BitTorrent Blamed for Matrix Reloaded Downloads

[wessman]

BitTorrent Blamed for Matrix2 Downloads
from the nice-while-it-lasted dept.
posted by CmdrTaco on Tuesday May 27, @09:48 (movies)
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/05/27/1338223

MartyJG writes "The BBC are running a [0]story on how Matrix Reloaded is available via P2P. This time [1]BitTorrent is taking the heat for the distribution - even though there's no company behind it to drag over the coals. The story speculates about the source of the copy, suggesting it's from a film or digital source rather than a cinema-screen-leech." Despite this piracy, the flick has made over $365M already. Including my tickets. Twice.

Links:
0. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/2940270.stm
1. http://bitconjurer.org/BitTorrent/


Matrix sequel pirated online
Published: 2003/05/27 11:02:32 GMT

Pirate copies of blockbuster hit The Matrix Reloaded were available to download online, less than two weeks after the film went on release around the world, BBC News Online has learned.

A high-quality copy of the film was being downloaded by hundreds of people each day via a website which uses the file-sharing computer program BitTorrent.

The website was subsequently taken down on Tuesday.

The availability of the film online will come as a blow to executives who co-ordinated a worldwide release of the film in an attempt to thwart piracy.

Low-quality copies of the film on DVD have also been reported for sale at a major traders' market in London.

Although it is not unusual for pirate copies of blockbuster films to appear on the internet soon after release, they are often of poor quality, filmed on a hidden videcamera by a cinemagoer.

The picture is often jerky, with poor sound, punctuated by ambient noise in the cinema.

But the copy available using BitTorrent appeared to be have made from a film print, and was in widescreen format with surround sound.

A computer user with broadband internet access could download the film in about three hours.

The download also includes a teaser trailer for the third film in the sci-fi trilogy, The Matrix Revolutions.
Piracy, especially online, is one of the biggest concerns of the movie industry.

Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, told BBC News Online earlier this year that digital piracy could become "debilitating" for the industry.

"Digital piracy has become a real menace," he said.

Despite the availability of pirate copies, The Matrix Reloaded has made more than $363.5m at the box office worldwide so far.

© BBC MMIII

[Krell]

Yah that piracy is debilitating alright.


This is another reason we dont want titles and torrents listed in conjuction with BT discussions.

[Sockfulloflove]

is this why a lot of the sites have been down recently?

[Evil_Dweller_01]

Originally posted by Sockfulloflove
is this why a lot of the sites have been down recently?

Yay! We got a winner

Mr. Captain Obvious

LoL

[MusikBeatz23]

They made 365 million dollars... how much more do they want... ??? I paid to go see it... they got my $$$... so they can go suck a ... including all their piracy B/S...

[dr. damn]

Originally posted by MusikBeatz23
They made 365 million dollars... how much more do they want... ??? I paid to go see it... they got my $$$... so they can go suck a ... including all their piracy B/S...
Exactly, what the hell are they complaining about?

[RACKnRAIL]

I paid too!

[Induna]

I feared this would happen. Such a high profile film like Matrix Reloaded and with so many people downloading it, Bittorrnet remained underneath the radar until this film came out.

I wonder, with hinesight would have we sacrificed getting this film in order to keep Suprnova alive. I would of.

[Krell]

Two good posts in a row Induna:gj


I wonder, with hinesight would have we sacrificed getting this film in order to keep Suprnova alive. I would of. Now how does this principle apply to Zero Paid? Or do we wait for "hindsight" to raise this question?

[Induna]

Hindsight not hinesight, good to see you're on the ball Krell.

I guess you could say that Zeropaid - being such a high profile website - did help facilitate with the rabid downloading of this particuar torrent. Indirectly of course.

Or you could say that you mods were sluggish to react ;)

Everything is easy with hindsight.

[riderx]

all i got to say bittorent is nice
but its sad that the sites are going down
btw i do like *waste* the new p2p program out
its kind of cool
one other note i am a spammer *Not*
haha
waste
waste
*rtws*
---
crackerjacker
nuff said

but lets just say for names sake that bittorent protocol would change. to avoid trackers and have it interlinked with other users like on a supernode thingY.
anyway i did read someones posts, and matter of fact ths could happen.
but lets just say lots of new things are happening for p2p
and more to come * now i must shut my mouth* i dont like to brag.
nuff said and peace
hi self
bye self
i love u
woot woot
hmm
for real though i am excited about waste, still loves bt
and i can only hope that bt will be around in future.
sharing is caring
have u done your duty for the day?
share and care woot

[maartendc]

I went to see it in a cinema as well, so they got my money.
And besides, watching it in a movie theatre is sooooo much better than watching a dl/copy.
But nontheless I'm downloading it right now. Why? Because I want to see it again and again at home, and i don't want to wait till they release the dvd or vhs. I'm prolly gonna buy the dvd as well, but that could still take a lot of time. And I don't want to see it in the cinema again and again -> a little too expensive.

I don't think they should complain: Real matrix fans, and most people, go see it in movie theatres anyway.

[Krell]

Actually Im not, I didnt even catch the spelling, nor do I care, I'm not the one who corrects peoples spelling around here.

What I do catch is flack for being sluggish, or patient, and keeping down naming of titles etc.


I just dont want us to get in a jam, then say "if we only wouldnt have . . . "

[Psilaxs]

After reading so much in depth information about reloaded I cannot help but to agree with the studios to some degree.

The movie may have grossed over 385 million thus far, but the production cost were beyond mind boggling with over 1000 people on the payroll fulltime for over a year, just in Australia.

over 400 fulltime people just in the art department.

the costruction of a mile and a half highway loop for the infamous chase scene etc etc etc.

It is a long read, but it is worth it.

Just read this *WARNING, THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE MOVIE***

EDIT AGAIN* post is too damned huge, i will attach as a txt document.

Just read, and you will understand, if you want to see this movie PAY for it.

I have nothing against getting movies for free, after they have made more then enough to recoup the cost of production plus profit.

Just read, you'll understand.

[riderx]

well yeah matrix reloaded is a good movie *cougH*
people who see it in the movies, often will buy the dvd anyhows.
heh, but of course people should support the movie industry and especially the *matrix reloaded*.
People are going to do what they want though p2p wise.
:)
As matter of fact I still think p2p is a way to learn about new artists.
so yeah go watch matrix reloaded in the movies, and buy the dvd.
*i want the 3 box set for matrix, matrix reloaded, and revolutions*

*cough* bring it now*

[Tremaine]

you can't blame bittorrent but you blame the torrent sites, matrix reloaded has alredy made enough money they don't need more to make #3 since it is alredy done. Most of us who have downloaded have also seen it in theatres its all good.

[maartendc]

I think the RIAA have a right to complain, caus they prolly lose money with people downloading music.
But I don't think the MPAA has a right to complain, caus they make money anyway by people going to see the movies in theatres. And a movie is always better in theaters than when you watch a downloaded copy, but music bought or downloaded is the same....

[matt merch]

i thought i would try bittorrent out so i tried to d/l "that" file 2.3gb
left bittorrent running for a day or so and had got 18% went on irc and got the whole file in 8 hours or so not scientific i know but just my personal experience

[AYE-WHY]

i watched it and fell asleep during the movie about 3 times, i didnt however miss the action scenes... it was an ok movie, the car chase on the highway was particularly good, and that neo fight scene with all those agent-clones attacking him was excellent stuff - worth the £4.50 me and my friends all paid to watch it.... i am gonna download it however -- hey im just practising my right to click my mouse a few times and type "matrix reloaded" ;)

BTW - speaking of car chases, watch RONIN (starring De Niro) for an AMAZZZZING car chase that is so good it doesnt even need fast paced music to aid it!!! FANTASTIC - altho the story is not so good, the action is WELL WORTH IT - i think the total time for the car chase is about 18 minutes in Ronin, mind blowing shit....

[hackiavelli]

Originally posted by Induna
I feared this would happen. Such a high profile film like Matrix Reloaded and with so many people downloading it, Bittorrnet remained underneath the radar until this film came out.

I wonder, with hinesight would have we sacrificed getting this film in order to keep Suprnova alive. I would of.

The Two Towers was a MUCH bigger deal. This was an actual DVD rip unlike The Matrix Reloaded (the fact that the guys at the BBC could think a telesync was "made from a film print, and was in widescreen format with surround sound" is hilarious). Plus it was released 5+ months before the DVD release (August 26).

The only difference here is that the BBC can now blame a website rather than some IRC channels that keep jumping from server to server. Everyone knows what a webpage is but your average PC user has no clue what IRC is.