Why Movie Piracy IS Bad (And What To Do About It)
Nov 24, 2009 by Kofi OutlawSome folks seem to believe movie piracy falls into some morally ambiguous area. We explain why it doesn’t – and how to fix it.
The cable bill was the biggest selling point for me: I already pay $100 bucks a month for my service – what’s an extra $15-20 every month or two on top of that to watch a couple new movies I want to see? If I go to a theater, bring my girlfriend and some A-hole(s) can’t shut up and let me enjoy myself…that’s $30 (at least) down the drain for the sake of one unsatisfying night. I already pay Netflix $17-20 a month to rent three movies at once for as long as I want – maybe one month I run through 15 films, but another month I’m super-busy and end up getting through just two or three. In that latter case, I’ve paid $17-20 to let movies gather dust next to my DVD player.
With SDOD or DD, I only spend when I’m SURE I’m going to watch a film, and my personal satisfaction is entirely up to my own discretion and imagination 
. Sounds pretty freaking worthwhile to me.
HOLLYWOOD, TIME TO ADAPT
This whole SDOD/DD issue really boils down to market perception, IMHO. Right now, it still feels as though movie studios view SDOD/DD as a sort of dumping ground, rather than a legit way to market movies to the masses and therefore, movie goers also view the services that way. To stimulate the market, I think studios need to change how they utilize it by taking some key steps:
- Offer more digital-based releases that premiere before theatrical releases – What’s there to lose? Offer your movies on digital cable, smartphone or computer (in HD quality) a few days to a week before a theatrical premiere and already you’re cutting out one of the main incentives for pirating. And let’s be real: if your movie is good enough, people WILL shell out again for the “big-screen experience.” You may end up making more money than you would’ve. If Zombieland had been available on cable same day as in theaters, would a sequel be hanging in the balance? Maybe, but then again, maybe not…
- Market the $mart way – If you’re taking full advantage of the digital market, what’s the need for huge billboards, three different trailers, TV spots, print ads, etc… If you’re selling a movie to the online/digital consumer then use the free promotion you get from blogs like Screen Rant (HINT!) – or maybe loop your trailers and spots on cable on demand menus ad nausem. Archive movie info in one place (on cable menus, websites), use fan reactions and early screening promotions to build an interactive rating/review system to let perusing viewers know what new movies are worth their time and money. Once the consumer adapts to the new digital model (i.e., learns where to go to find out about movies), you can spend less, more effectively, to reach them.
At the end of the day, trying to stop the times from a changin’ is like trying to hold onto a hand full of sand in the middle of a thunderstorm – all your going to end up with is a messy hand and no sand left to hold. The movie biz should learn from the mistakes of the music biz: Make it easy for your consumers to get what they want, how they want, when they want, and they will pay for the comfort and convenience.
To quote 80s Gen X punks, “I want my SDOD/DD!”
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The bottom line is that nothing, and I mean nothing including the supposed freebies our government suposedly gives ups like medicare and the upcoming HealthCare which will probably be a reality soon, none of it is free! You may not pay directly for it but in the end someone will pay for it one way or another.
When you commit piracy no matter what the justification you are at minimum helping make the case for stronger content protection which means we all get shafted in the end by tougher regulations & rules. Lte me be clear about Piracy which in my mind means getting access, for free to some protected content that you would normally have to pay for. I do not consider it piracy when someone who has bought for example a DVD, finds a way to duplicate it. I firmly believe it is the right of all users who have bought something to be able tyo make as many copies or duplicates as tehy want so long as they are for that persons use only. Disc technology is to fragile (a design flaw I belieev the industry intentionally put in place to llimit a products life) to not be allowed to make a backup and more the one since a backup disc could also go bad.
You may think you are justified in pirating something because the owner (Studio, record lable) has made gazillions off of it already like TITANIC or THE DARK KNIGHT or the LORD OF THR RINGS Triology but even in that scenario you are only providing them with ammo to make the case for tougher restrictions/access which then screws us all and is therefore not really free.
“Problem is everyone thinks they’re entitled to everything today. Maybe soon we’ll have legislation for “movie viewer rights” and force companies to let folks under a certain income level into theaters for free or be given new releases on DVD without having to pay for them.”
I know you’re joking, but this doesn’t sound like a bad idea–as far as justice is concerned. It would never work in this world for so many reasons, but it is one of life’s greatest ironies that those who decry the unfairness of withholding compensation for artists uphold a system that is inherently unfair.
Admittedly, the ethics are complicated. But I wouldn’t balk at someone who participates in a non-zero sum game where the companies impose artificial scarcity on an infinitely reproducible (above the initial investment), the production companies make record profits AND millions get to see the movie for free. Is it fair? Well only as fair as it is for the people who are most likely to download movies to be put in that situation in the first place. Oh you don’t have the money to see the movie? Too bad, you should have chosen better parents that would have put you in a good college so you wouldn’t have to steal movies. And you (the author) speak of fairness?
Granted it is the marginal cases that are the most controversial–those that can pay but won’t–well this is where the industry will have to adapt and prices will have to come down and the ethics will need to be evaluated by each individual–as you would expect with an infinitely reproducible good. These issues all bring very complicated questions, but don’t kid yourself into thinking that it’s somehow universally unfair to download–that’s just a tad myopic.
Unfair?
Oh right, we should just keep rewarding people for not wanting to better themselves. What would be the incentive to get an education and get a better paying job if you know if you’re lazy and don’t work you get to see movies for free, get free living, get free food… Why work??? Screw that, I would love to do that… Sit at home on my would-be fat ass and just get things given to me by the government, sweet deal…
ah….. Ken J
Does anyone even care what he has to say. He just loves to start arguements. I bet christmas at his house is just wonderful.
LOL, ah, ad hominem, thanks for basically saying “I don’t have anything to actually disprove what you’re saying, so I’m just going to throw personal insults instead.” I love that one!
I’m sure your insults are completely objective and are in no way motivated by the fact that you disagree with my opinion or anything… 
The only reason I’m replying to your comment is to just say I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the way you were raised by your parents, in raising you to be such an arguementative man. I’m sorry for the way people treated you as you grew up (I’m sure you got in a few arguements there, eh?). And finally I’m sorry for leaving comments on this site that you disagree with.
Feel better now Ken J.
HAHA, you’re hilarious dude. I love my parents and have had a great life! But thanks for caring.
(Well, don’t love my job, but that’s a different story, lol)
OK, I know we disagree on a few things. ie I think movie piracy is ok given the fact that the cinema is too expensive for me.
And you think differently. Even so, your alright. So I apologise for taking the mickey.
All the best and have a great Christmas.
It’s ok man, no need to apologize. I’m opinionated, I like to state my opinion. Some people disagree with me, I know that.
But anyway, glad I didn’t just make another enemy.
Merry Christmas dude.