Movies
Film bosses urged to allow legal download
Published Monday, Dec 13 2004, 08:04 GMT | By Daniel Saney
A report commissioned by the UK Film Council is advising the provision of legal movie download facilities so as to curb the effect of internet movie piracy.
The move, following in the footsteps of the movie industry, would also hopefully help prevent the widespread sale of pirate DVDs at car boot sales. The black marhet in DVDs is thought to amount to up to £500m, with the problem in the UK being especially rife. Most of the offending pirate copies emanate from China, Pakistan and Malaysia.
Also in the report is the suggestion of offering financial incentives for members of the public to report vendors of pirate DVDs.
John Woodward, chief executive officer of the UK Film Council, said that film piracy was "the single largest threat facing the UK film industry today."
He added: "We have to act now to tackle this escalating problem. This report represents an important step forward in the fight against film piracy. Film pirates are not harmless Del Boy characters, they are professional criminals with links to organised crime and drugs."
The report also calls for camcording in cinemas to be made a criminal offence, as opposed to its current status as a civil one.
The move, following in the footsteps of the movie industry, would also hopefully help prevent the widespread sale of pirate DVDs at car boot sales. The black marhet in DVDs is thought to amount to up to £500m, with the problem in the UK being especially rife. Most of the offending pirate copies emanate from China, Pakistan and Malaysia.
Also in the report is the suggestion of offering financial incentives for members of the public to report vendors of pirate DVDs.
John Woodward, chief executive officer of the UK Film Council, said that film piracy was "the single largest threat facing the UK film industry today."
He added: "We have to act now to tackle this escalating problem. This report represents an important step forward in the fight against film piracy. Film pirates are not harmless Del Boy characters, they are professional criminals with links to organised crime and drugs."
The report also calls for camcording in cinemas to be made a criminal offence, as opposed to its current status as a civil one.
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