentsch (Member # 1681) on 03-27-2006, 04:07 PM:

I was talking to someone from the MPAA at Showest and I told him that it would help considerably to post real situations where cases of theft have gone to prosecution.

I got what was probably a patronizing "thanks for the info, we'll consider it" reply, but he feigned interest well enough to get me out of his hair.

The MPAA prosecuting camcorder thieves is the stuff of urban legend. I'd love to see a running record of how many people have been caught as a result of the MPAA's efforts to crack down on moviegoers. The only reason I can think of that it hasn't been done is that it isn't substantial enough to make for good marketing material.

Posted by Steve Scott (Member # 630) on 03-27-2006, 04:13 PM:

quote: Louis Bornwasser
1. Day & date releases to video. This saves the thief the bother of the camera. He just buys what he needs.

Or steals it from the store. Get those loss-prevention people involved with it! [Smile]

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 03-27-2006, 09:30 PM:

quote: Scott Jentsch
The MPAA prosecuting camcorder thieves is the stuff of urban legend. I'd love to see a running record of how many people have been caught as a result of the MPAA's efforts to crack down on moviegoers. The only reason I can think of that it hasn't been done is that it isn't substantial enough to make for good marketing material.

The MPAA used to issue press releases about major "busts" and prosecutions on their website. Remember, the anti-piracy code on prints is used primarily to identify theatres or channels of distribution that have a high incidence of being a source of illegal copies, and is not normally a significant part of the evidence presented to the court.

Posted by Bob Jones (Member # 1756) on 03-27-2006, 09:39 PM:

LOL - the MPAA is a joke - and their campaign is even more of a joke. I was recently traveling and stopped at a major truck stop for gas. Because the pay-at-the-pump reader was not working - I went to the cashier - and while I was standing there - a foot high stack of DVDs placed near the register caught my attention. I started flipping through them - and it dawned on me that they were films which were still in wide release. After further inspection, the homemade nature of the color dvd sleeve was apparent - and it was shrink wrapped.

So - crazy me - I said I'll call the local FBI office. Got the run around there. Called the local office of the U.S. Attorney who covers the area - got some interest - but they pawned it off to U.S. Customs & Homeland Security who would have to initiate any action. I was informed that the FBI no longer handles such cases of copyright/piracy, etc. - and to ignore all those FBI WARNINGS. So -- I called the regional customs office - got the run around. Then decided to call the MPAA -- oh boy - those guys are a bunch of tools for sure. Even less interest -- after numerous transfers of "who might be able to help me."

So - needless to say - I've lost all interest in the subject - and will not be going out of my way for the effort.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 03-28-2006, 01:22 AM:

Sorry to hear you're giving up the fight, Bob. ("Southeast U.S.A." -- Isn't there a Film-Tech rule of using actual location names on posts?)

Edit - guess not, I just changed mine. [Big Grin]

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-28-2006, 05:33 AM:

Actually yes the city and state is required or we'll boot you as we notice.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 03-28-2006, 09:10 AM:

Even the name "Bob Jones" could be a pseudonym, by way of its arguably generic nature. But then I have a coworker named Mike Smith, so what the hell do I know!?

Not too surprised by the story though. Visit any flea market and you'll find boundless examples of copyright and trademark infringement. You get everything from folks selling bootleg DVDs and software to little vinyl decals of Calvin (from the Calvin & Hobbes comic strip) pissing on the car logo of your choice. No one seems to interested to do anything about that stuff.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 03-28-2006, 11:54 AM:

quote: Brad Miller
the city and state is required

OK, I changed mine back so at least I'm legal again!

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 03-30-2006, 02:54 PM:

quote:
intentionally records or photographs any portion of the video or audio track of a movie

The "video track"?

Oh, and I tried taking the quiz, but the form doesn't work in Firefox. I guess all of the movie piracy going on has left the MPAA too broke to hire a real web site programmer.