MPAA Calls Censorship Of Websites 'Forward Looking'

from the i-think-it's-the-opposite dept

Ah, the word choices of the MPAA. The organization that once claimed the VCR was the "Boston Strangler" of the movie industry is now out there trying to get three strikes and censorship laws passed to protect their business model, and referring to these backwards looking protectionist policies as "forward looking." That's what MPAA boss Bob Pisano called the idea, found in the COICA proposal to censor web sites the MPAA doesn't like. Of course, if this had been in effect when the VCR first came out, there would be no VCR.

Of course, Hollywood is having record year each year at the box office, so it certainly is hard to see how file sharing is "killing" the movie industry at the box office. The MPAA and its supporters, no doubt, will say but that's not the market to look at. It's the DVD market that is being stifled by file sharing. Yet, last we checked, with smart business models, the DVD market is doing quite well with services from Netflix and Redbox that focus on providing convenience (a nice scarcity). Besides, considering how hard the MPAA worked to try to kill off the VCR in the first place, isn't it a bit ridiculous to now claim that the government needs to somehow artificially "protect" recorded video sales?

If there's one thing that the MPAA has consistently proven, it's that it has absolutely no clue what "forward looking" policies actually are, and most of its ideas appear to be quite the opposite.
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Filed Under: bob pisano, censorship, forward looking
Companies: mpaa


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  • identicon
    Joe Karnak, 22 Oct 2010 @ 1:04pm

    *Places Letter Near Turbaned Head*
    Profits!

    *Opens Letter*
    What they're looking forward to while harassing their customers!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 22 Oct 2010 @ 1:23pm

    I'm *looking forward* to seeing the MPAA dismantled for their arrogant, anti-consumer attitude. I think I can hear the clatter of torches and pitchforks in the distance...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Free Capitalist (profile), 22 Oct 2010 @ 1:32pm

    It's OK to censor, they're protecting artists and consumers of C-quality A-price movies everywhere.

    Already wrote my Senators about the COICA sham. I think I'll call next...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Jay (profile), 22 Oct 2010 @ 1:42pm

    Shutting down the Blockbusters

    Just something I thought about:

    How many movies are actually out now? How many movies can a personally literally watch in a few years? Months? Days?

    I just had the idea that a movie store that fulfilled that need of the market would truly work wonders for their profits.

    The problem for the longest time IMO is the fact that Blockbuster pays outrageous licensing fees on the current movie crop that really isn't sufficient for its market. Look at the numbers yourself

    I have to think that BB and Hollywood would have survived if they didn't owe the Big Four so much in licensing. The same goes for TV content. It seems the more time passes, the more these people are out of touch with how to make their businesses expand and grow rather than stagnate and criminalization.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    weneedhelp (profile), 22 Oct 2010 @ 1:59pm

    MPAA & Forward looking

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Yogi, 22 Oct 2010 @ 2:00pm

    USSR

    Basically, the MPAA and the RIAA are like the former Soviet Union - a harsh and evil dictatorship, looking to take away America's freedom.

    America should go to war against them both. An independent studio can shoot the skirmishes in real time...and upload the footage to the pirate bay.Win-Win all around.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 22 Oct 2010 @ 2:08pm

    COICA = C Oh I C Asses

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    MrWilson, 22 Oct 2010 @ 3:02pm

    Of course it's forward-thinking for them. They're dinosaurs. The concept of censorship is very forward-thinking for carnivorous reptiles with brains the size of a walnut.

    At this rate, we'll be file-sharing telepathically with our brains encased in robot bodies before the content companies come around to the idea that maybe file-sharing isn't so bad.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    cc (profile), 22 Oct 2010 @ 4:11pm

    It's forward-looking if you're facing backwards.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 22 Oct 2010 @ 5:07pm

      Re:

      came here to say this.
      MPAA is looking forward but they're facing the past when they had a monopoly on long-form video entertainment.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 22 Oct 2010 @ 4:37pm

    funny

    star trek gave us replicators...wonder could they replicate a movie.....

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      TVGeek, 25 Oct 2010 @ 5:14am

      Re: funny

      Stargate sg 1 gave us replicators not Star Trek. Just sayin.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 25 Oct 2010 @ 7:42am

        Re: Re: funny

        Stargate sg 1 gave us replicators not Star Trek. Just sayin.

        Some People just need to start a fire first thing Monday morning....

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Tea Party Zealot, 22 Oct 2010 @ 10:29pm

    I like this guy. He should have a cabinet position in the next administration.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Mitch Featherston, 23 Oct 2010 @ 12:48pm

    Sickening

    When the MPAA speaks... just laugh. It's just too much effort for them to come up with a smart business plan.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Sman, 24 Oct 2010 @ 10:35pm

    What you don't understand

    The movie industry wants you to pay for bad movies, any movie they put out. You guys don't get it, whatever crap they put on film needs to make money, huge money and you bitches aren't paying up.....

    I'm so old that I remember a time when HBO was the Sh## because a normal movie took years to get to TV and only very successful movies ever made it to TV. When rental places were invented they were the coolest things ever because you could actually see what ever movie when you wanted to. Before that the movie industry never made a dime off of old movies unless they ended up on HBO or TV and that means most movies just simple never made a dime after release. Now the movie guys whine about not getting their rentals and sales, it wasn't long ago that there was no sales of movies. There were no rentals.

    Good movies make tons of money but that isn't enough, these Hollywood gays need to make billions not millons and you need to pay up.

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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