A Victory for the Rule of Law
Friday, April 17th, 2009 by copyrightToday’s guest blog is written by Dan Glickman, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America.
Today’s conviction in a Swedish court of the four individuals behind Pirate Bay is an important statement about the growing global commitment to intellectual property rights as a cornerstone of the rule of the law in a connected, global information society. In a modern world in which more and more people around the globe make their living through their creativity and the power and value of their ideas, intellectual property rights are increasingly at the heart of global economic health.
MPAA was proud to participate with local rightsholders in this landmark proceeding, and we will continue to pursue those who seek to illegally profit from the creative works of others.
How we will we prevail? We continue to work with producers, governments and law enforcement around the globe to rally the world to the cause of protecting intellectual property rights. We need to be consistent and firm in demonstrating that there are consequences for this brand of mass exploitation.
Equally important, we need to make sure that this industry and this artform embrace technology in a positive and constructive way. We need to be responsive to consumers who clearly want to enjoy our products in diverse and innovative ways. We need to deliver on the promise of the digital era and give folks multiple choices for enjoying the genuine article online in fair and flexible ways.
Here, we’re making real progress. In the U.S. alone, there are now more than 50 sites that offer consumers legal ways to enjoy the movies and TV shows they love—in all their authentic and complete glory.
Most legal services providing access to film and television content are country-specific. New services are being launched throughout Europe on an on-going basis, but such services face significant challenges as long as online piracy remains widespread through the activities of sites such as The Pirate Bay.
Today’s decision marks an important victory—and a defining opportunity. This is the moment for creative industries to accelerate our efforts to embrace technology and expand the universe of constructive connections that serve filmmakers and fans alike.
April 17th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
“Equally important, we need to make sure that this industry and this artform embrace technology in a positive and constructive way. In the U.S. alone, there are now more than 50 sites that offer consumers legal ways to enjoy the movies and TV shows they love”
1) In the age of internet and digital distribution, there is absolutely *no* reason for region-locking of the kind that bars things to being U.S. only. This is not embracing technology, and all it does is encourage piracy.
For example, why would CBS’ Youtube page be region locked? Why is Hulu region locked? It makes no sense at all, and those that try to use legitimate means to view content will just end up frustrated and resorting to piracy, because there are too many roadblocks in place.
2) You don’t want to embrace technology, you want to control it. (See Time Warner’s recent attempt at metred bandwidth service) And you have zero interest in promoting the interests of artists. If that were the case, it would be the artists that you’re “protecting” making the ACTA deals, not the people in the board room. And they wouldn’t be made behind closed doors, in secrecy. If you have nothing to hide, make the process transparent.
3) You didn’t participate with local rightsholders, you ran roughshod over Swedish law and tried to impose American law on an EU country. With the type of and amount of shenanigans that the MPAA and RIAA conducted during the recent trial, the whole thing should have been thrown out of court several times. The only explanation I can think of for why this didn’t happen, is bribery of the judge, which wouldn’t surprise me at all.
4) If you want consumers to stop downloading, don’t treat them like
A) idiots - by repeatedly releasing the same movies in “Extended” or “Unrated” cuts over and over again. How many versions of the same movies do we need?
B) criminals - which is being done currently with the advent of intrusive digital technologies and license agreements. A lack of respect for the customer will be repaid for in kind.
5) DRM, the shift to full digital content over which the MPAA/RIAA will have total control of, fair use laws - which you seem determined to abolish at all costs - will be fought/fought for at all costs. The amount of contempt you have for the general public, people’s rights and international law is not winning you any favours. Sooner or later, things are going to reach a breaking point.
You, sir (and I use the term begrudgingly), should be ashamed for yourself. The MPAA is no better than the Mafia, using dirty tricks and illegal actions to win their court cases and threatening people when they can’t.
I’ve probably bought more DVDs this year than I ever have in my life, but it’s going to stop. I will not buy your merchandise any longer.
This is just the beginning.