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MPAA accused of DVD piracy

Motion Picture Association of America admits to copying film without permission
Iain Thomson, vnunet.com 26 Jan 2006
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The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has been accused of breaking its own rules and making illegal copies of a film.

The claims, which came to light at the Sundance Film Festival, centre on a movie called This Film Is Not Yet Rated.

The film examines the role of the MPAA in deciding classifications for films containing scenes of sex and violence, and investigates whether it treats independent films unfairly.

Kirby Dick, the film's maker, submitted the film in November and said that the MPAA's lawyer admitted to copying the DVD. He has now filed a suit to recover all copies of the film and to determine who ordered the illegal actions.

Kori Bernards, the MPAA's vice president for corporate communications, told the Los Angeles Times: "We made a copy of Kirby's movie because it had implications for our employees."

Bernards also claimed that Dick spied on members of the MPAA's Classification and Rating Administration, including going through their dustbins and following them as they drove their children to school.

"We were concerned about the raters and their families," she said, adding that the MPAA's copy of This Film Is Not Yet Rated is "locked away" and is not being copied or distributed.

But this action appears to run against the official line on the organisation's website which states: "Piracy is a serious federal offence. There are several forms of piracy including internet piracy, DVD copying, illegal sales and theatrical camcording. All forms of piracy are illegal and carry serious legal consequences."

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It'll be interesting to see how this plays out; if the accusation is valid, that'll amount to hypocrisy of the highest order on MPAA's part.
 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 01-26-2006, 07:32 PM:
 
I saw this yesterday but I didn't post it because the source was The Inquirerer or something like that and I didn't think it would be taken seriously. But evidently it is true.

I, for one, find it hilarious.
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 01-26-2006, 11:07 PM:
 
Wow, since the MPAA is now running in opposite day mode they'll need to go back and apply G-ratings to Bad Lieutenant, Man Bites Dog and especially Henry and June.
 

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Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 01-27-2006, 04:34 AM:
 
The MPAA's lawyer is a grade A moron. Not only did (s)he illegally copy a DVD, as a representative of an organisation which specifically campaigns against this practice, but the film in question was a controversial one which criticised that organisation specifically, AND (s)he admitted TO THE FILMMAKER to having done it! If the article posted above is accurate, it could have been headlined 'How to get your boss dragged through the mud in three easy lessons'...
 

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Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 01-27-2006, 09:42 AM:
 

quote:

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Kori Bernards, the MPAA's vice president for corporate communications, told the Los Angeles Times: "We made a copy of Kirby's movie because it had implications for our employees."

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quote: vnunet article

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Kirby Dick, the film's maker, submitted the film in November

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Posted by Jim Ziegler (Member # 86) on 01-27-2006, 08:06 PM:
 
With the sue happy climate in hollywood of late, I am wondering when MPAA v. MPAA will be filed.
 

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Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 01-28-2006, 12:22 AM:
 
Where the heck is Jack "MPAA Police" Valenti when ya need him?
 

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 01-28-2006, 12:32 AM:
 
He is busy downloading bootleg videos.
 

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Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 02-01-2006, 10:26 PM:
 
..Or strip-searching college kids at previews..
 

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Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 02-02-2006, 10:35 AM:
 
Before the "State of the Union" address, CNN reported about the "designated leader" from government who is taken out of Washington in case there were a terrorist attack that killed everyone in the Capitol. They have the "black bag" that has the nuclear launch codes, just in case.

One year, it was none other than Dan Glickman, who replaced Mr. Valenti as head of the Motion Picture Association (MPAA).

http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0601/31/sitroom.04.html

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And speaking of 9/11, there is, as Elaine Quijano was explaining, a system in place that actually preceded 9/11 to make sure that there is continuity of government. They do keep back one member of the president's cabinet. We can report to you that that member tonight is the veterans affairs secretary, Jim Nicholson. He is going to be the one you won't see in the chamber, in the House chamber there.

He, of course, is a new member of the president's cabinet. He's been there just under a year. He was his ambassador to the Vatican, to the Holy See. Actually, he's been around a long time. The chairman of the Republican National Committee. He is going to be the person who was chosen to stay back just in the very, very off chance that is a necessary thing.

BLITZER: God forbid that anything like that should happen. But Jim Nicholson will get a briefing, we're told, Paula. He'll be told what he would have to do. There are representatives from the National Security Council, from the military, who will be with him. Because, as we heard from Dan Glickman, who was Bill Clinton's agriculture secretary, they take this very, very seriously.

ZAHN: And they should. Dana, thanks so much. We'll see you in a little bit, as we count down to the president's speech, which we are told will get under way at 9:05 Eastern Time, which puts us about a shade less than 30 minutes from now.

Time to check in with Jack Cafferty, who is standing by in New York, who posed a very important question about whether you guys out there think this speech matters tonight. What are folks saying, Jack?

CAFFERTY: Before we get to that, I was just remembering that report we saw earlier, Wolf. The person who's left behind is also given an escort who's carrying the black bag that has the nuclear launch codes in it. So you talk about taking it seriously. When have you those in your possession, you matter.

BLITZER: That's right. You know, it's a big deal. And they take it -- Jim Nicholson, the secretary of veterans affairs, former chairman of the Republican Party, former ambassador to the Holy See, he's got his work cut out for him for the next couple of hours. Then he can go and relax, and then he can have a pizza.

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quote: Kurt Zupin

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DUMB MOTHERFUC*ER

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