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Piracy could put film industry out of business, warns group

arstechnica.com — Illegal downloads of popular films are nearly as numerous as box office visits, a French antipiracy association claims

Who dugg this? Made popular Aug 7, 2008

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  • cjung89, on 08/07/2008, -4/+32If it wasn't for piracy, good movies like The Dark Knight might have done ok at the box office
  • Erich100, on 08/07/2008, -0/+21Propaganda to reinforce the excuse to search your cell phones and laptops at the airport. Lies, lies, lies.
  • Hockey13, on 08/07/2008, -0/+16Maybe if they gave us the option to pay to download ultra-high quality versions online, we wouldn't be having this stupid debate.
  • nard3456, on 08/07/2008, -0/+14The film industry will be fine
  • openthewell, on 08/07/2008, -2/+15it really is a shame...

    /sarcasm
  • synystar, on 08/07/2008, -0/+11Hopefully the film industry will realize that some movies should never be made. Take those millions you spend on crappy movies like "The Love Guru" and pay more to excellent writers, producers, directors, etc to make better films. You know they're going to flop at the box office and DVDs won't sell because many people think "Why would I pay money for that?" Why even make them? Many people these days will think "I'll just download it for someday when I'm so bored even that sounds like fun."

    I saw "The Dark Knight" at the theater (twice) and couldn't imagine why anyone would not. I suppose some people would be fine waiting for the DVD (I don't understand that, you'll want to see it on the biggest screen available) but pirates will have to endure a cam version until then which pretty much sucks. I'd rather just fork over the money for a really good movie. When the DVD comes out, I'll buy it. I've felt this way about many movies in the past.

    Make good movies and I won't pirate the crap I never would have spent a dime on anyway. Or give me an alternative. If the movie sucks let me pay $1 to watch it on-demand instead of having to fork over $10 for something I'll watch once and then hope I get a buck back for at the DVD store.
  • DracoFlameus, on 08/07/2008, -0/+10Thats the same story since 1998 now. Every, I mean EVERY movie which has not soled as good as aimed is excused because of that bad piracy. Was the movie bad? Nooo, no way. It was because of piracy ONLY.

    It's not like movie industry is doomed... I know I know... it IS doomed, because that's what they say since 10 years... but that's quite a long time now. That would mean, that far less people would go to the cinema, if any by now. In reality even more people go to cinema by now. Those antipiracy associations and their so called "statistics", which not based on any facts, are just pathetic.
  • Omek, on 08/07/2008, -0/+7Talk about ripping the right to privacy to shreds... I can't stand these Internet laws that would allow governments to look at everyone's personal information... why not just break down their doors and start searching their entertainment centers for illegal DVDs while they're at it?
  • dcthomas, on 08/07/2008, -0/+7This after one of the most successful summers the movie industry has ever seen. I have trouble believing this one.
  • skipthefrog, on 08/07/2008, -0/+7Yeah, that's bull.
  • cjung89, on 08/07/2008, -0/+6Thank you synystar, I refuse to use /sarcasm. Many of my comments have been buried for such an omission.
  • inactive, on 08/07/2008, -0/+5Aw, no more yachts for CEOs.
  • swizzlestick, on 08/07/2008, -0/+3In related news... The MPAA today announced their new policy that in order to purchase a DVD/Blu-ray of a film that was in wide-release, consumers must either produce a ticket stub of said film (which will be forfeited at time of purchase) OR purchase two large drinks and a medium popcorn.
  • BlueSkyfish, on 08/07/2008, -0/+3That really is the only way to go. Ever since Steam came out, I actually started paying for PC games.
  • kjd84, on 08/07/2008, -0/+3BULLLSHIITTT!
    If the movie industry goes bust then hooray! There might be some original story telling and innovation within whatever rises up from the ashes!

    Making mostly ***** movies with unoriginal idea's is what will be the death of the Hollywood.
  • synystar, on 08/07/2008, -0/+3/sarcasm isn't always necessary. People are burying cjung89 for some reason. He just assumed you would get it.
  • inactive, on 08/07/2008, -0/+3***** *****.
  • gravityboard, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2This is ridiculous. The people who download movies through bittorrent and other P2P services are the people who LOVE film, and an overwhelming majority of the movies they download they wouldn't have payed for anyway. That content just wouldn't have been watched.

    A few years ago I downloaded a flick called "Memento" by then-relatively-unknown director Christopher Nolan. After seeing his first Batman film as well, I became a huge fan and payed to go see The Dark Knight in theaters... twice. I don't pay for theaters very frequently because I'm patient and have an excellent theater set up at home but I support him because of the two films I got off mininova.

    I have a bittorrented copy of TDK on my computer that I would be content with but I WANT to support this director. This is what the studios don't understand- piracy doesn't always translate to loss of money. My copy of TDK has become part of a statistic that ALPA uses to "prove" that piracy hurts the industry, but I payed to see it twice! I will buy Blu-Ray Batman Begins and TDK discs as well, so the studio will make more money off me than most consumers who didn't torrent the movie.

    The studios need to recognize that as soon as they embrace the technology and let it work FOR them rather than against (perhaps setting up a high quality, speedy service to download new movies as soon as they're out in theaters for less than the cost of a ticket but more than a rental?) I will continue to do what's most convenient.

    My message to these studios: stop thinking everyone who visits TPB has it in for you and has no conscience. Your strategy is failing but it's not too late.
  • synystar, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2I love it when people use /sarcasm off

    "So .. sarcasm is on now?"
  • juicebag, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2Yeah, buying a 200 dollar piece of hardware to watch movies I purchased on my TV is a great idea.
  • Avian00, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2This is absurd! It never even occurs to them that Piracy could actually be a natural market correction. If they would just charge a fair price for their product and offer it in formats that people want (I.E. Un-DRM'd downloads that are usable on all devices), they would see a HUGE drop in piracy and most likely an INCREASE in revenue!
  • bradwjensen, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2That's exactly what this is all about. It's a shame.
  • KSUdesigner, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2I don't agree that people pirate movies just because it's free. That does factor into the equation, but I think it's also the convenience factor and the availability factor as well. I would gladly pay to download a copy of a film if it were available as early as it is on a torrent site. The only other way to see these movies prior to DVD release is to go watch them in the theater. Personally I hate the theater. Too many annoying people. Often I found they have the volume turned up far too loud. The cost of snacks is outrageous. I'd gladly pay theater prices to be able to download a high quality version of the theatrical release within 2-4 weeks of its release date.
  • niceyuk, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2Whats the point of searching laptops and cell phones? You could encrypt a whole load of movies onto a MicroSD card and stash it away somewhere and customs would have absolutely no chance of finding it.
  • Crana, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2*****.
  • Fhwqhgads, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2That's the hilarious part of it all. They say "record profits this summer, but, you know, piracy is killing us"!
  • umbrellainabin, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2news just in: weed smokers threaten the cigarette industry
  • altrego99, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1Add "Batman & Robin" to your list of crappy movies. Seriously, to this date I do not know what they were thinking while making this movie.
  • AlmostEvil, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1Only without the DRM.
  • shakin, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1@Tomchei

    Do you have any drive-in theatres close by? The one I go to charges $10 for each adult and $2 for kids under 12 (under 5 is free). Plus, you get two movies (sometimes three) if you don't mind staying up late.

    5drivein.com

    Easily worth driving a little further for if you have a drive in near you.
  • altrego99, on 08/07/2008, -3/+4***** you. Two of my friends died pirating Dark Knight.
  • doublejay1973, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1..my point is - that if I had no access to pirate films.....that's not going to get me back in at the movies or buyuing dvds.
  • inactive, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1$24 for you and wife
    $28 for a matinee for a family (you can forget full price for that but the kids are in bed anyway)
    + another $14 for concession.

    $42 for every family film I've seen this year.
  • inactive, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1F*** them and their lion, too.
    I don't go to movies, don't upload, don't download, don't watch them.
    Not one thin dollar will they get from me ever.
    Go Broke! Quicker the Better.
  • RAGEdemon, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1Buried for Epic *****.

    How the ***** did this get onto the front page?!
  • doublejay1973, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1Exactly right. What's happening, is rebalancing. The market is re-adjusting. I won't pay 20$ to go and see that latest 90mins of comic book rip off while those "actors" are all pocketing millions and getting richer. I might be tempted at $2 dollars - at which point, I've no desire to rip it off. I'd rather get out of the house and enjoy it at the movies.
  • inactive, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1Well i dunno if i can speak for everyone, but personally, the movies i download, i wouldnt buy anyway, so...... i dont see the problem either way they dont get my money.
  • frepnog, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1agreed. they need to cut the ***** salaries for people that are basically playing dress up and pretend.
  • ivanwave, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1"The people who download movies through bittorrent and other P2P services are the people who LOVE film, and an overwhelming majority of the movies they download they wouldn't have payed for anyway. That content just wouldn't have been watched."

    -Where are you getting these estimates?
  • AllButOneDay, on 08/07/2008, -1/+2"If you can afford pot, which is illegal, then buy movies."

    Are you saying that pot makes movies better?
  • inyearstocome, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1Some would, thats always a given. People also movie hop, and thats also going to keep happening, so what? The majority still pay, as long as the price is reasonable.
  • Andrewticus, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1No, the proper command would be /cl_sarcasm 0

    Learn your syntax, newb.
  • paridoth, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1this will never get old ever
  • bitseq, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1Bollox! an industry like that go down, never! Im sure that the dark knight is going to turn a huge proffit! perhaps 1% of that is lost to piracy... Who cares when it probably going to take in more that $800mil!
  • hugolp, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1We dont eat the *****. Buried.
  • Fhwqhgads, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1Uhh, it's 100% profit. No manufacturing costs, no distribution cost, basically no overhead of any kind for a download.

    They need to beat the pirates to the punch with a much better quality product. Pirates get a ***** quality version out in days. They can beat that with their 400 million dollar movies, surely.
  • btschul, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1I thought it was a bb at first as well, but then I saw that all the comments were at +0/-0. ***** THING SUCKS!
  • RAGEdemon, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1he's asking how the ***** this got onto front page.

    That is a very good question.
  • juicebag, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1ATTENTION: PIRACY IS NOT THEFT
    THEFT REMOVES AN ORIGINAL COPY
    THEFT WOULD BE GOING INTO THE THEATER AND STEALING THE ROLL OF FILM
    PIRACY WOULD BE GOING INTO THE THEATER AND MAKING A COPY OF THE ROLL OF FILM

    CRUISE CONTROL ETC
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