[LINK] Movie Piracy Claims More Fiction Than Fact

[Robert Hart]

Hi

People will probably have read the MPAA's recent claims that Canada is 
the epicentre of movie piracy. Michael Geist has written a response to 
this that is interesting and, I believe, of use to those of us who 
believe the corporate pressure on governments to restrict users rights 
over content they legally own is unwarranted by the data. Whilst this 
article centres on the issue of recording of movies in cinemas by 
camcorder, it is a very succinct example of just how economical with the 
truth are the organisations pressuring government over ever tougher and 
more restrictive copyright legislation.

    http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/1656/159/

    "In recent weeks, Canadians have been subjected to a steady stream
    of reports asserting that Canada has become the world's leading
    source of movie piracy.  Pointing to the prevalence of illegal
    camcording - a practice that involves videotaping a movie directly
    off the screen in a theatre and transferring the copy onto DVDs for
    commercial sale - the major Hollywood studios are threatening to
    delay the Canadian distribution of their top movies.

    "While the reports have succeeded in attracting considerable
    attention, a closer examination of the industry's own data reveals
    that the claims are based primarily on fiction rather than fact.  In
    the best Hollywood tradition, Canadians have been treated to a show
    from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and its
    Canadian counterpart (the Canadian Motion Pictures Distributors
    Association) that is much ado about nothing, featuring
    unsubstantiated and inconsistent claims about camcording,
    exaggerations about its economic harm, and misleading critiques of
    Canadian law."

    <snip>

    "As for claims that tough U.S. laws are pushing camcording into
    Canada, the president of the U.S. National Association of Theatre
    Owners told his members in November that illegal camcording in the
    U.S. has expanded over the past two years from New York and Los
    Angeles to at least 15 states across the country.  

    "Despite all the evidence the contrary, the U.S. and Canadian lobby
    groups continue to portray Canada as a piracy haven while pressing
    Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda and Industry Minister Maxime
    Berniers for unnecessary legal reforms.  Unless politicians separate
    fact from fiction, this show appears headed for a frightening finale."

-- 
Robert Hart                                  hartr at interweft.com.au
+61 (0)438 385 533                           http://www.hart.wattle.id.au