by Triple Alpha

Created on: November 20, 2008   Last Updated: January 22, 2009

It's quite easy to view any film, or new release online with the advent of websites such as www.fastpasstv and www.watch-movies.net.

These sites will take you to links to other sites such as zshare. These sites are the real key to the on line piracy. A movie is ripped off, either by copying the dvd and taking off the encryption via a programme such as dvdripper, or actually videoed in the cinema. Yes it still happens. The movie is then reformatted via programmes such as AutoGK. These programmes change DVD VOB files to AVI files which then in turn can be changed to WMM files and then uploaded to sites such as zshare.

This is actually quite difficult to stop as once a video is on zshare, it can then be downloaded and reposted else where with comparative ease.

So for example whilst writing this, in the UK the James bond film quantum of solace is playing at the local cinema. It would cost me roughly 20 to take the family to go and see the film. I could do that, or I could go and download, or watch on line with no download and therefore no real cost. OK electricity and Internet usage, but we are splitting hairs aren't we.

So we could stand here and argue the rights and wrongs of it but that doesn't really get us anywhere does it. The fact is that it is inevitable. Lets look at the plus points, If I enjoyed watching a film on line I am likely to purchase the film on DVD or go and watch it at the cinema. If I didn't then I have saved myself some money eg I shall not be purchasing Quantum of solace. After all you do not hear about singers complaining that people can hear there music for free on the radio. Surely if I like the song I am more likely to buy it aren't I?

So to the question of how piracy threatens the movie industry, The movie industry is not threatened at all. If they really want to get ahead of the game they should stop releasing films on DVD and do some kind of encrypted service on the Internet. Although admittedly I could probably still get round it, but the movie industry has to start thinking outside the box as they make millions of dollars and overpay actors and although they do make some good films. There are an awful lot of bad films out there.

So to sum up, you can't stop it, live with it and maybe some of the overpaid actors will have to take a pay cut, or do a better job. Then everyone would be happy. After all how can anyone justify some of the ludicrous wage bills for some of these so called actors.

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