9 Busted Pirates = Box Office Millions?
From Wired’s Epicenter blog comes word that the MPAA is positively beside itself with glee. Through efforts like hiring additional staff the Hollywood gestapo was able to arrest a stunning nine would be pirates in the United States. From the post:
John Fithian, CEO of National Association of Theatre Owners, stated: “Future thieves beware: we will find you; we will stop you; and we will have you arrested.”
Sony contracted additional security personnel for more than 160 pre-release screenings and eight premieres. The studio consider it money well spent, crediting the film’s record box office in part to the heightened vigilance.
After all, if those handful of individuals were allowed to spread their evil, deceitful camcorder copies to the Internets more people would have realized what an awful movie S3 was and stayed home.
And what of the argument that piracy is taking money out of the pockets of Hollywood’s bit players? If hiring of additional security was such a smashing success it would seem that piracy is creating new jobs. Contradiction? Perhaps.
Related: Illegal Music Is Not Legal
