Post by mysterydriver on Mar 31, 2011 17:54:06 GMT -5
Okay, maybe a goofy subject line but here's the story:
BitTorrent Lawsuits Turn Low-Budget Movies Into Big Bucks
The whole story is large, but here's a few bullet points:
~The film Nude Nuns with Big Guns is targeting 5,865 downloaders, making it theoretically worth as much as $879,750,000 — more money than the U.S. box-office gross for Avatar.
~This strategy was pioneered last year by the U.S. Copyright Group, a coalition of indy film producers formed explicitly to make money by suing downloaders. It’s now being mimicked by individual production companies.
~“This is a mass copyright litigation machine,” says Lory Lybeck, a Seattle attorney representing dozens of the defendants. “Most people don’t want to have a public lawsuit against them for Teen Anal Nightmare 2, so they settle.”
~The Hurt Locker lawsuit letter threatens a $150,000 fine, (the maximum allowed under the Copyright Act) and demands a $2,900 settlement if paid by a certain date, $3,900 afterward.
I just thought this was an interesting story and it causes me to have questions. Some more serious than others...
1. If a movie is knowing of an illegal link, wouldn't it be their responsibility to have it removed instead of tracking it for the sole purpose of suing people. At that point, doesn't it become entrapment?
2. Does this cheat actors who have agreements for extra payment from DVD sales. I highly doubt contracts covered "and money we make in lawsuits over the film" meaning that this money would be free and clear for the companies involved while the actors are left out (and since these are usually low-budget films, that isn't very good).
3. How did it take so long for someone to figure this out?
4. Who wouldn't want a movie titled Nude Nuns with Big Guns to be a higher grossing film than Avatar?
I probably don't have to say anything, but will do so to be safe. I ask that no one discuss "good" places to download things illegally or other things against the rules. Just a conversation on the story at hand.
...
One last note to this post: Bill Oberst Jr. is in Nude Nuns with Big Guns and is a decent, upcoming horror actor...that's all I got.
BitTorrent Lawsuits Turn Low-Budget Movies Into Big Bucks
The whole story is large, but here's a few bullet points:
~The film Nude Nuns with Big Guns is targeting 5,865 downloaders, making it theoretically worth as much as $879,750,000 — more money than the U.S. box-office gross for Avatar.
~This strategy was pioneered last year by the U.S. Copyright Group, a coalition of indy film producers formed explicitly to make money by suing downloaders. It’s now being mimicked by individual production companies.
~“This is a mass copyright litigation machine,” says Lory Lybeck, a Seattle attorney representing dozens of the defendants. “Most people don’t want to have a public lawsuit against them for Teen Anal Nightmare 2, so they settle.”
~The Hurt Locker lawsuit letter threatens a $150,000 fine, (the maximum allowed under the Copyright Act) and demands a $2,900 settlement if paid by a certain date, $3,900 afterward.
I just thought this was an interesting story and it causes me to have questions. Some more serious than others...
1. If a movie is knowing of an illegal link, wouldn't it be their responsibility to have it removed instead of tracking it for the sole purpose of suing people. At that point, doesn't it become entrapment?
2. Does this cheat actors who have agreements for extra payment from DVD sales. I highly doubt contracts covered "and money we make in lawsuits over the film" meaning that this money would be free and clear for the companies involved while the actors are left out (and since these are usually low-budget films, that isn't very good).
3. How did it take so long for someone to figure this out?
4. Who wouldn't want a movie titled Nude Nuns with Big Guns to be a higher grossing film than Avatar?
I probably don't have to say anything, but will do so to be safe. I ask that no one discuss "good" places to download things illegally or other things against the rules. Just a conversation on the story at hand.
...
One last note to this post: Bill Oberst Jr. is in Nude Nuns with Big Guns and is a decent, upcoming horror actor...that's all I got.
