[:BLIP:]Re: [Gllug] Fwd: So

[Martyn Drake]

Simon Stewart wrote:

> s/buy/discourage people from pirating/ might have made more sense. Not
> sure about you, but I don't know many people who routinely pirate
> films in any case. 
> 
> How much effect do you think this will really have?  Is it just to
> allow WB to support their claim that not having DRM built into
> everything will destroy their profits? Or is it simply a move by the
> studios highlighting their belief that Macrovision is increasingly
> useless? 
> 
> Wearing my cynic's hat, I reckon that this particular film is being
> released without copy protection to encourage pirating and provide
> "proof" that the public can't be trusted.

My own thoughts on this are somewhat perverse, I suppose (and they're my 
own - I'm not speaking on behalf of anybody but I, myself and me).

Firstly, the studios are still raking in the money.  They're still 
splashing it out too.  They're still paying their stars huge sums of 
money for basically sitting around talking (usually) complete bollocks 
for 90 minutes.

I remember seeing pirate videos when I was much younger (funnily enough 
it was a mate who lived in the Barnardo's Village - quite where you get 
the contacts there I just don't know).  These videos (for there were 
usually a few knocking about) usually consisted of somebody going into a 
cinema, pointing a camera at the screen and then make copies of their 
video.  It was awful.  However, technology has come a long way since 
then and hence it is easier than ever to make copies of videos, DVDs, etc.

Just go on Ebay and you'll find loads of copies of Episodes IV, V and VI 
of Star Wars on Video CD.  Usually you'll find loads of people are 
bidding on the item nowing full well they're not legal copies.

Remember film88.com?  You don't?  This was recently advertised on 
Slashdot a few days back that offered streaming video of all the latest 
Hollywood movies for $1 a piece (and were offering Harry Potter for 
free).  The server was based in Iran to try and avoid anybody shutting 
it down.  However, they're been shut down anyhow probably due to the 
sudden Slashdotting it got.

There's also leaks.  Employees of film companies that just can't wait 
for the public to see the latest images from a film, or if a snazzy new 
product is about to be released then someone might send out a copy 
somewhere that can be downloaded.

Piracy, whether it be software or film is still going strong.  That is 
true.  One warez site shuts down, another one opens.  I can quite 
understand why studios and software companies want to enforce their 
copyright, but at the same time if they make things too difficult for 
somebody to watch (or use) their work (whether it be through 
technological, financial or legal means) then it's going to severely 
affect their audience and thus their own financial health.  It's a bit 
of a chicken and an egg situation, really.

What I am outraged about is how cinemas get to charge outrageous sums of 
money for tickets.  I would imagine that most of the ticket price goes 
back to the distributors and the film company.  Particularly around 
London.  Sometimes I feel that I'm taking out a small loan just to go 
and watch something at the Warner Village.  Much cheaper at the local 
cinema.

These days I don't buy or use any known pirated material.  I completely 
disagree with piracy and everybody's lame excuses that the product is 
crap and can't be arsed to buy it.  If that's the case - don't bloody 
use it!  Vote with your feet.  If you've worked on something (regardless 
of whether it be in the media or IT) and you found somebody using your 
product illegally, what would you do?

Regards,

	Martyn


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