Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Concerning Movie Piracy

This is topic Concerning Movie Piracy in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=8;t=004071

Posted by Betsie Beadling (Member # 591) on 05-22-2005, 05:42 PM:

What should i do cause someone sent me a
Bootleg Screener DVD Copy of My Favorite
Movie Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
Thats Illegal isnt it??
I dont have that Persons Postal Maill Address!!!
Im Scared about this Situation and am afraid of MPAA
Throwing Me in the Slammer [Eek!]

Posted by Paul Konen (Member # 41) on 05-22-2005, 06:07 PM:

1st, I would be broadcasting specifics in a forum.

Do what you feel is right. Destroy it. Keep it, enjoy it, just don't be vocal about it.

If you have no means of recourse, then what can you do?

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 05-22-2005, 08:38 PM:

If it's making you nervous, destroy it.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 05-23-2005, 07:14 AM:

You should send it to Jack Valenti! Now he has plenty of time on his hands to enjoy watching a film.

Mark

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 05-23-2005, 07:33 AM:

No need to be worried. In the US, copyright laws reserve the rights of copying and public performance to the copyright holder. If you haven't copied anything or shown it publicly, then you haven't violated copyright law. The violation was committed by whoever made the copy. If you have an original studio-made screener disk, then no copyright law has been violated, though there may be violation of contract law if whoever was supposed to receive that disk had agreed not to re-distribute it.

If you want to notify the MPAA about a pirated copy (which will likely lead to investigation by law enforcement), you can call them at 800-662-6797. You should tell them that you wish to remain anonymous.

The MPAA will not "throw you in the slammer." They have no law enforcement powers (yet). All they can do is file a civil suit (which they will lose if they file it against someone who hasn't violated the law) or refer law enforcement agencies to the case.