More than 25 million Americans are criminals
According to a poll surveying attitudes about movie downloads over 25 million Americans routinely download movies illegally. What is the solution? Stiffer penalties? More protection?
This is a clear example (to me) of the increase in technology outstripping corporate and legislative attempts to deal with it. Media corporations like Sony have a vested interest in significantly reducing our rights–15 years ago a dvd was yours to do with what you wanted, now a dvd you purchase can (according to some interpretations) not even be copied for one’s own personal use. And as these corporations have deep pockets and are very well organized it isn’t difficult for them to get legislation at least put on the table.
But at every step of the way the corporations are going to lose out to innovation and ingenuity. Consumers may take some losses along the way, and to be fair the future is not yet written. However unless those 25 million came from Detroit, Gary, the “bad part of DC”, Oakland, the old New Orleans, the South Side of Chicago, and Harlem before gentrification, I don’t see this stopping. Hell, I don’t even see anyone–not even the media corporations–even using the term “criminal” to describe our their behavior.
January 29th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
I agree with everything you wrote and would refer you to an interesting article in the February 2007 issue of Harper’s magazine by Jonathan Lethem titled The Ecstasy of Influence. The funny thing about Hollywood and the media is that they are constantly appropriating or downloading ideas from public cultural life and don’t even give it a second thought. I recently saw Stomp The Yard and was struck by the thinly veiled disguises of the Kappas (my frat) and the Alphas; the film-maker didn’t even change their respective colors! Now how foolish would these venerable Black Greek lettered orginizations look if they sought to bring a lawsuit against the film’s producers?
The bottom line is Hollywood has to be willing to put out feature releases in an unconventional format. The traditional method of new cinematic releases followed by release on DVD and cable six months to one year later is not enough to keep up with public demand. We’re bombarded with advertising telling us about the desirability of their products yet we’re supposed to walk right past them when they’re available on the street, barbershop or internet. Some people will always go to the cinema just as some will always read newspapers or hard covered books. However, a large segment of the population includes folks like myself who are constrained by work schedules and lack of childcare and yet want to enjoy a movie. Hollywood should be willing to have A-list movies simultaneously available on pay-per-view cable television, DVD and theatrical release. That is the way to erode the underground market share. And like all other commercial enterprises Hollywood will have to cope with some loss of profits due to illegal activity. That is a inherent feature of any market based exchange. “Don’t hate the player, hate the game.” Oops! Does the NBA have a copyright on that phrase?
January 30th, 2007 at 3:18 am
(The Alphas actually threatened Sony with a lawsuit or at least public humiliation…Sony responded with a 2.5 mill donation to the MLK Memorial in DC.)
But yes I remember the article in Harpers, thanks for reminding me. There are so many contradictions embedded in the behavior of hollywood executives here that it isn’t even funny. But fortunately (or unfortunately depending on your point of view) the current business model of the mass media engine doesn’t have much life left in it. Who would have thunk it….the American media empire dying because of bootlegging.