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MPAA Calls for Ban on Screeners

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the oscar-judges-found-guilty dept.

neoThoth writes "The MPAA is calling for a ban on all screeners for awards ceremonies. They state piracy as the rationale for killing of this tradition of the industry. It's interesting how this is never mentioned in their cries for tougher piracy laws. It's own members are the main source of piracy. 'The Directors, Writers and Screen Actors Guild all get screeners, as does the Golden Globe-selecting Hollywood Foreign Press Association and various critics' groups.'" Remember, movie piracy doesn't just hurt actors, but also camera operators, key grips, makeup artists, and costumers.

10 of 442 comments (clear)

  1. Makes Sense by focitrixilous+P · · Score: 2, Informative

    Their fight against piracy should begin at home. You can't sue people randomly if your own members are copying the stuff you send them. When the start sueing people, I will feel ever so slightly less annoyed with them.

    --
    SAILING MISHAP
  2. Re:Easier solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative
    I've seen tracking numbers on screeners before, but usually the group who releases it smudges a couple numbers out before uploading it -- so the ID can't be traced back to anyone.

    Also, I think there are literally thousands of Academy screeners sent. It would be a real bitch to do.

  3. Re:Easier solution by e5z8652 · · Score: 2, Informative

    Didn't they do exactly that with The Hulk?

    It was released early & they knew exactly who to go after.

    www.4law.co.il (pdf)

    --

    null sig

  4. Canary Trap by overshoot · · Score: 2, Informative

    Someone needs to give these idiots a clue or two. With only a trivial effort in steganography they could "watermark" each copy uniquely. That way if if some reviewer leaked his copy they'd have evidence to nail him to the wall.

    --
    Lacking <sarcasm> tags, /. substitutes moderation as "Troll."
    1. Re:Canary Trap by t_allardyce · · Score: 2, Informative

      They do, ive seen a divx of Bowling for Columbine that includes a warning to that extent. Maybe soon they'll stick that in all films and make sure you enter your name and address at the store so it can be tied to your dvds unique number - it would have to be pretty rugged tho - able to with-stand divx-ing and resizing and anything else rippers could think of, even then people would just do it outside america.

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      This comment does not represent the views or opinions of the user.
  5. Re:Easier solution by dapuk · · Score: 3, Informative
    This has already been done - by using dark dots in a specific pattern on some frames....

    See here and here

    Though that site seems a bit dead right now - so just have a look at google

  6. Re:Don't forget. by VCAGuy · · Score: 2, Informative
    Actually, it doesn't really hurt the sound/video/light/CGI/FX/whatever crews [i.e. the celeried/salaried workers]--they get paid regardless...it's the people who's pay is a percentage that see less money. And why not? If they were stupid enough to go for a job offer with a percent sign...well, you know. ;-)

    Disclaimer: I'm a lighting tech with a low opinion of directors, actors, acresses, and PR people...

    --
    Q: "Why do sound techs say 'check 1, 2'?"
    A: "Cause if they could count any higher they'd be lighting techs."
  7. Re:Easier solution by bigfatlamer · · Score: 2, Informative

    I can't see David Letterman actually going and PAYING to see all the crap movies that his guests make!

    And he wouldn't have to. SAG, Director's Guild, etc. members and other eligible Oscar voters get into see films nominated for awards for free in the time leading up to the voting. This is why so many candidate films are re-released (at least in NYC and LA) so that they have more chances to be seen by voters just before they vote.

    --
    There's one thing computing teaches you, and that's that there's no point to remembering everything.
    --Doug Copland
  8. This is smart by Teahouse · · Score: 2, Informative

    They need to do this. I live in LA, and every friend I know in the MP Industry has loads of free movies they get from screeners. They often have them before it's released in theatres. You can't bitch about people bootlegging your material when you send out a buttload of copies before it's even released just to get votes for an awards show.

    It's good discipline on the part of the MPAA. They need a little.

    --
    "Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect."- Steven Wright
  9. Re:As much as I hate the MPAA, by NanoGator · · Score: 3, Informative

    "Piracy happens become the product/work/whatever isn't free in the first place, and some people would rather thieve it than buy it."

    Correction: Piracy happens when something is unreasonably priced and there's an audience for it. Piracy isn't a big issue here in the USA. The price is a little on the high side, but still affordable. DVD retailers are making money quite comfortably. Now, go somewhere with a lower cost of living, and piracy is rampant.

    Piracy is an extension of supply and demand, though the MPAA or RIAA will never admit to that.

    --
    "Derp de derp."