Will Warner Bros. Studios Go After Everyone Offering The Christian Bale Rampage For Piracy?

from the so-says-the-director dept

Mon, Feb 9th 2009 12:14pm — Mike Masnick

In case you've been living under a pop-culture rock for the past week or so, you've probably heard the recording of Christian Bale's angry, curse-filled tirade on the set of his most recent movie. Apparently the tape was leaked after film execs sent the tape to the insurance company that had insured the film should Bale have bailed out on the role. That's not all that interesting. However, in an LA Times followup, in which Christian Bale provides his expected heartfelt apologies for going too far, there's a far more interesting quote from the movie's director, McG, concerning the leak of the tape:

"It's illegal, and the anti-piracy people at the studio are going to pursue it to the full extent of the law. You have got to have actors feel safe on the set, so they can transcend the things they do in their normal lives."

First of all, it's not clear which part he's talking about is illegal -- but it's telling that he thinks the "anti-piracy people" at the studio (in this case, Warner Bros.) who are dealing with this. Will they be going after TMZ for putting the tape online? Against all the other sites that have copied it? Is it "piracy" or is it news?

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Filed Under: christian bale, mcg, piracy
Companies: warner bros.

19 Comments

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Yet Another anonymous coward (profile), 9 Feb 2009 @ 12:21pm

What about the re-mixes?
I almost broke my mouse down voting those on Reddit...
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thomas, 9 Feb 2009 @ 12:53pm

How is it illegal?
Where's the copyright?
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bla, 9 Feb 2009 @ 1:10pm

bla bla
blablabla brouhaha-ha-ha-ha
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Ima Fish, 9 Feb 2009 @ 1:30pm

Do we really want to live in a world where every single statement anyone says is fully copyrighted and protected by a government granted monopoly into perpetuity?
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Washii, 9 Feb 2009 @ 1:31pm

I was living under a rock!
But I sort of heard of this.

How is spreading a few taped words 'piracy?' I should go record myself swearing like a sailor at some TV show, submit the recording to a comedy show, and then sue for piracy! Woohoo.
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Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2009 @ 1:34pm

Releasing WB's tape of the Bale's on set tirade may have been done illegally, but once released to the general public it became a news item. They can go after whoever released it but everyone else is protected by fair use.
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Whip, 9 Feb 2009 @ 2:33pm

The TMZ website and tv program are both owned by Warner Bros. It would be awesome if they sued themselves.
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Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2009 @ 2:45pm

Does it belong to the insurance company?
Does the tape belong to the insurance company? If they were the source of the leak then the tape might belong to them. Granted, that isn't a strong case, but it is probably as strong as any claim the studio could make.
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Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2009 @ 2:45pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLXVuy0h29c

nuff said
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V, 9 Feb 2009 @ 2:56pm

Hype machine in full effect
Free publicity for Christian Bale and "his most recent movie". McG says something vague about legal action and 300 more articles mentioning the movie surface. It's almost too easy.
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BigDogRMF, 9 Feb 2009 @ 3:15pm

Please, people...
Please, please people... don't you understand? These actors are SPECIAL, they must be protected, if even from themselves. They must be free to explore their are without the hindrance of normal conventions than affect slobs like you and me... conventions of decency, humanity, things like that. They'll save a wombat half way around the globe, but far be it for them to be expected to show a little human compassion for someone ...right... there.. next... to .. them... Thank God for people like Bale, and their freedom to be belligerent. If I acted like that here where I work, I'd get fired in a heartbeat. Oh, the oppression... I'm not even paid millions per year, oh, the pressure he must be under! poor baby! btw, I'll be boycotting all future Christian Bale movies...
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Nathania, 9 Feb 2009 @ 3:16pm

This whole thing reeks of a

P-U-B-L-I-C-I-T-Y
STUNT!!!!
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BigDogRMF, 9 Feb 2009 @ 3:17pm

typo
must be free to explore their 'art', that is... sorry for the heaping sarcasm, as well as the typo.
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Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2009 @ 4:51pm

WOW I DIDN'T KNOW BIGDOGRMF IS A ANGEL. PLEASE YOU ASS!
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Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2009 @ 6:12pm

"You have got to have actors feel safe on the set, so they can transcend the things they do in their normal lives."

Makes ya wonder ...
what does this guy do in his "normal life"
Yell ate maid, kick the dog, or throw things at the gardener ?
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Jesse, 9 Feb 2009 @ 7:44pm

Is it possible to patent overzealous copyright protection as a business model? I really want somebody to do that.
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Monarch, 9 Feb 2009 @ 11:34pm

Re: Please, people...
I'm with you on the Boycott of future Christian Bale movies, right alongside the boycott of Tom Xenu Cruise!
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popgoestheweazel, 10 Feb 2009 @ 5:33am

Boycott the movies? What's that going to do? Be sure before you go to any other movies of any other actors, that you do exstensive research to make sure that they haven't thrown hissy fits or cursed (Heaven forbid). I'm sure there are plenty of romantic comedies out there for you to watch.

As personal as everyone is getting over this mess, even when they weren't even there, or were you, I would hate for someone to pee in your corn flakes, because you would probably catch a charge. People, this happened over 7 months ago to someone we don't even sleep with, don't go home to, and are not responsible for. Bale, the DP and the crew made amends that day and then everyone went home and had a cup of tea. Why the heck are we even getting so wrapped up in this? McG, Bale, and the movie bosses need to air this thing out. Who freaking cares. The issue about his character? Sorry, not that superficial. I need more than one documented incident to make a judgement. Notice I said documented. Not gossip. Sure, Bale had a temper-tantrum, but the public is having one too. But, I guess it's okay for us to do it, because the majority of us don't make millions.
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ChristianApologist, 11 Feb 2009 @ 2:56pm

Take a second look.
Christian Bale has a job to perform, just like the DP had a job to do. Re-listen to Christian's outburst--the DP had ruined at least one scene beforehand, perhaps even more, through his carelessness.

That, my friends, is incompetence. And when you're part of a multi-million-dollar project, a fuckup like that can set people on edge. Bale had very legitimate complaints throughout the entire clip I heard--the man was interfering with his job. It's not like Christian goes down to where you guys work to slap the cock out of your mouths or anything...cut him a break. The DP doesn't get a free pass on his fuckup just because the star of the show threw a tantrum.
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