Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

MPAA Under Investigation for Illegal NYPD Payoffs

Posted by Zonk on from the but-they're-so-pure-of-heart-and-purpose dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The New York Post is reporting that two NYPD officers are being investigated for taking illegal payoffs from the MPAA for busting sellers of pirated DVDs. According to the article, MPAA investigators would tell the cops where pirated movies were being sold, which is perfectly legal, but, after the bust, they'd give them several hundred dollars in gratuities, which is illegal. Naturally, the MPAA denies all of this."

4 of 500 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Umm. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Then you get a situation where whoever pays the cops the most gets the most justice.

    We already have a problem with police going after more high profile crimes involving a lot of money, rather than going after less high profile crimes which involve less money but more harm to the individual.

    For example, if a little old lady is scammed out of $10,000 by a guy who says he will fix her leaking roof, that causes her a lot of harm.

    In contrast, if someone distributes music online and costs the music industry $100,000, which is highly unlikely, the police will go after those guys with more vigor, even though the music industry won't feel the sting of that guy's actions much if at all.

  2. Re: you missed the "why" by BitterAndDrunk · · Score: 5, Insightful
    There are two ways to improve the bottom line for a firm:
    Increase Sales
    Reduce Cost

    The MPAA considers piracy to be a "cost" that they wish to control, to assist their bottom line.

    --
    You better watch out, there may be dogs about . . .
  3. Re:Umm. by Triskele · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I'm a Brit and we generally don't tip. It used to be considered insulting in many sectors - "I work for a living I don't need charity" or "Am I a serf?". In fact I will tip if service and the meal is particularly good.

    Though when I'm in the US I do try to remember that the waiters really are serfs and if I don't tip they'll starve. What a lovely system you guys have...

    --

    --
    USA: home of the world's largest terrorist training camp.

  4. Re:Wrong by Chuq · · Score: 5, Insightful

    While I'm certainly not defending the MPAA's actions or saying that things are hunky dory, their shitty actions are not a reasonable justification to steal.

    I didn't realise DVDs being taken off store shelves was such a huge problem in the US.

    (Hint: If you meant "copyright infringement", say it. Don't say "steal", as that means something else.)

    --
    - Chuq