LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Hollywood’s major film studios have refused to further relax their ban on sending out videotapes and DVDs of movies competing for Oscars (news – web sites) this year, a spokesman for the studios’ representative said on Monday.
Rich Taylor, a spokesman for the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), which represents the studios in governmental and other matters, said the ban on sending screeners would remain in effect for all groups except the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (news – web sites), whose members vote on the Oscars.
The MPAA initiated the ban in September because of concern over film piracy. It eased the restriction only for Academy members who will receive specially coded VHS videotapes of Oscar hopeful films that can be traced back to their owners.
Proponents view the ban as necessary because last year many Oscar “screeners,” the industry name for the DVDs and videos, were illegally copied and either sold overseas or given away free on the Internet. Opponents argue it gives the major studios an advantage in the Oscar sweepstakes over independent filmmakers, whose works are harder to see in theaters.
After the ban was relaxed the first time, the MPAA still came under criticism from groups like the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which gives out the Golden Globes, who argued their members should receive the same treatment as Academy members.
MPAA chief Jack Valenti worked toward a new compromise last week, but in the end the studio chiefs refused to budge any further, said sources who knew of the studios’ involvement.
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