Organized crime taking on larger role in film piracy

[Miniver]

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Organized crime is taking on a larger role in film piracy, according to a new report from the RAND Corp. being released Tuesday.

And though it could point to only a handful of examples where the profits from piracy have been used to support terrorist activities, the report warns that the terrorist connection could increase in the future.

Crime syndicates have become involved in the entire supply chain of illegal films, from their manufacture to their street sales, as piracy takes its place alongside such criminal activities as drug trafficking, money laundering, extortion and human smuggling.

"Given the enormous profit margins, it's no surprise that organized crime has moved into film piracy," said Greg Treverton, the report's lead author and director of RAND's Center for Global Risk and Security. "The profits are high, and penalties for being caught are relatively low."

Raising the prospect that piracy also could become a threat to homeland security, Treverton said, "If you buy pirated DVDs, there is a good chance that at least part of the money will go to organized crime and those proceeds fund more-dangerous criminal activities, possibly terrorism."

The report from the nonprofit research center was supported by a grant from the Motion Picture Association (the international arm of the Motion Picture Association of America), which estimates that the worldwide motion picture industry loses as much as $18.2 billion annually because of piracy.

Linky (http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE5221CZ20090303)

PDF (http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2009/RAND_MG742.pdf)

Video (http://rand.org/multimedia/video/2009/03/03/gregory_f_treverton_film_piracy_organized_crime_an d_terrorism.html?ref=homepage&key=t_film_piracy)

[El Comandante]

More bullshit from the MPAA. I support organized crime every time I buy a porn video, or throw away my garbage or buy a couple of t-bone steaks.

I just don't see Bin laden overseeing the pirate distribution of the latest Batman movie. I'm sure more money is raised from the poppy fields of Afghanistan.

[Mels_Smileys45]

Yep, total bullshit to try and get more funding out of the government. As if they don't have their hands full right now. They can forget that shit. Right now The RIAA/MPAA are on their own. The file sharing community is in for a break as far as law enforcement is concerned. All sting operations are gonna have to rap things up really soon. Expect to see more stories about groups being busted and sites being shut down over the coming months. They will be well publisized. Well I should say they will get as much publicity as they can get but the media will have to pull their stinky dinky out of the economy's butt hole long enough to do it. After thats all over its easy street! MAYBE.....

The only wild card that could happen is the three strike rule. I personally do not think this will happen because the interent providers are struggling to keep profits up as it is right now. They do not wish to lose any customers what so ever. P2Peer's have the upper hand for the first time in awhile. We are driving the internet providers business and with out us....their product would be WORTHLESS! Its time they realize that and shut the Hell up!


I hope they read this and then choke on a dick because they know its true...and they suck dick.





P.S. I am late as Hell with my bill and they haven't cut me off yet. When times were good they would have cut me off in a second no matter what my excuse was. They are pathetic. They are hoping and praying I will pay my bill because they don't want to lose another customer. I now am really and truly a "valued customer"! lol


I do suspect they will cut me off tonight/today though. I will be back on Thu/Fri so don't worry your pretty little heads and go into Mels withdrawal! You know I am your hero! BTW Jorge, will you pay my bill just once since I am such a ZP star? You know you owe me! Make with the money you tight wad!

[milk man]

How can downloading a movie for "free" on the Internet possibly fund terrorists? Its free right. Even street venders only sell a movie for 3 or 4 bucks. Pumping gas funds terrorists not piracy.

[Mels_Smileys45]

I sort of steered this story off course I think. What I think they mean is people are selling DVD's. I see them everywhere. For a bit there were many gas stations selling them around here but the police finally stopped that. The packaging has become so good that it is hard to tell a pirated copy from the real deal in some cases.

Piracy is big business but the average P2P user isn't the problem and I do not think the story is even talking about the internet users. Many people see the word piracy and equate that to mean P2P users, which probably says something about ourselves actually, but they are probably targting big operations in China where I hear the problem is HUGE.


I do know some people, many actually, who do the wrong thing and download movies and sell them at work to people who do not know better. I find this annoying and very wrong. I don't mind them giving them away and letting someone buy the DVD for what it costs but downloading for profit is bullshit. Stop it people! You give us a bad rep.

[DrewWilson]

I've seen this study myself and even though it's talking about bootleggers that sell warez, the last person I read about that got caught was actually just living a life of luxury rather than funding the ebil tewwowists. At the very least, though, the MPAA is right to target sellers even if things are horribly out of proportion in the study.

[Mels_Smileys45]

Hell, my tax dollars have funded terrorist for 8 years...I am going to go get a hamburger now and support the economy and my fat gut.

[shawners]

How mch money has een lost to bad directors making awful movies. UWE BOLL? The guy behind killing BloodRayne.

Film Piracy works like this.
They sell cams, and people occasionally buy them and notice the bad quality and wont buy again.

Making piracy high on the list like human trafficking is absurd. They cant preach about their morals and how we are thief's when they promote violence, glorify killing, and nudity every where..

[mountain_rage]

How mch money has een lost to bad directors making awful movies. UWE BOLL? The guy behind killing BloodRayne.

Film Piracy works like this.
They sell cams, and people occasionally buy them and notice the bad quality and wont buy again.

Making piracy high on the list like human trafficking is absurd. They cant preach about their morals and how we are thief's when they promote violence, glorify killing, and nudity every where..

UWE BOLL films are ultra low budget and often turn a profit because of that fact. The only reason he still exists in the industry is because of his low budget film making. Apparently enough people go see his pile of turds for investors to stay happy.