FACT appoints sleuth to tackle in-cinema copying

[Bob Crabtree]

UK film distributors are funding the appointment of an investigator who'll be trying to help prevent the copying of films within cinemas - something that's typically carried out with camcorders.

More in this HEXUS.headline.

[Atomic]

Oh come on, how many 'pirate' dvds are filmed in cinemas these days?

They are ripped digitally and in higher quality than a camcorder...

[Agent]

And i wonder how much this person will get paid to watch entire length films, and take a quick glance around for any red lights in the cinema when they remember.

If they dropped all copy protection methods (and lets be honest - they have all been broken within no time), and non-scene like this and put the money into directly discounting the films to a cheaper retail price, they would have much less of a Piracy problem (which is considerably smaller than they wish you to believe)

We get absolutely hammered on DVD prices here compared to other places in the world.

I hope their own greed staves them.

[chrestomanci]

They are ripped digitally and in higher quality than a camcorder...

The thing is, move companies save costs by preping the DVD release at the same time as the cinema release, wich opens an easy avenue for copying.

Diseney probably finished the DVD masters for Pirates of the Carabean months ago, so that may have leaked. If not there is probably a pressing plant in china making thounsands of coppies right now, and the chances of none of them leaking is about zero.

[Stoo]

Well, the movies are usually distributed on dvd to reviewers for cinematic releases anyway (dvdrip), or it's a studio insider with direct access (dvdrip or telecine), or a guy at the dvd duplication plant (dvdrip), or a guy in courier office who distribute the cinema film reels (telecine), or a guy at the cinema with direct access to the film reels (telecine again).

The "cam" versions tend to originate from overseas, so this wouldn't make a blind bit of difference anyway..

It's like those stupid anti-piracy adverts you get on retail dvd's - it won't change a thing as it targets the wrong people entirely.

Oh well, at least someone gets a fairly cushie job

[Bob Crabtree]

As a point of clarification, the original info from FACT says,

...the investigator will be tasked specifically with liasing with the UK cinema industry to help educate, prevent and protect against copyright theft from camcording and other forms of digital recording.

So, the sleuth will be doing a bit more than just setting traps for people with camcorders.

[Stoo]

So crappy adverts like the DVD's at the start of films, and a few leaflets then..

[Bob Crabtree]

So crappy adverts like the DVD's at the start of films, and a few leaflets then..

I think it's your positive spin on life that so endears you to me.

[Lee H]

So crappy adverts like the DVD's at the start of films, and a few leaflets then..

I hate these with a passion. Even your average "ripper" has the ability to remove these adverts, so why they still insist including all of the 10 minutes of crap before the menu pops up and lets you start the film I'll never know.

Good Luck to the lucky sod that gets this job - they've got a huge mountain to climb in many aspects.

Firstly they've got to get it into the publics head that it's not good to download the latest Xvid of a film which is not due to be released in the UK for another 6 months and then watch it at home. Easy solution for this - GLOBAL release date. Not exactly rocket science is it to solve this one.

Secondly, they've got to try and improve FACT's image with the general public. With all these people getting threats from various agencies like RIAA, BPI and what not - People will/do see FACT as another one of these "bully boy" companies and maybe then they'll get taken a little more serious if a few bridges were fixed.

Oh and another way they could remedy this is to make going to the Cinema value for money, because this is something it is NOT. I resent paying 5.50 for a ticket and then going to watch a film that's ALWAYS slightly out of focus, Ruined by at least 12 Chav's playing with their phones all the time.

[DavidM]

If they at least included a drink + popcorn for the stupid price of five quid + ... at least it may help a bit!

[Stoo]

I think it's your positive spin on life that so endears you to me.

Come on, can you honestly see it being anything different?