DVD market explodes worldwide but so does piracy

October 15, 2003

Someone we have never heard of, a certain
GristyMcFisty acessed our
news
submit to enlighten
us to the shocking escalation of DVD piracy. Soon, we will no doubt be
hearing violins being played in THX surround sound. Background music
for the "audiovisual sector" spokesperson complaining that Burt Reynolds will be
forced to lay off his chauffeur. Then we will hear sobs of
disbelief as the industry is no longer able to pay Adam Sandler 25 million
for any of his next "films". All of this of course is due to the consumers
ability to utilise the Internet unlawfully and the misuse of DVD
recorders, making a mockery of the copyright laws. So you all
know what time it is, don't you? That's right, it's steam roller time in the
Phillipines baby!

DVD has become the fastest-selling
consumer electronics product in history and DVD player penetration
continues to develop rapidly around the world. By summer this year there
were 108 million homes around the globe (excluding China) with DVD
players, 46 million of them in the United States.

An estimated 600,000 films are downloaded
a day off the Internet in the United States, while in Europe 11 percent of
all DVDs in circulation in France have been illegally downloaded, 20
percent in Britain and a massive 85 percent in Russia, Chris Marcich of
the Motion Picture Association of American said at a MIPCOM conference.
The industry is starting to pull together to fight digital
piracy.

Today, there are efforts to implement
coordinated action on several fronts including adapting legal frameworks,
educating consumers, stamping out quasi-industrial piracy and developing
new technologies and techniques to protect copyright. But despite these
moves, few effective measures have been taken to date.

Yes, after a long day of running the 'roller a man
gets tired. But it's a good kind of tired, so with the good lord willin'
and a little diesel fuel we just may make a dent in this crisis. Whoo
boy! How about those pesky Russians? Guess it's time to take another
road trip!

Source: news.yahoo.com