Senate Passes Camcorder-Piracy Bill

[Mace]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - People who secretly videotape movies when they are shown in theaters could go to prison for up to three years under a bill approved unanimously by the U.S. Senate on Friday.

Hackers and industry insiders who distribute music, movies or other copyrighted works before their official release date would also face stiffened penalties under the bill, which passed by voice vote.

Copies of hit movies frequently show up on the Internet while they're still in theaters, allowing skinflint fans to see new releases like "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" without coughing up the price of a ticket.

Pirates sneak camcorders into movie theaters to tape films directly off the screen, while industry insiders also leak copies to tech-savvy hackers before they're officially released.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=5518606

I know that the movie industry looses potential customers to piracy, but 3-10 years in prison plus being sued by the movie industry?

That's a little too harsh I think.

More tax money to spend on nonviolent criminals than for the war on terror...

[RC]

1. Harsh? What do you mean harsh?

Somebody's excessive profits are being undercut here. This is one of the things bu$h&co is being paid to fix.
You have to think of the poor multi-billion $$$ industry being robbed here.

[tkmorris]

2. I doubt they are losing much revenue to this

It really isn't possible to get a decent quality copy in this fashion. I've seen movies copied this way and the quality stinks badly. No one who could afford to pay for a ticket would stay home and watch a version ripped from a hidden cam.

[Occulus]

3. I actually have a couple of these

and I prefer the versions I bought.

[Sven77]

4. just before the MM F911 release

just before the MM F911 release, plugging holes anyway they can.

they prolly want to block this film from being pirated over the internet. they are too late. its already out.

[7th_Sephiroth]

5. it hasent been pirated

they released it themselves

[Kellanved]

7. I have trouble believing that

IMHO the site got hacked.


Anyway: simultaneous worldwide premieres seem to have an effect on pirating. Fans in Europe and Asia don't like to hear "wait another six months".

[Moderator]

6. Mace

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DU Moderator