This argument that the industry just needs to make more quality product wouldn’t translate to anti-piracy in a lot of cases as some people would be even more inclined to want to see those movies for free. Yes, some great movies you’ll want to see in that full cinematic experience, but we’re growing into a more home theater culture, and the industry has to nip things in the bud the best they can. Anti-piracy has not been a failure in the music industry; as many people as there are still committing piracy, I believe there are far fewer than there would have been.

People pay for music and movies not because they want to lend their support to the industry; they pay because they want the product in a particular form. But as the day comes that the theater experience ceases to exist, and the gimmick of 3D wears thin on people, then people will be downloading free movies to the same screens as the ones they pay for. What’s going to distinguish the two? Especially as the pirates out there get better technology on their side to copy greater quality audio and video?

Many here make the claim that movies would survive just fine with smaller budgets and celebrities with smaller salaries (overall, true), but it is the nature of capitalism that drives what an industry profits, not greed alone. People pay what they want to pay for the things that they want. NFL players don’t NEED the amount of money that they make, but the industry can afford to pay them because people pay good money in high numbers. Some may argue that the big budgets are unnecessary, but people do go to see movies like Transformers, as cheesy as the story may be, …because they want to. And movies the size of Transformers, with that level of special effects, or the look of a film like Pan’s Labyrinth, wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for the ticket prices for all movies, not just those. Even beyond the money it takes to make one movie alone at that level, in order to keep every cog in the machine – every gaffer, every makeup artist, every special effects guru – churning and exercised in preparation for that next big hit, the industry has to remain funded not simply when the “good” movies are made, but the “bad” ones too…because some of the very quality products that you love and adore would not have been nearly as good if it wasn’t for all of the mistakes that were made along the way.

The day that movie tickets routinely cost $2 instead of $12, it’ll show…and then people will really start to complain.

With worthless fans like you, film will cease to exist. Then what will you morons do with your free time? I hope they enact Frances 3 strikes youre out law in this country, so maybe you criminals will actually pay for something instead of feeling entitled to anything you can steal.

I agree that content producers should focus on keeping their products secret longer and focus on the pirates who steal WITHIN their own organizations who actually leak the product.

I disagree that anyone should EVER get sued. EVER. This is new technology and as such it means a redefinition of the world as we know it. Any legislation to restrict the internet is a step backwards in time. The internet should not be less free, it should be more free. The more communication we have as a society the better.

Think about it like telepathy. If we could all suddenly communicate with each other telepathically then the moment an idea was had we could instantly spread it around the world. That is a good thing and the limiting of that is only about gathering up power in the form of limited access.

Anyone who is right minded would know that all this attempts to limit communication are pure power grabs. The MPAA is just trying to enable weapons and chains to enslave the population that are just as real as any concentration camp or shackles that have ever existed to keep a population under control.

Believe in the good nature of humanity. Believe that people are smart enough to govern themselves. Everything else is a lie and chances are if your reading this then you are part of the 99% of the population that has absolutely no power save for the internet which is the greatest taste of freedom most people have had in their whole lives.

P.S. Rich people DO live off the backs of the poor and no amount of stealing from wealthy people is going to make them even begin to understand what it is like to live like the rest of us. One of the greatest tricks in our culture is to make you believe that some day you will be rich or that you already are. You’re not rich and you never will be.

Film makers like Steven Soderbergh talk about piracy as if it were going to kill indy films. I completely disagree with that. People that watch Indy films are less likely to pirate them. If anything, priating will kill bloated hollywood fare and make room for smaller, better written movies.

Looks like someone read this article, felt guilty, and turned himself in! http://torrentfreak.com/drm-breaker-reports-himself-to-anti-piracy-group-091103/

Really well written and had some good points.

Overall piracy is a tough one for me. I am an artist too and I am torn on people pirating things. I personally don’t really pirate. Ok I have downloaded a song or two. But part of the problem with movies being pirated is that to me they don’t look as good and the audio sometimes isn’t right. I’m a stickler for good picture and audio.

I would stress until a movie is on dvd to make sure no dvd’s exist that aren’t water marked so people know this is a pirated movie.

I think people get a bit embarrassed believe it or not when it is clear they stole something. Make it obvious this is not a copy of the movie that should be watched at home. I think that would have an impact and would stop people from trying to sell the movie as if it were a store dvd copy.

Also I think it is important for Studios to pack the movies with extras. I am shocked how many of my family members watch the extras now on dvds. I thought they were only for me seeing how I am a film junkie. But no a lot of people watch them and most pirated dvd’s don’t have them.

I think there is a lot that can be done to stop or slow down pirating. Another big one which I think studios have done is make movies affordable. Do you really want to pirate a movie that you can buy for 10 bucks? Not really. I think as long as you aren’t gauging the consumer you can actually make some great reasons why people should buy the dvd and not pirate it.

We will see what happens but honestly a solid article on the matter.

Ron

I think this explains why movie studios are pushing 3D so hard. It’s an experience that few can replicate properly at home and if it’s done well, one would assume people would pay to see it in theaters.