Film industry hails piracy win against 321 studios

TheUS movie industry is hailing its latest victory against 321 studios as an important step against DVD piracy.  The settlement resulted in 321 studios paying a substantial amount to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).  The MPAA says the money it won from 321 will go to raising awareness about piracy and copyright theft. MPAA president Jack Valenti issued a statement saying "This isn't the end of the story in our integrated worldwide fight against piracy and we will use the settlement money to educate consumers about the tremendous harm that illegal copying inflicts on one of America's greatest products - motion pictures"

321 Studios had to close down last week after a federal court ruled that its DVD x copy and Games X Copy program was illegal.  The company had argued that these programmes allowed people to make backups of their films and software, but the games and movie industry argued that it infringed the DMCA and won their case.  321 studios were up against companies such as Vivendi Universal Games, Warner Home Video and Copy Control associate, 321 just didn't have the resources to continue the fight against these enormous companies.

The US movie industry has hailed its settlement with a company making copying software as an important step in its fight against DVD piracy. Software firm 321 Studios agreed to pay a "substantial" settlement to the Motion Picture Association of America. The company was forced to close down last week after a federal court ruled its copying program illegal. The MPAA says the financial settlement will go towards raising awareness of illegal copying and copyright theft. 321 Studios had argued that it had developed the programs DVD X Copy and Games X Copy as a means for customers to back up their own DVDs and games. MPAA president and CEO Jack Valenti was pleased a settlement had been reached, after a drawn-out legal battle which started in 2002 with lawsuits filed on both sides. Mr Valenti said: "This isn't the end of the story in our integrated worldwide fight against piracy and we will use the settlement money to educate consumers about the tremendous harm that illegal copying inflicts on one of America's greatest products - motion pictures." The MPAA was one of a number of organisations seeking to shut down 321 Studios' operation, with Vivendi Universal Games and Warner Home Video UK also joining the fight. The Copy Control Association, an industry group which overseas copy-protection of DVDs, had also filed a claim that the software infringed its patents.

Full story over at the BBC.  Well looks like even backups arent allowed anymore, the movie industry makes so much money there is no need to do this, its not like movie sales are down.

Source: BBC