Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)

Here's the result of the blackout.
https://p.twimg.com/AjjL8MJCMAAwiQN.jpg

Next time someone tells you that movies are loosing money to piracy cite X-Men: Wolverine Orgins. One of the first movies to be leaked on torrent sites in high quality before the theatrical release.
Budget: $150 Million
Box Office: $373,062,864

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 37% approval on 246 reviews

#TrueStory

http://i.imgur.com/p8ImI.png

With regards to "video piracy", it seems like the folks most worried about it have not really given much thought to consumer behavior with regards to video,which is different than their behavior in other products, such as software(where anti-piracy has a much stronger claim, imo, but not without caveats), and who and how much does the act of piracy really affect their industry.

In the realm of video consumers, you have the buyers, "would buy but won't pay (until the price drops a huge amount and the disc is out of print)", the renters, the "would rent but won't pay", and the the "never will try" . Which group(s) are the most of the downloaders coming from and how does their download affect the industry? When someone downloads a movie or tv show, were they going to shell out money in the first place? If yes, were they going to rent first or would they have bought it outright? The movie industry seems to have labelled virtually everyone as BUYERS trying to avoid purchasing an optical disk or going to the movie theatre. In this case, the downloaded file replaces the optical disk/trip to the movie theatre and enjoys multiple rewatches. But what if most downloaders are actually renters or "guys who wouldn't rent but evaluate"?(this is a hypothetical question) In that case, they are not skimping out on the paying for the optical disk or movie theatre trip, but rather the fee charged by services such as Blockbuster, Netflix, etc.

One thing that will happen for sure is that watching a movie has a transformative effect on the viewer. He'll either toss it or he'll like it. In the latter scenario, the buyer will want to buy or he'll be "keep and rewatch" the downloaded file. The question of whether the "transformed liker" is more likely to go and buy the "real deal" products or if they'll just sit on their ass and just rewatch the file.

So, the two big unknowns about the video downloader is 1. whether he's a buyer, a renter, or a "would rent but won't pay" guy and 2. what does he do after watching the video. Question 1 would help idenfitfy which companies actually might be affected and Question 2 would help answer just how much of an effect video piracy in its current form has on various companies.

I'm not closed to the idea piracy might hurt companies, but they'll have to prove it is the case first and that this is not a case of the corporate animal trying to amass market power (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Market_power)(economics definition) for itself.

Oh, and for those who have "ethical issues" with pirates, note that utilitarian ethics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utilitarianism) usually reigns supreme in corporate culture. In layman's terms, the consequences are all that matters(Make spending power=good. Lose spending power=bad. Laws are just a means to achieve that end). The fat cats would screw their workers for chump change if possible. In video, the alleged piracy effects affects the money controllers(the top executives) first, the ones they're trying to garner sympathy for(workers, even the directors) second.

Note: This post is mainly an attempt to form description of the situation regarding "VIDEO PIRACY".

Anonymous Just Deleted CBS.com and Took Down Universal (http://gizmodo.com/5878238/anonymous-deleted-cbscom)

This guy is a piece of shit no doubt.

MPAA Directly & Publicly Threatens Politicians Who Aren't Corrupt Enough To Stay Bought | Techdirt (http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120120/14472117492/mpaa-directly-publicly-threatens-politicians-who-arent-corrupt-enough-to-stay-bought.shtml)


Former Senator Chris Dodd.

"Those who count on quote 'Hollywood' for support need to understand that this industry is watching very carefully who's going to stand up for them when their job is at stake. Don't ask me to write a check for you when you think your job is at risk and then don't pay any attention to me when my job is at stake,"


They think the American people are so stupid, they openly admit to buying our politician's votes.

This guy is a piece of shit no doubt.

MPAA Directly & Publicly Threatens Politicians Who Aren't Corrupt Enough To Stay Bought | Techdirt (http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120120/14472117492/mpaa-directly-publicly-threatens-politicians-who-arent-corrupt-enough-to-stay-bought.shtml)


They think the American people are so stupid, they openly admit to buying our politician's votes.

I've actually started to wonder if Dodd is pro-piracy. The stuff he says like calling the blackout "an abuse of power" seems like the kind of stuff you say when you're purposely trying to loose a fight. Now this?

Furthermore as a follow up to your story
Petition Asks White House to Probe MPAA's Chris Dodd Over Warning | Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/23/idUS217169227120120123)

I've actually started to wonder if Dodd is pro-piracy. The stuff he says like calling the blackout "an abuse of power" seems like the kind of stuff you say when you're purposely trying to loose a fight. Now this?

Furthermore as a follow up to your story
Petition Asks White House to Probe MPAA's Chris Dodd Over Warning | Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/23/idUS217169227120120123)

The MPAA loves to produce gems like the following. Something in their culture must be fostering stuff like THIS:

"I say to you that the VCR is to the American film producer and the American public as the Boston strangler is to the woman home alone."[6]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
It seems that the MPAA has some assumptions about consumer behavior:
1. Consumers would always buy their products brand spanking new before doing anything else, such as renting or buying from resellers.
2. Consumers do not have a budget constraint.
3. Everyone already knows about the most obscure of movies, hence extra publicity is unnecessary.
4. Consumers are risk-loving or risk-neutral. When it comes to film, when a flop is purchased, the consumer will just buy something different with no change to their behavior.

The MPAA loves to produce gems like the following. Something in their culture must be fostering stuff like THIS:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
It seems that the MPAA has some assumptions about consumer behavior:
1. Consumers would always buy their products brand spanking new before doing anything else, such as renting or buying from resellers.
2. Consumers do not have a budget constraint.
3. Everyone already knows about the most obscure of movies, hence extra publicity is unnecessary.
4. Consumers are risk-loving or risk-neutral. When it comes to film, when a flop is purchased, the consumer will just buy something different with no change to their behavior.

I don't know weather to love them for being so stupid and out of touch, or fear them for the exact same reasons.

On a sidenote if anyone can take a moment to sign the petition. 14,500+ signatures in around 2 days.
WE PETITION THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO:
Investigate Chris Dodd and the MPAA for bribery after he publicly admited to bribing politicans to pass legislation. (https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/%21/petition/investigate-chris-dodd-and-mpaa-bribery-after-he-publicly-admited-bribing-politicans-pass/DffX0YQv?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl)

I don't know weather to love them for being so stupid and out of touch, or fear them for the exact same reasons.

On a sidenote if anyone can take a moment to sign the petition. 14,500+ signatures in around 2 days.
WE PETITION THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO:
Investigate Chris Dodd and the MPAA for bribery after he publicly admited to bribing politicans to pass legislation. (https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/%21/petition/investigate-chris-dodd-and-mpaa-bribery-after-he-publicly-admited-bribing-politicans-pass/DffX0YQv?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl)

Dumb they are, but power they have. Dumb and powerful are to be feared...unless it benefits you. ;)