http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070412/ap_ ... ilm_piracy

Taping in NYC theater to be misdemeanor
By SARA KUGLER, Associated Press Writer
Thu Apr 12, 7:26 PM ET

NEW YORK - Secretly videotaping movies in a New York City theater for illegal sale on the street would be a misdemeanor, with penalties including possible jail time, under a bill approved by the City Council on Thursday.

Movie bootlegging cost major film studios more than $6 billion in 2005, according to the Motion Picture Association of America, an advocate of the motion picture, home video and television industries. The association says more than 90 percent of pirated films are generated by people who record them in theaters and then sell the duplications for mass reproduction or post them on the Internet, sometimes just hours after the movie has premiered.

Authorities say New York is a major source of film piracy, with more than 40 percent of movies that are ripped off and resold nationwide being generated in the city.

"We have an opportunity here to respond to that illegal activity in a way that could help support the film industry far beyond the five boroughs," City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said.

Now, when someone is caught recording a movie in a city theater, the violation carries a $250 fine. Under legislation passed by the City Council, the crime would become a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and fines of up to $5,000.

"Videotaping a film is stealing from legal enterprises, and the penalty for that action should be strict," said Councilman David Yassky, who sponsored the measure.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg supports the bill, a spokesman said. He also is urging Albany lawmakers to support a state bill moving through the Legislature that would similarly classify theater videotaping as a misdemeanor but also make the second offense a felony.

Bloomberg's administration also is cracking down on film piracy in other ways.

The mayor announced last fall that the city will begin using public nuisance laws to go after the owners of buildings where film piracy is organized and movies are sold. Authorities had already been pursuing other types of counterfeit goods in a similar way for several years, shutting several buildings and confiscating millions of dollars in clothing and handbags.

The mayor's film and television office also is set to unveil a multimedia campaign to educate residents about the seriousness of film piracy.

With all the noise about piracy, why is this just NOW becoming a misdemeanor? The article indicates that those caught videotaping in a movie theater were fined $250. Does that mean that no criminal charges were filed against them previously?

Their number crunching has always struck me as baloney. It's possible to estimate how many bootlegged physical copies are sold, and therefore arrive at a figure that the movie companies should have made had people bought the legitimate products. But dollar estimates from what's put on the Internet are meaningless, nobody can say for sure how many of those people would have bothered to purchase tickets or DVDs if the stuff cost real money. Entertainment corporations have an absurdly inflated sense of their own relevance and the value of most of their products.

Good point, Linda! The MPAA and RIAA seem to use the same "fuzzy logic" in their arguments about the impact of "piracy." Speaking for myself, if I really want something I'll pay the price for it (as long as that price is reasonable to me.) Otherwise, I will simply do without it.

I can think of movies that I've been curious about but felt were not worth paying $10 to see in a theater. Likewise, my curiosity wasn't even strong enough to warrant paying $4 or $5 to rent the DVD or PPV broadcast. However, once the movie came to cable or even network TV, I watched it. Or, if I was at a friend's house and he/she was watching it, I watched it too. If, after watching the movie for free, I thought it is a really good movie, I would almost always buy the DVD, so (in the end) the MPAA didn't lose a penny.

I wonder how long it will be before video stores and PPV broadcasters start charging fees, based on the number of people who will be viewing the movie. I know it sounds absurd, but based on MPAA logic, they are losing revenue if I rent a movie and invite a few friends over to watch it with me.

If they had their way there would be a fee everytime you play a DVD or CD.

Speaking as someone who has purchased these bootleg movies in the past (4 for $20) the quality might not be the best (duh) but the studios/movie theaters have a lot of nerve to charge $10-12 a ticket to see the latest Jack Black moronic comedy or the latest teen slasher film. Some movies definately need to be seen in the theater but come on now, Blades of Glory, Firehouse Dog????. The worst I got burned was on the latest Pirates of the Carribean where the moview was 2 1/2 hours but the dvd was only 2 hours 10 minutes. They cut out the closing credits but there were also chunks taken out and people just reappearing. The cost was only $5. The bootleger also had to cover up the camera a couple of times when the usher walked by. I could hear the sound but couldn't see what was happening.

If I recall correctly, there was once a DVD format which allowed a disc to be played a couple times and then it became unreadable. The idea was to throw the disc out after viewing it, rather than having to return it to the rental store. (I don't recall if the idea was even implemented before it tanked.)

I think it was a one time only for a movie that was being released on dvd and in the theaters on the same day. they could only watch it once or twice before it self destructed.

Reminds me of that Seinfeld episode where Jerry was forced into "camera" service illegally recording a new movie for Kramer's seedy friend...

That was a format called DIVX (not related to the video codec used today). It was a failure, obviously. If I remember right, Circuit City was behind the technology, and lost a bundle.

(my first post in the frozen ICElands, btw)

Yeah, Jeff! That's the one! Thanks! Do you recall whether any discs actually hit the stores? Or did it fail before it ever got off the ground? I don't recall ever seeing any of the discs myself.

Thanks again. And... welcome!!!

They did make it into Circuit City stores, as well as players that were equipped for them. And they died a quick and deserved death. It was really just a glorified rental.

I've never understood why anybody would want to buy a bootleg copy shot off a movie screen when the real thing in nice picture and sound will be available in stores in a matter of months.

I never liked a movie so desperately that I had to own a copy right away, but that's just me.

I agree.

Likewise, I can't imagine my ever being fascinated enough with a movie to warrant seeing it on opening day (although I do know people who seem compelled to do so.)