Destroying The MPAA's Claims On The Canadian Camcording Epidemic
from the let's-try-that-again dept
Over the last few weeks, we've noted that the MPAA is on a new publicity campaign to make Canadian laws stricter when it comes to people caught videotaping movies in the theater with camcorders. This is silly for a few reasons, including the fact that camcorder movies make up a tiny portion of counterfeit copies out there -- which are dominated by better quality cuts leaked from the movie studios themselves. Michael Geist has now done a fantastic job destroying each and every bogus claim from the MPAA about the situation in Canada and what needs to be done about it:- On the studies claiming that a huge percentage of camcorded films come from Canada, Geist notes that the MPAA keeps changing the number they use and give no support for it, and refuse any independent auditing of the number. An independent study doesn't seem to find the threat of Canadian camcorded videos to be particularly high.
- On the claims of the economic impact of camcorded versions to undercut the market for DVDs, he again points to the fact that camcorded versions have a very short shelf-life. They're almost always quickly replaced by much higher quality leaks from the studio -- or, once the actual DVD is out, copies from the DVD. In other words, any impact directly from the camcorder version is fleeting, at best.
- As for the claim that Canada's current laws can't deal with the problem, Geist points out that there are already severe penalties associated with camcording films and even the MPAA's own website highlights how Canada's laws are stringent in cracking down on camcorder usage. He also points to numerous reports of arrests for camcording found on the site of the Canadian cousin of the MPAA.
- And, finally, on the bizarre claim last week that such legislation eliminated the threat of camcording in the US, apparently no one actually asked the theater owners. The president of the U.S. National Association of Theatre Owners was quoted just a few months ago saying that camcording films has expanded across the US over the past few years. That seems quite different than "pretty well eliminated piracy in the US."
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just like US
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you forget this gem
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As a Canadian...
I personally never watc CAM releases because they are so crappy. It wouldn't be worth watching. Instead I just buy the DVD, which I own hundreds of, or I might preview a movie by downloading it, which is a preferred method that no stuido wants to support right now. Or they want to use DRM, which is not something I want to support. Instead those downloads I have seen are from DVD and DVD Screeners that COME FROM THE MOVIE STUDIO'S.
So the biggest threat from the movie industry is from themselves. They release their own Screeners, which get leaked. They allow pre-release of DVD's to get ripped, from their manufacturing contractors. They place DRM to prevent their products from being used properly, discouraging purchase of said products. And they don't provide any valid download distribution method.
So the only thing hurting the movie industry right now is the movie industry itself. It they changed things, give the customer what they want, how they want it, they will purchase it. Hell, I own hundreds of DVD's, because I love movies, but I'm not going to buy crappy movies, I'm not going to crowded over-priced theatres, and I'm not going to buy overly-DRMed products like Blu-Ray and HD-DVD.
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The MPAA?
This country is going to h**l, and d**n quick.
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Do you really think this is about the camcording?
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Re: Do you really think this is about the camcordi
You forgot to add that they support the terrorists too!
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I downloaded a CAM movie once
I have since stayed away from CAM's - but firmly believe that the MPAA should start looking at things more pressing than what country has the most lenient CAM laws. Perhaps they should look into finding Bill Bob's parents first!
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1/31/07....Never Forget
but i'll be a good dictator and run the aa's into the ground
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Who was it?
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but what about "the consequences"?
Honestly, if they did do such a thing do you know where Canadians would get their movies? From the internet. Where they would be uploaded quickly and efficiently by our American brethern... I still wouldn't download a cammed version though... I'd hold out for the pristine studio leaked version... which is usually available before the movie hits theatres anyway.
So I guess if you can't stem the tide of "cammed" movies from up here, then your best move is to delay movie releases and push the public right into the open arms of piracy. Nice logic, eh?
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Anyone Who Watches.......
Not that I've ever eaten such a thing, just trying to draw a strong visual here.
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CamCorder Movies
Anyone who gets caught recording a movie in a theater with a camcorder should be punished. It is the person's intent to not only break the law, but to profit off of his crimes.
I think a fair punishment would be a $100,000 fine and a jail sentence comparable to grand theft.
It is very fair for the MPAA to make such threats to a country who does not punish people accordingly. The MPAA should have influence on the country's laws (to a point) when it comes to the distribution of it's products.
That being said, I do disagree with a lot of the MPAA and our governments actions to protect the MPAA. I do think that many of the rules and laws were bought illegally by the MPAA.
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Re:
You call others stupid and then make one of the most stupid arguements. If the DVD was released synchronous with the Theatre release, the ticket sales would drop. Studies already have proven that releasing DVD's early hurts theater sales.
Most of the up front revenue comes from theater sales. I like the fact that theater's make money, as I enjoy visiting the movie theater often.
You say screw them, but it is THEIR RIGHT to release THEIR PRODUCT when they think it is best.
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Canadian Theaters Too Cheap Causing Problem
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Re: Canadian Theaters Too Cheap Causing Problem
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Re: Destroying The MPAA's Claims On The Canadian C
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as for the companies they are losing profits because of all the crap they release.
one member of RIAA said that piracy is boosted by people who don't really like music because otherwise they would like to reward the artists and publishers who provide said music.
well, most of the high quality music out there are from bands that simply don't sell that much because nowadays few people like music that is not bubble gum.
to each his own, but check out the us charts for the past years... can you see the monstruous load of crap that tops the charts year after year? do you really think thats real music os just an instant crap that will be forgot in one or two years? and how about the people who buy those singles and records? do you think they buy the latest britney spears or the latest from *some rapper speaking about "poping caps, bitchz, weed, pussy* because of the musical quality? no, they buy them because of the mass marketing strategies that publishers use to sell those products. yes, because boy bands, shakira, spears don't make music... they are just a brand NOT musicians.
so it's really simple, when the target market is given a choice, they will just download the track or tracks they like instead of buyng a crappy album.
to finish off, the music industry must learn with the videogames industry where most of the companies already provide their games with an online component adding value to the purchase.
music industry is not adding value to their products, they just want to boost product sales the simplistic ways: while cutting costs they try to bully everyone who downloads a track in order to instill fear on the world world.
one example, a mate of mine downoladed and shared lot's of metallica albums on napster and he recieved a letter from one of metallica's lawyers stating he would be sued if he didn't remove his files. we are in portugal!!! does anyone in US (don't mean this as an insult) even knows where portugal is on the map? come on, my country has less inhabitants that new york or la.
talk about paranoia and witch hunt from the record companies... maybe is cheaper to persecute the individual that downloads a copyrighted file for personal entertainment that actually release better movies or records or the same crap but with some sort of added value that makes the consumer want a legal copy.
but, i mean, the entertainment industry are so clueless that they can't figure other strategies to market their products so it's easier to lie to the sotck holders that the companies are unable to increase profits due to little sophie downloading the latest piece of crap from shakira... hasn't anybody noticed that the bitch can't sing???
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Creativity and Freedom
Hollywood = greedy bastards who need to be struggling artists once more.
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