BawBag™ Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 I read the following article recently and it made me ponder somewhat: Despite the recent success of a certain Caribbean-set blockbuster, piracy is wrong and Hollywood is damn well going to make sure you know it. A new campaign has kicked off in the US to educate people on the evils of this heinous practice and see that they understand the end result: a warm reception in Satan's living room. Appearing in cinemas and on American television, these infomercials show people whose lives have been devastated by the crime of video piracy. Set painters, costume designers and other movie craftsmen provide touching, tear-jerking testimonials about how plundering the fruits of Hollywood in an illicit and underhand manner deprives them of a living. And if these tales of woe aren't enough to get your tear ducts working overtime, the MPAA has instigated Plan B and produced some classroom literature to educate the next generation of net-savvy miscreants in the law regarding copyright theft. "I don't expect anyone to have sympathy for me or for other executives," said Peter Chernin, president and chief operating officer of 20th Century Fox's parent company, News Corp. "What we are endeavouring to do is both communicate that it's wrong and also communicate that there are human stakes and that those stakes are not just millionaires making less millions." Oh puh-lease. Seeing a woman strung out and nursing a crack baby while turning tricks to feed her habit, that's worthy of sympathy. Call us cynical if you must, but we doubt too many tears will be shed for the starving set designers that this campaign would have us believe are a final notice away from knocking over convenience stores and mugging grannies in the street. Don't get us wrong, piracy is illegal and a real problem for the film industry that we know and adore, so we don't condone it one bit. But really, this kind of 'save the starving film crew' ads will provoke more laughs than guilt. Threaten the little deviants with arrest, incarceration and a seventeen-stone bunk-mate called Bubba, that'll do the trick. I have to say that I agree with the author of the article, there is a tone of over emphasis here. And I do believe that piracy is unjust. I personally prefer to have all my DVD's, videos and CD's in their original form, rather than copied. Seen as I probably won't see the aforementioned trailer, I would like to know someone else's view on piracy and the so called 'hard-hitting' nature of such an advertising campaign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShockV1.89 Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 I dont think it's as big an impact as they would like you to believe, but of course they want you to think they're in dire straights. The music industry is a different story... I think it's messed up. It's wrong, both morally and legally. A group of people work hard to produce a film, and someone takes the film, copies it, and sells it for 95% profit, with no gains going to the creators. I've heard people try to morally back up piracy, but in the end, they are no better than thieves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
__CKY__ Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 I agree. Not alot I can say but I agree =/. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kain Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 Any idiot who can't deserne(SP?) that fact that that movie was just that, a movie, should be dragged into the street and beaten until they realize it is just a work of art Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dagobahn Eagle Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 Any idiot who can't deserne the fact that that movies are producs of hours upon hours, months upon months, of hard labour, and is actually the lifeblood of the people who make them, should be dragged into the street and beaten until they realize it is not just made by snapping your fingers. If a pirate reads this, I'd like to ask you this: Is it okay for you to walk into a grocery store, pick up two breads and a soda, and walk back out without paying? Is it okay for you to have a garage sale and pick up one of the things you were planning to sell because it's "just a thing"? No? Then how can you do what you do? You do realize that if everyone got pirated copies of movies like LOTR, then movies like that would seize to exist, right? Or do you actually expect people to spend millions on a movie just to give it away for free? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinWalker Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 I think the entertainment industry as a whole is very scared about this activity going on in the "cyberworld." Using a program like Kazaa or Morpheus or WinMx, you can download an entire movie in under a couple of hours with a fast enough connection. This was UNHEARD of just a few years ago, even when the mp3 craze began with Napster. There has been a verifiable difference in cd/tape sales since the advent of Napster, and this, too, has the entertainment industry scared. Personally, I think that they need to figure out an "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" strategy, because this isn't going to go away. On my weblog Hot Cup of Joe (also linked in my sig) I have a short article and several links about a scheme to fight back. It's being cooked up by Orin Hatch, who basically wants it to be legal for record/movie companies to up load trojan programs or harmful software to these P2P servers. I'm not really worried, as this won't work either. Ironically, the small bands and artists actually seem to benefit from the P2P phenomenon as it gets them better exposure and their sales have been shown to actually increase. The larger artists and bands suffer because they have so much wrapped up in the recording studios and publishing companies, who are used to extravegant spending and lifestyles of the rich and famous... I'm sure they engage in $100 dollar lunches quite frequently and put it all on expense accounts... In short, the recording industry needs to shrink it's budget and update it's pricing of music... every other industry has prices which rise and fall according to demand and competition. The record industry keeps the price of new cds right at $15... the same place a new LP or cassette was when I was a kid. I think 8-tracks were that price as well, but my allowance wasn't enough yet I don't think the movie industry really needs to worry much for the time being. Movies are still very large and still take a considerable amount of time to download (not that I've done it<Grin>). Moreover, the quality is rarely comparable to DVD. Some are even so bad, you can see audience members getting up for popcorn! (not that I would know... I've heard this) But they're looking at the recording industry and they see the problems they're facing now. I'll always buy the cds of my favorite artists, but perhaps it will help if the industry provides a little extra in the CD... discount coupons to concerts... stickers for the car window... collectable hologram card.... better liner notes.... these are the things, along with lowering the price of the cd, that will keep the industry alive. I'll always go to the movies... I'll sneak my own snacks in (having a baby with a diaper bag is cool), but I'll go to the movies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homuncul Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 I like piracy. Not that I don't understand how it works for the authors of these musics, movies and all. It's just cheaper and it's very open. You know Russia has one of the best piracy in the world, and they advance themselves day by day. I can go and buy pirate EpII on 1 disk DVD for 5$ and have no region limitations there. Not that I did it, it was a principle for me to buy EpII DVD licensed. An so I did. But let's put it another way, if it's there, if it's cheaper, and you just can't stand to see a movie why not buy pirate DVD? or music? or whatever?. I remember when The Two Towers were about to run in States, the Academy copy appeared before the world premiere. I bought it for the same 5$ and had a great time watching at the perfect picture and perfect sound. Some cool guy called Goblin used the same illigal copy and made a brand new translation for it. This copy is now in every store. And it amazes me how open this thing is. One can go to the major store on the Red Square in Moscow or on Nevski Prospect in St. Petersburg, and get pirate music/video there. Right in front of the main court building there is a market selling pirate movies. Government and artists themselves tryed to block it several times but it always says "I'll be back" and it always does and in greater numbers. The recent innovation in their technique of stealing movies is that they somehow manage to get a film which is projected on the screen in the theater and digitize it. They do the same with sound and there comes almost perfect DVD movie. Of course when the company, which makes the copy of the original film to make it dubbed, the quality suffers a bit, still it's a shock for me that it is possible to get those things done. I already have T3 and Hulk DVDs made with that technique. Awesome quality, awesome sound and all. Of course I'll buy them licensed when they'll come out legally. I can buy a copy of licensed WinXP for 2$!!! And any PS2 game for 5$, or any PC game - for 2$!!! And so I do. You can get almost everything pirate and be garanteed that everything would work and will not break. I can by a licensed DVD player with Russian region and after I buy licensed DVD with American region I would not be able to watch. Than I go to the market and buy for a cheaper price a multizone model of the same DVD player and watch whatever I like. Piracy is "bad" but it seems to me that companies involved in it too sometimes jump over their heads and provocate the piracy. I for a moment can't understand at all what is the overwhelming point in DVD regioning and it offends me when I can't watch what I want (if I have the money to do so). If I have the money and will to buy legal DVDs and can't because they are regioned I feel myself offended: "What's wrong with the world if they don't even want my money?". I know that many people today are ready to pay extra to watch their favourite upcoming movies in advance. But no, sometimes you have to wait for months to do so. I'm for piracy now as it offers me such an opportunity almost for free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Sitherino Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 what about people like me? there's not many places that sell all the movies and music i like. therefore to be able to watch it i must download it. and i don't buy things off the internet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfnshannon Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 I am just going at this. I mean, like the author says WE HAVE STARVING CHILDREN OUT THERE. I just read that 22 elderly men, women and children were slaughtered in the congo. And they are going to show me a commercial how a ceo who probably makes more than 100x what I make is going to starve to be I d/l the ONE SONG off a cd that was any good. You know if they want us to pay for their **** they better start putting good stuff on their cds. None of this 1 good song and 9 ****ty songs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Sitherino Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 Originally posted by STTCT I am just going at this. I mean, like the author says WE HAVE STARVING CHILDREN OUT THERE. I just read that 22 elderly men, women and children were slaughtered in the congo. And they are going to show me a commercial how a ceo who probably makes more than 100x what I make is going to starve to be I d/l the ONE SONG off a cd that was any good. You know if they want us to pay for their **** they better start putting good stuff on their cds. None of this 1 good song and 9 ****ty songs! i agree. i don't buy a cd just for one song if i just want one song i don't mind buying a cd if i like all the song or a majority of a cd. also you can't always blame piracy, sometimes your cd just plain sucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfnshannon Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 The music industry has really gone to hell. I've been annoyed by the one hit wonder cd's for a long time. I always by a CD if it is worth the money. I'd much rather have an original than an mp3 illegal one. It sounds better and its the original! I think that if Bands made it worth it to buy their cds than a lot of people would. I'm not saying its right to burn cds or anything. I'm jsut saying no one should go to jail for it and I'm sure no one is starving because of it either. Do more concerts people. Do more commercials. There are plenty of ways these artists make money - its not just on the cd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
griff38 Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 It's easy to condone piracy as long as it happens to someone else. But when somebody takes something you have done for their own use it hits home. Those who know me know I like to make JKO clip to share for free with anyone who wants to take the time to d-load one. However recently I saw someone elses JKO clip and they had taken, borrowed, copied, stolen, ( I dont know which word to use) part of 2 of my clips. No credit for me in the credits no e-mail about it or anything. (if he had asked I would have said yes) I was shocked. Especially since this guy has a special video himself where he DISrespects people who stole his material. More later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dagobahn Eagle Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 This thread is gonna get closed:D. It's easy to condone piracy as long as it happens to someone else. But when somebody takes something you have done for their own use it hits home. Ditto. I hate it when someone takes one of my ideas (any type or form), use it for their own purposes, and say they came up with it. Especially if they finish their project before me so that it looks like I ripped them off. Or if I confront them and they lie and badmouth me.. And it amazes me how open this thing is. One can go to the major store on the Red Square in Moscow or on Nevski Prospect in St. Petersburg, and get pirate music/video there. Right in front of the main court building there is a market selling pirate movies. Government and artists themselves tryed to block it several times but it always says "I'll be back" and it always does and in greater numbers. Suppose Russia's got other things to worry about than piracy:). You live in Moscow? That's just cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Sitherino Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 my stuff has been "pirated". i've made videos all sorts of stuff. also i think it's kinda flattering that someone would risk a fine/jail to get my stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homuncul Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 You live in Moscow? That's just cool! I live in Petersburg, that's as cool:p my stuff has been "pirated". i've made videos all sorts of stuff. That reminds me. I and a couple of friends once were making some music (techno, remix that stuff) and my friends finally gave it to some famous DJ in a night club to listen. Well, he listened and just took it for himself, never ever mentioning us , who created it. It offended us of course, it was actually our fault anyway, we needed to be smarter in these matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfnshannon Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Well when people were copying tapes...did the industry complain. We all know damn well those cds only cost them a few cents to make. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoguePhotonic Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 OH BITCH BITCH BITCH.....what's that cartoon? finding nemo?...it has made about 303 million...BOOO HOOO HOOO about a few people downloading it off the net....movies make money out the ass. Downloading is for those poor ****s who can't afford to pay for everything they want. Though people say it can't be stopped but they will go after your ISP and they will start putting blocks on there for the ****. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dagobahn Eagle Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Downloading is for those poor ****s who can't afford to pay for everything they want Err.. do you really believe that yourself? OH BITCH BITCH BITCH.....what's that cartoon? finding nemo?...it has made about 303 million...BOOO HOOO HOOO about a few people downloading it off the net....movies make money out the ass. Old movies that don't sell anymore, maybe, but new ones? "A few people"? There's something like 5 million Gigabytes of files on Kazaa. Yes, I suppose it's just a few people.. like 100 or 200... each with a HD of a couple of houndred thousand GB . If you had a garage sale and someone just took your stuff, how'd you feel? "Oh, it's just a toaster oven", "oh, it's just a stupid soccer ball! You wouldn't get more than $1 for it anyhow"...and so on, for every garage sale. How would you feel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoguePhotonic Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 My point was so what..303 million..so what if they didn't make 350 million... And it's not like that..it's not something that you will no longer have if someone takes it...it's about greed...you have millions of dollars but well you could have a few million more if there wasn't file sharing. I would hate to think of my life without file sharing...because most music I listen to and LOVE I would not have at all if it wasn't for downloading...so it's not an issue of paying or not...it's an issue of having or not. Like many games that are ok but not good enough to buy....can download and enjoy for free... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShockV1.89 Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 And it's not like that..it's not something that you will no longer have if someone takes it...it's about greed...you have millions of dollars but well you could have a few million more if there wasn't file sharing. How is it less greedy for you to say "I dont want to spend my money, but I still want that product!" It's stealing. The ultimate greedy act. And you didnt answer his question. How would you feel if you were selling something, and someone came up and said "You're doing good, so it wont hurt your profits too much if I take this for free. Bye!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoguePhotonic Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 That's the thing though it's not the same...I spend all my money on things like games...and then I don't have enough for all the ones I want so I download the others....there is a big deference between saying well guess I will save 50 bucks since I can download it and not having 50 to spend. But in the end I don't give a **** if it's stealing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShockV1.89 Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Fair enough. Next time I'm in Bakersfield, I'll drop by your place and steal your computer. I dont give a **** either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoguePhotonic Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 lol go for it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShockV1.89 Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 I give up. You either totally missed or totally ignored my point... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dagobahn Eagle Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 That's the thing though it's not the same...I spend all my money on things like games...and then I don't have enough for all the ones I want so I download the others....there is a big deference between saying well guess I will save 50 bucks since I can download it and not having 50 to spend. Is it that impossible to just wait with buying a game? Wait a couple of months until you have 50 more dollars. But in the end I don't give a **** if it's stealing... Long as it doesn't happen to you, huh? If someone really did steal your computer, wouldn't you want it back? lol go for it... Er.. this isn't the Swamp. There wasn't much debate material in that post:rolleyes:. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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