CEO Jim Gianopulos says punishing repeat offenders is necessary to create “a level playing field” for independent filmmakers, those, it claims, hurt hardest by piracy.
Fox Filmed Entertainment CEO Jim Gianopulos believes the US should follow France’s lead and impose a “three-strikes” system disconnecting repeat file-sharers from the Internet.
He said that internet piracy is the single biggest threat to the worldwide film industry, and that independent films are the hardest hit.
Speaking to a news conference in Athens, Greece, the country that’s ironically the birthplace of democracy and free speech, he told the audience about the state of piracy that “the bad news is that the internet is big, and it’s anonymous.”
That’s why ISPs must be forced to track down the IP addresses of suspected file-sharers and sanction them.
“If we can do that, it would be a big victory against piracy,” he said, and would help create a “level playing field” for independent filmmakers who he claims are the hardest hit by piracy.
It’s the same argument made by Sony Pictures Pres Michael Lynton late last month when he said that P2P harms indie films’ chances of “building an international audience.” This in turn deprives them of “entire markets where stolen versions of their work have proliferated online.”
It’s an interesting strategy for movie studios trying to argue piracy is killing jobs and therefore need increased legislation on the one hand, while on the other it praises itself for another in a series of years with record breaking ticket sales.
The only way to reconcile the two is to say that indie filmmakers are the ones really hurting and that it’s important we save them.
But, it should be noted that in some cases indie filmmakers enjoy a net positive when it comes to pirates making their films available online.
Jamin and Kiowa of Double Edge Films saw their movie Ink recently uploaded to several BitTorrent tracker sites and were subsequently amazed with the outpouring of public exposure.
P2P allows filmmakers to show their work to a global audience with no strings attached or costs to speak of. It may be more difficult to earn a profit than it was before, but its incumbent upon them to figure out how to do so rather than trying to bend the Internet for everyone else – movie fans and non-movie fans – to meet its financial needs.
Stay tuned.
Jim Gianopulos used one of my copyrighted photos on Flickr without my permission.
Wait Jim, file sharing is a big concern for the film industry, or for your fatass alligatorhide wallet? Go yourself pal.
They should just deal with this at the source and cut your electricity off. s
The question no one asks is why are there Pirate downloads in the first place? Could it be a reaction of the people reflecting the mindset a of corporate culture that only values the bottom line. A mindset that disregards art,quality and real creativity just to appeal to the lowest common denominator? So if you foster a culture that is disposable for at least two generations, can you really blame the kids for not respecting what something is worth? If you try to gouge people of their own culture can you blame your audience to try to gouge YOU! I have not heard even a single peep from any media or studio head about the personal responsibility that what they created is a mirror of their own distortion. I believe that most people want to play fair and if given the opportunity will value art. But it has to be a co-creation between the gate keepers and the audience. And the artist in the middle has to be revered as the myth makers and story tellers they are, and not as a pawn to pocket more filthy lucre!
thanks mark, ive been kicking that idea around for a while- you hit the nail on the head.
Independent film making is hit harder by corporate blockbuster movie making.
I have always wnted to disconnect France, so what’s news?
Eseentially, what the big wig is saying is that in order to ensure their revenue stream, they’re going to use file sharing as an excuse not to pick up and promote indie films, thereby decreasing risk. The thing is, file sharing can promote an indie film more effectively than the big studios can anyway, case in point Ink. So we don’t need the studios to get the indie films, the indie filmmakers don’t need the studios to promote them, so let’s just let the studios throw their tantrum and get the money where it belongs, in the hands of the filmmakers themselves.
I’ve already bought a personal copy of Ink and I’m looking at ordering several more for Christmas presents. i’ve enjoyed their films since the short film Spin, but I’m really happy to see how Ink is taking off for them.
This has nothing to do with “levelling the playing field” and everything to do with “we want more delicious money nom nom nom!”.
As already stated, P2P networks do not harm independent film makers, it actually stretches their influence by reaching thousands, if not millions, more people.
This is simply about money, their bullshit facade of “piracy is hurting the little independent movie guys” is pathetic. The movie industry is worth billions, and look at how many terrible films we’re subjected to. I’d much rather they spent less money on special effects and spent more time writing a plot and script that isn’t stale and predictable (2012 anyone?).
The reality is that when the original up loaders hosts the file, he is giving the perception, as well as permission to continue to share the file. All the people who share after the original up loader should not be held accountable, since they should not have to be familiar with all the intellectual property of others. By expecting people to know the copyright of all files is just unacceptable, and to disconnect someone for not knowing such information is even more stupid. The only legal option should be for them to be able to go after the initial up loader, or the websites hosting the files, not all the users in between. It is up to the copyright holder to protect their intellectual property, not society.
The very idea behind internet is freedom and access for everyone without any cost (ie money) or rules (I view whatever content I want) and knowledge for everyone!
Maybe they should ask Tim Berners Lee what he thinks of their actions…
I’m not supporting piracy (altho I have to admit i did pirate some stuff), but for what I really like I’d be glad to pay.
It’s really exciting when you look at projects like wikipedia, how much it can grow and still be COMPLETELY FREE. And then someone serve you a*hole like this guy over here.
The fact they can’t keep pace with the internet and new technologies is just their fraking business, they should leave us alone.
Fox=Hypocrisy. Foxnews is against doing anything socialist like Europe, but now Fox Films is on board with being like the French?
It’s always amusing to see large corporate representatives suddenly say that they care deeply about supposedly little guys when it suits their financial gains.
The problem with Hollywood, and the copyright lobby is that they are surrounded by like minded people with a distorted view of property, and compensation. No amount of social outcry will get through to them because they are supporting each others world view.
Do it and the sharers will share sidestepping the ISP entirely via wireless networks.
It will be interesting to see how many people sign up to a second ISP to hide their transfers by encrypting and dividing all data transfer between the two connections.
The internet is a vital platform of democracy, free speech, employment, and a million other things. It’s more important than preventing piracy, plain and simple. This is doubly true when the kind of legislation he’s talking about has more often than not involved cutting off access to the entire household when any given member is three times accused–not convicted or in any meaningful fashion proven, merely accused–of piracy.
hey Jim, nice lazy eye.
I think this Jim guy should be disconnected from life. And by that I mean killed.
I agree. One in the head and one in the ass.
Isn’t that the same thing?
The movie industry only distributes and cares about films that can net them a few million in profit… Ink not being one of these was never picked up for distribution..
If they truly wanted to create a level playing field they would already have a system in-place..
Wow.. The movie industry needs a harder slap in the face… Did they not see what happened when Ink hit Bit Torrent? It overtook almost every Hollywood film.. Jim Gianopulos you are a joke..
*worship’s* = ‘worships’
get an edit function, ZP!
…and how am I supposed to see these independent films in the UK?
I’d have to travel an hour to the nearest ‘cultured’ city to find any cinema showing them at 7 pounds (UK) a ticket.
I’m sure that most intelligent independent film makers see p2p as the greatest tool for gaining exposure for their work. Look at ‘freakyflicks’ – I would certainly never have heard of 95% of the international cinema on there without p2p tech. This guy’s another retard who worship’s the almighty dollar and is trying to undermine democracy.
That’s absurd.
Matt
wadja.com
P2P harms indie films’ chances of “building an international audience.” This in turn deprives them of “entire markets where stolen versions of their work have proliferated online.”
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So, let me get this straight.. Tons of people watching a film, people who normally wouldn’t, hurts the chances of tons of people watching it.
Wow, this guy is a giant ball of logic, he is.