Slashdot Mirror
MPAA Sued Over DVD Screener Ban
bigjnsa500 writes "Fourteen small movie houses are suing the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) trying to stop the ban on DVD 'screeners'. 'It will chill the financing of independent films by limiting the awards they can receive', say the plaintiffs, who include Talking Wall Pictures, Sandcastle 5 Productions and Salty Features. They feel they are being treated differently because several 'specialty' indy film shops are still allowed to send out 'numbered, encoded videocassettes' to Oscar voters. This ban was issued by MPAA President Jack Valenti initially to stop the illegal distribution of DVD screeners on the Internet."
What's that? Chef's movie studio?
That someone sue over the 10 minutes of commercials I'm forced to watch after putting a DVD in.
The MPAA restricting practices that benifit small businesses
The Geek in Black
I know my BCD's (when I'm Sober)
trying to stop movies from reaching the internet is like trying to put a baby back into a woman..
Pessimistic outcome:
MPAA Wins, small movie houses crushed by debt, MPAA Declares screener ban a 'non-issue' cuz no one left cares. Piracy rates remain unchanged.
Optimistic but still Pessimistic ouctome:
The small movie houses win by throwing the 'discrimination' tag around, thus hiding the real issues under a miasma of political correctness (a very thick and murky miasma at that). Piracy rates still remain unchanged.
Really optimisitic outcome:
Small movie houses win, screener ban repealed, MPAA gets 'a clue', Valenti discovers the way out of his own ass after years of deep internal struggle (ha). Piracy rates remain unchanged, slashdot loses issue to complain about (soon to be replaced, heh)
Seriously though, I think this is a very good thing to be happening, the lawsuit that is. I hadn't even thought of these small movies losing financing because of lack of award potential, but now that they mention it, it seems blindingly obvious. This is certainly not a frivolous lawsuit, and very refreshingly so.
I say, best of luck, small movie houses!
ìì!
What realy annoys me is that the first two versions of each LOTR I got were screener rips, now they tell me I'm going to have to deal with a shitty VHS rip! Wont someone please think of the children!
But if you hit "stop" and then "play" without powering off, it goes right to the movie. :)
Dear Mr. Dynamic Ranger
The exploit you've described constitutes a gross violation of the DMCA and will, my accountants tell me, cost MPAA members untold millions of dollars in lost revenue.
Please remit a cashiers check for $10,000,000 US dollars (for starters).
Have a nice day,
Jack Valenti