Piracy

[kingtutvideo]

 
I asked one of our customers why he only rents games instead of movies. He used to watch a lot of movies. He told me that there is no way he is going to pay for movies when they are free online. He informed me that he gets the new ones 6 months before I do! He said they even play free ones on you tube. He also said he can't wait for the games to be online so he won't have to pay for them either.
I thought netflix and redbox hurt the video stores. The internet is killing them!

[paladin]

Just playing "Devil's Advocate" here; pretty much every pirated movie I've found on the internet has been a stolen screener (with editing timers, watermarks, etc.) or some schmoe sitting in the back of a theater with a camcorder. I wonder just how many people really watch crappy copies online instead of renting or buying a legal copy. Wonder if there's been any good research?

[ssvideoman]

same problem here. frustrating

[moviecritic202]

Screeners are rampant this time of year.  All The studios send screeners of the big awards contenders to Golden Globe member, Academy members and the like for awards consideration.  If the members of these groups don't care that the work of their peers is being stolen at an alarming rate why would anyone else care.  Last year Avatar was very easily available in screener form, the year before it was Gran Torino.

[tiptoen]

I know a guy that works at Staples. He has a customer that buys 2 to 3 hundred dvd-r's every week.
He told my friend that he rents new releases and copys them and sells them for $3.00 each.

[paladin]

You got that cat's number Tiptoen? I was recently talking to an older lady (60's I'd guess) that said she's got the same hookup. What suprised me was her age. I guess I tend to think of "kids" when I think of movie or music piracy.

[moviesgamesetc]

These pirates operate in the wide open and aren't stopped, but if any of us had a single bootleg in our stores, even if we bought it used in a box of stuff, and we're caught with it, we'd be thrown under the jail!

[Bogart]

Just playing "Devil's Advocate" here; pretty much every pirated movie I've found on the internet has been a stolen screener (with editing timers, watermarks, etc.) or some schmoe sitting in the back of a theater with a camcorder. I wonder just how many people really watch crappy copies online instead of renting or buying a legal copy. Wonder if there's been any good research?

http://www.watch-movies-free.us/

Took 2 or 3 tries to get to a site that I didn't have to join but SALT was beautiful. 

[Bogart]

Tried The Sorcerers Apprentice and the quality was terrible, so I dunno...

[paladin]

These pirates operate in the wide open and aren't stopped, but if any of us had a single bootleg in our stores, even if we bought it used in a box of stuff, and we're caught with it, we'd be thrown under the jail!

It's easier to walk into a video store and see what they've got than to back trace a website and actually INVESTIGATE. I used to be in law enforcement, so maybe I'm a little cynical. RIAA went after kids and soccer moms like a rabid pitbull over mp3s, I'm really suprised MPAA hasn't really tried to get tough. Of course RIAA caused an excrement storm and eventually backed off. Maybe the movie industry thought better of it after seeing the PR nightmare the recording industry caused?

[tiptoen]

It's easier to walk into a video store and see what they've got than to back trace a website and actually INVESTIGATE. I used to be in law enforcement, so maybe I'm a little cynical. RIAA went after kids and soccer moms like a rabid pitbull over mp3s, I'm really suprised MPAA hasn't really tried to get tough. Of course RIAA caused an excrement storm and eventually backed off. Maybe the movie industry thought better of it after seeing the PR nightmare the recording industry caused?

How about going into almost every small retail store, barbershop, convenience store , etc. in any large city and nail those scumbags. It would be very easy to do.

[kingtutvideo]

I post the names of the new releases on facebook every Monday and some of my family & friends tell me I've already seen that months ago online....It is just so wrong. My manager even told me she gets to watch all of the new movies months before we get them because her bro n law downloads everything and records them. I feel like firing her it makes me so mad!
I asked my sales rep if video stores are dying and she said we probably have 2 years left. What do you all think? I have already opened a flea market to make up for the money I've lost over the past 2 years. I thought it was the bad economy, but I am worried. Is it time to start thinking about doing something else? The flea mkt business used to do well, but everybody and their brother is doing it now just to survive. 

[moviesgamesetc]

Don't movie theaters receive their films via internet now?

[wannabevideostoreowner]

http://www.google.com

An article I read the other day said most people find pirated content online using a search engine and typing in "watch" (name of movie, TV show, etc here) then "free". They usually have to click a few links and frequently encounter viruses and scams but eventually will find a movie/show.

[paladin]

How about going into almost every small retail store, barbershop, convenience store , etc. in any large city and nail those scumbags. It would be very easy to do.

In fairness to my (former) brothers in blue, the police have more pressing matters to deal with, like busting kids with a single joint so they can say they're winning the war on drugs. I wonder how many investigators the MPAA has?

I am fairly confident that website will be down in a few days. Do you have any other links that you would like to share with us ?

You a narc, Silva?