Says that "Movie theatres would sell more tickets and popcorn (and that) corn growers would earn greater profits and buy more farm equipment.”In an odd statement made recently in a hearing with the FCC, NBC Universal tried to win over the hearts and minds of politicians by making the outrageous claim that P2P and file-sharing-related piracy hurts the wallets of poor corn farmers simply trying to make a living. Their idea is that if more people went to the theaters to watch movies then more people would therefore buy popcorn and put more money in the pockets of farmers who could then "...earn greater profits and buy more farm equipment." They noted: “Because of our nation’s interlocking economy, two-thirds of the lost earnings and lost jobs are in industries other than motion picture production. For example, in the absence of movie piracy, video retailers would sell and rent more titles. Movie theatres would sell more tickets and popcorn. Corn growers would earn greater profits and buy more farm equipment.”They try to make the claim that there's a sort of trickle down economics theory involved in that people like soda, candy, popcorn, and hot dog vendors and producers also lose money when people use P2P or file-sharing programs to acquire movies instead of paying to watch them in a movie theater. The only problem with the argument is that corn farmers in this country are currently experiencing record high profits from corn bushel prices as the demand for govt mandated ethanol levels in gasoline production slowly increases. Also worth mentioning is the huge annual farm subsidies that the Feds love to dole out and announce with great fanfare every 4 years in states like Ohio during the presidential primary season. Corn farmers are doing just fine without having to worry about popcorn sales. But, I guess as always, the truth is always a matter of opinion for Hollywood. You do have to admire their style though, I mean who doesn't like farmers, and playing the poor farmer card could surely play well with politicians in Washington. I just hope they look no further than their gas tank to realize that corn farmers are doing quite well these days.
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It's not bad enough that the popcorn is old dry and greasy you had to then try to use this as a reason to stop p2p.
I already don't watch your tv shows so now I'll not be buying any more popcorn.
I thank you and my waist line thanks you too.
I know, I think we oughta get a discount for the long term healthcare effects of all that butter they lather on that popcorn.
but it's based on the same idiotic comparision .
you could just as easily say that rented dvd's are robbing poor corn farmers . Or to be more correct : "the free will of the people to choice what they want to eat " is robbing the corn farmers .
After all , we are so evil because we don't want too stuff ourselves with popcorn 24/7 , right ?
Take my advice please do not go to the theaters, do not let them rip you with the junk they call movies AND most importantly DO NOT BUY anything not made with American labour. Sure I'll be buying more expensive but at least the darned product will work.