UK Copyright Group Tells Cinemas to Ban Laptops

Sockatume writes "Cinema chain Cineworld now has a policy banning anyone from carrying a laptop into a theatre, even if it is not used. The management claims that this is an anti-piracy move on the advice of the Federation Against Copyright Theft, the much-mocked source of all kinds of dubious anti-piracy statements. When it was pointed out that the laptop had no camera, the management made a temporary exception. For customers, the message is clear: leave your laptop in the car. For pirates, the message is clear: there is more money to be made slinking around cinema car parks looking for laptop bags."

Comments

Movies

[sopssa]

It's funny they had no problems with mobile phones that certainly have good cameras now a days, but with a laptop. Oh well, maybe that changes soon too.

I'm just waiting them to take off our eyes while in movie theatre.

Re:Movies

[91degrees]

The cameras on laptops tend to be pretty cheap things that are designed for video conferencing. They'd be abysmal for recording a movie.

On the other hand, smuggling in a reasonable quality camera would be fairly easy. I dare say it would be possible to bring in a tripod as well.

Re:Movies

[Nathrael]

Or maybe you went to cinema straight from school or work where you need your laptop with no chance to deposit it somewhere, or maybe you live somewhere out of the city and the next cinema is an hour of travel away so you take your laptop with you to do some work in the train, or...

According to a blog post

[Sockatume]

Important caveat, neatly snipped from the start of the post.

Idiotic

[mark-t]

Banning laptops in a theatre to stop people from recording movies in a theatre makes about as much sense as banning people from drinking if they possess a valid drivers license because they could decide to drive home (the irony that one actually usually uses a driver's license to prove one's legal drinking age notwithstanding).

Re:why would you need a laptop in a movie theater?

[langelgjm]

Maybe you live in a city and don't use a car to go to the movie theater? E.g., you're out for the day, doing some work with your laptop, now this policy means you'll have to drop off the machine at home before catching the film.

Or maybe conveniently located rentable lockers will start showing up at the theater, which you can pay to store all your potentially infringing devices. Dump your laptop, phone, and any pens or pencils which may be used to write down dialogue. Also, when you leave the theater, please make sure to stop by our convenient memory erasing station, so that you don't carry unauthorized memories out of the theater.

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[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

A Better Answer

[Bob9113]

For customers, the message is clear: leave your laptop in the car.

I have a better answer: When they ask you to put your laptop in your car, ask for your money back and leave. Is it really worth being treated like a criminal to see that movie right now? Customer service matters. If the proprietor of some establishment is a dick, don't give him your money.

Re:why would you need a laptop in a movie theater?

[Assmasher]

Where I live we have trains, bus, and a great transportation system. I don't need a car either, I walk. I have never seen anyone bring a laptop to a movie theater, ever. So much for sarcasms [sic].

Re:why would you need a laptop in a movie theater?

[Minwee]

I have never seen anyone bring a laptop to a movie theater, ever.

Maybe that's because they leave them in their bags instead of holding them up in the air and waving them around while shouting "Hey, everybody, look at my laptop!"

Just a thought.

Unless you were trying to say that you have never, ever seen anyone bring a bag more than 30 cm wide into a movie theatre, in which case I would have to ask you just what kind of movies legally bind people enjoy.