Hollywood Ups Three Strikes Propaganda Campaign In Australia With Misleading Stats
from the but-of-course dept
For a variety of reasons, the MPAA chose Australia as the testing ground for its effort to force ISPs to implement a three-strikes type provision. And make no mistake about it, it was the MPAA -- driven by Hollywood -- that was involved. While the anti-piracy group in Australia, AFACT, wanted to pretend it was an Australian effort, some leaked cables have shown otherwise. The effort focused on picking on one particular ISP, iiNet, which was chosen because it wasn't too big (so didn't have as much money) and wasn't too small (so people noticed). The charges? iiNet failed to wave a magic wand and stop piracy without convictions. iiNet turned out to be the wrong target for a number of reasons, including the fact that the CEO had no problem responding clearly and in an outspoken manner that if there's no legal proof of illegality, it did not seem right to cut someone off. Tragically for the MPAA, the courts have agreed with iiNet.But, the MPAA is nothing if not persistent in their global desire to blame everyone else for their member studios' unwillingness to adapt. Even after the loss, the MPAA has been threatening more ISPs, and has now released a highly questionable study, laundered through a few organizations of course, from a company that doesn't appear to exist other than to push out MPAA propaganda. The study attempts to show that a three strikes regime would decrease infringement by over 70%. The only problem? The actual data doesn't seem to support that at all, because it includes asking people who don't file share at all how they would react to receiving a "strike." If you don't file share and someone says you'll receive a strike and potentially lose your broadband, you're pretty likely to say you won't keep file sharing. No sweat off your back, since you weren't already. And, even then, the numbers don't really support the MPAA, because a higher percentage of people said they'd keep file sharing than said they were file sharing in the first place! From TorrentFreak:
If 72 percent say they would stop sharing after a warning, then 28 percent didn�t agree with this statement. And since only 22 percent of the people said they used file-sharing software in 2011 (the only people who would be affected by a three strikes system), this means that warnings from ISPs wouldn�t even deter people who aren�t the target of this system in the first place.Hell, if you wanted to be silly, it would be entirely possible to read this study to suggest that sending a strike encourages more people to file share...
Or put differently, it could very well be that none of the 22 percent file-sharers indicated that they would stop doing so when notified by their ISP.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: australia, propaganda, three strikes
Companies: mpaa
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
"Hollywood Ups Three Strikes Propaganda Campaign In Australia With Misleading Stats"
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: "Hollywood Ups Three Strikes Propaganda Campaign In Australia With Misleading Stats"
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Er, if in place presumably 100% of those charged would /be/ stopped.
I'd interpret it as implying that 72% of those warned would cease file-sharing. It's irrelevant what portion get those notices. -- The 28 / 22 percent juggling in the italic part is just flat out stupid, not even up to misleading.
By the way, notice that I use the neutral "charged" not "pirating".
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Er, if in place presumably 100% of those charged would /be/ stopped.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Er, if in place presumably 100% of those charged would /be/ stopped.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Er, if in place presumably 100% of those charged would /be/ stopped.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Er, if in place presumably 100% of those charged would /be/ stopped.
The other is out of the loo
Blue may be batshit insane, but talking to himself on here would really be a stretch, even for him.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Er, if in place presumably 100% of those charged would /be/ stopped.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Er, if in place presumably 100% of those charged would /be/ stopped.
There is now way to know who is in each group. What the pro-piracy people (including Torrent Mike) are doing is playing as if the people who don't download are the only ones who will pay attention.
The numbers aren't bogus, but the interpretation is.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Er, if in place presumably 100% of those charged would /be/ stopped.
Have you ever seen anyone more angry or vindictive than someone falsely accused - more than falsely accused, judged and punished? These are the people that will put an end to these shenanigans.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Er, if in place presumably 100% of those charged would /be/ stopped.
Hopefully these people will take their cases to court where, again - hopefully, the court will give them restitution.
If not, then it will be time to get the torches and pitchforks.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Er, if in place presumably 100% of those charged would /be/ stopped.
The MPAA's interpretation is meaningless exactly BECAUSE "there is no way to know who is in each group."
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Er, if in place presumably 100% of those charged would /be/ stopped.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Er, if in place presumably 100% of those charged would /be/ stopped.
The other part of the so called "blind" study, which is not a blind study in any way shape or form, was over a day period and they specifically wanted only a very specific demographic set in only two areas of Australia (Sydney, Melbourne) and they all had to be employed full time too.
The data is bogus, the findings are bogus, any interpretation whatsoever is therefore... bogus
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Er, if in place presumably 100% of those charged would /be/ stopped.
The millions that still pirate stuff in France, South Korea, Japan where copyright is extreme and people don't care.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Er, if in place presumably 100% of those charged would /be/ stopped.
Perhaps a complete innocent in that torrenting and http file transfer are both too hard for him.
All silliness aside. Charging means something entirely different than suspicion. It also indicates that the person charged has the opportunity to challenge the evidence protected by the presumption of innocence.
Just don't bother the MPAA and it's phantom polling firms down under to figure that part out. Legality gives them headaches.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
With any luck, the MPAA could be kicked out of Australia post haste...or at least, off the Australian section of the internet.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Same recycled efluence
What has been interesting is the new Radio deluge that AFACT and their cohorts have been playing within Australia (talkback radio, and news mostly) saying how jobs have been lost (total bullshit) and our economy is worse for it ( This fallacious fact is so bad that even bullshit thinks its bullshit.
I've been thinking to complain to the Radio watchdogs for false and misleading facts etc, but I suspect that the average person understands it is nonsense and it would be classified as puffery so ok to air.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Same recycled efluence
Anything you want to tell us you grubby bus stealing idea pirate? Muwahahahahaha
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Same recycled efluence
I like this bit.....
"Piracy continues to have a negative impact on traditional channels. After watching a pirated version of a movie or TV program only...
13% go on to watch the original at the cinema
25% go on to rent or buy the original
10% go on to buy the original on a pay-per-view or subscription TV platform
10% download or stream via an online provider (added this year)"
Let's see, that applies to movies and TV? A lot of people I know will watch a TV show once. You can't see a TV show at the cinema. You can't garuntee a TV show will be on pay TV (though most high rating shows since 1999 are). And where the f**k in Australia do you legally download a TV show from? No, I'm serious with that question: I'd like to know!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Same recycled efluence
If 25% who download your movie or tv show go on to buy the product...
- What percentage of people that have never seen or heard of your movie or tv show go on to buy it?
- What percentage of the general population for that matter buys your movie or tv show?
I would say with near certainty that the answer to both questions is less (and FAR less) than 25%.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Same recycled efluence
As for legally downloading TV shows in Australia, I will assume, and Yes I know what that can mean, that they are really talking about streaming and that most non-tech savvy people do not understand the difference.
In Australia you can actually watch online a fair amount of mainstream Free2air tvshows via streaming from the actual tv channels sites.
Channel Nine have http://fixplay.ninemsn.com.au/ where shows like Camelot, 'The Closer', 'Secret diary of a Call girl', Nikita, and a fair amount of Aussie only shows can be seen legally.
Channel seven has http://au.tv.yahoo.com/plus7/browse/ which shows things like 'bones', criminal minds', castle, hung, 'law and order la', etc (again lots of Aussie only shows too)
and then the big one ABC (like the BBC) with iView (and yes Apple dont like that name at all but have no rights in it) with shows like Doctor Who, huge amount of BBC UK shows, and again Aussie shows for free streaming.
There are ways of downloading the actual shows though they are using Flash (FLV) as a Transport layer with very low codec structures for fast viewing (No HD Definition at all) so not really that beneficial to download, unless you want to keep them for viewing at later date in same low quality (though the quality is still standard Definition TV -PAL)
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Clarifying the part from TorrentFreak that's defiantly stupid.
IT'S NOT LEFT TO CHOICE! If were in place and they don't stop, they get cut off. You can claim they'd find other ways to connect, but fact is, would be pretty effective!
Just stop and consider as if you've actually gotten a warning. Continue file-sharing or get cut off completely... Over time, the 22% would be whittled down to nothing.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Clarifying the part from TorrentFreak that's defiantly stupid.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Clarifying the part from TorrentFreak that's defiantly stupid.
Or steal someone else's wifi until you get them cut off. Or get a friend to download stuff for them and copy it from them. Or switch to encrypted traffic that can't be killed without serious implications to industry (e.g. VPNs).
The one thing it will absolutely NOT lead to is "Oh, I'd better stop downloading 5 movies a week and spend $500 on them instead". At best, it might lead to higher uptake of services Netflix and Spotify services if and when they're allowed to offer service to the Australian market, but that probably won't cover the costs of these actions to begin with.
"Over time, the 22% would be whittled down to nothing."
At what cost? As with all corporate whores, you treat the inevitable collateral damage as if it's nothing. Hey, as long as someone gets paid, who cares who gets screwed in the process, right?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Clarifying the part from TorrentFreak that's defiantly stupid.
How much will that inflate their economy now that the **AAs have it? 10 billion?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Clarifying the part from TorrentFreak that's defiantly stupid.
Also, it should be obvious, but the cut offs aren't based on evidence and convictions, so they don't come out of the 22% that are file sharers, they come out of the total combined users.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
MPAA's Underlying Fallacy
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
The pirates will adapt
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: The pirates will adapt
Not at all, other people have already done all the hard work just look a Japan that have one of the extremest copyrights on earth, people there all use StealthNet to get things they want, it is encrypted, it is anonymous and the police can only get their hands on one or two guys a year and it is not because of the software it is because those people post identifying information.
Another place is south Korea.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/30/brandos-sata-hdd-multimedia-dock-includes-video-out-med ia-play/
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Suck my dirty dog's ass.One of these days it will be your turn you assholes.
I hate the MAFIAA and refuse to see a dime of my money goes into their wallets.i buy all my films used and physical.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]