The Motion Picture Assn. of America (MPAA), on behalf of most of the major film studios, filed suit this past Wednesday against two Web sites it claims are allowing Internet users to view pirated films, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Several of the films being watched are still being shown in theaters across the United States, including the number one and two films in the nation this week, “Resident Evil: Extinction” and “Good Luck Chuck.”
The two sites mentioned in the suit or SSUPLOAD and CINEMATUBE. The thrust of the lawsuit accuses the sites of copyright infringement, among other claims. One site is based out of Malaysia and the other is located in the State of Arizona.
The visits to these sites are substantial totaling in the hundreds of thousands per month. This is a big deal to the movie industry because it has been estimated that in 2005 alone, the financial loss to studios was over $18 billion (USD). That kind of rip-off equates to the loss of film jobs and income for film technicians, stunt actors and extras, the very backbone of any motion picture.
“We are putting illegal Web operators on notice that they are not above the law and will face serious consequences for their activities,” said John Malcolm, executive vp and director of worldwide anti-piracy operations at the MPAA.
Hmm… Interesting websites… I’ll have to have a look and see what all the fuss is about – thanks for the links!
Advice to the MPAA and all of their studios:
1. Give users the films they want, when they want and how they want. Global releases, no DRM, not wait 9 months after its been in the cinema.
2. Start charging fair prices
That will reduce the number of people using pirated stuff(by one at least)
Amen, Brother Matthew!
And to the MPAA, good luck chasing those guys down in Malaysia. And if you do manage to put some pressure on them, they’ll just move to Singapore, or Hong Kong, or Micronesia, or….
Time to switch back to VHS. It’ll make it harder for the average person to pirate a movie. OH wait! it’s also more expensive for studios to produce 😉
I have no sympathy for extortionists…
When will the MPAA get some smarts? Never mind it was a rhetorical question. But thanks MPAA for the announcement. I mean I now know I will have to check these sites out. Good luck shutting down the site in Malaysia. I’m sure you will have just as much success there as you did with The Pirate Bay.
FRACK THE MPAA! LONG LIVE SSUPLOAD!!!!!!!!!!!