Hollywood Says Piracy Has Ripple Effect

ColinPL writes to mention a Washington Post article about a new study backed by Hollywood on intellectual piracy. The study, which they're presenting to lawmakers today, claims that piracy has a ripple effect on the economy. According to the study, lost revenues may have as much as three times the impact previously imagined. From the article: "Lawmakers and federal agencies such as the Justice and State departments have helped Hollywood battle physical piracy -- specifically, counterfeit DVDs. But now the stakes are especially high for entertainment companies as they sell more of their products online in the form of digital songs, movies and other intellectual property. Internet piracy may be tougher for lawmakers to conceptualize, entertainment companies fear."

More on the Study

[eldavojohn]

The study, which they're presenting to lawmakers today, claims that piracy has a ripple effect on the economy.

The study also claims that piracy is on the rise to become America's number one killer by the end of the year. It claims that piracy is capable of running rampant down the street and reeking havoc everywhere.

They interviewed a crew hand from Waterworld and, aside from forcing him out of a job, the unnamed victim reported that piracy forcefully entered his home and raped him in front of his youngest son. Piracy has taken not only his source of income but also the joy that he and his son once shared.

The report concludes with piracy being at large and dangerous. Piracy is capable of flipping bits in a pattern that resembles music and is also known to cause cancer.

The study, which they're presenting to lawmakers today...

So when are lawmakers presented with the Piracy Is Actually Pretty Bitching for Consumers report? What about the Economics Research is Bullshit & Baseless report? Oh, that's right, the other side of the issue never gets to hear it's voice heard and no alternatives will ever be explored. Silly me.

Re:Wrong word...

[LordEd]

They can find it here [torrentspy.com]

Blockbuster clerks?

[Fyre2012]

Oh no, piracy is killing minimum wage video store clerk jobs! How will the economy function!

Ripple?

[misleb]

Ripple effect is fine. I just don't want to see a butterfly effect. One person pirates, and the next thing you know we have a chimpanzee for president and our rights are being eroded every day... Oh damn.

-matthew

Re:The entire movie industry

[patrixmyth]

Shh!! Don't give them any ideas, or we'll have CRM (Candy Rights Management), and I won't be able to share my skittles. Oh wait, that would actually be a good idea. Get your own damn skittles, hippie, these are mine! Proceed.

Keyword here...

[DittoBox]

lost revenues may have as much as three times the impact previously imagined.

Need they say more?

Piracy

[Led Nudd]

It's important to remember, however, that even though piracy prevents money from reaching the movie industry, those dollars probably stay in the economy, one intellectual property expert said. Ridiculous! Doesn't everybody do what I do? That is, sink every penny I save through downloading pirated films into doubloons I keep buried in a chest in my back yard. Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight!

Doesn't make sense

[Joe the Lesser]

What about the study about how only three movies this summer were bearable to watch?

(Pirates, Sunshine, Superman)

Re:The entire movie industry

[tddoog]

Hollywood props up the monstrous candy industry. Just think of that $10 box of raisinets you buy at the theatre. This is exactly the kind of ripple effect they are talking about. No movie patrons in the theatre => no candy sales => no $2000 root canals. Won't someone think of the dentists?

Re:Wrong word... Has to be said...

[patrixmyth]

Vizzini: Inconceivable.

Inigo Montoya:, You keep using that word. I do not think it means, what you think it means. ...

Voodoo

[ObsessiveMathsFreak]

RIAA: Those danm Pirates are attacking our economy with their Voodoo Economics!!

Pirate: Arrr!! But 'tis naught to the voodoo that you do so well!! Ye scurvy dogs!

Re:Piracy

[johnw]

No, it's "Pieces of seven! Pieces of seven!"

That's a parroty error.

Ummmm, I don't think so.

[khasim]

"It's important to remember, however, that even though piracy prevents money from reaching the movie industry, those dollars probably stay in the economy, one intellectual property expert said."

I'm pretty sure that pirates bury their loot on tropical islands.

Merely three.,,

[TimothyTimothyTimoth]

I imagine the effects on our descendants will be infinite...

Re:Extra cash

[absinthminded64]

Tom Cruise gets fired. . Stops buying his Prozac and Ritallin at the little pharmacy over by Paramount. . Pharmacy goes belly up. . The person that used to put the labels on the bottles at the supplier gets the pink slip. . Doesn't take that vaction to see Grandma.. Doesn't win the lottery. . Doesn't donate to the school that produces 2075's US President..

So, Tell me again what all this has to do with Piracy?

Re:Ripple?

[ZeroExistenZ]

I don't want to see "The Butterfly Effect" either.

I even don't want to pirate it...

The entire schizm industry

[Anonymous Coward]

"Piracy means the economy as a whole gains _both_ the wealth inherent in an extra copy of a certain material for the particular consumer _plus_ the wealth inherent in whatever else the money is spent on."

Mr "IP is worth something", meet "Media sux" and "I never would have bought it anyway [since it's not worth buying]". Discuss amoungst yourselves.

Re:More on the Study

[Jherek Carnelian]

It claims that piracy is capable of running rampant down the street and reeking havoc everywhere.

Fart Havoc! - And let slip the pirate-dogs of war?

Indeed

[Atroxodisse]

And then ninjas come and dig it up and use it to buy frisbees, swords, throwing stars and red bull.

Re:Blockbuster clerks?

[Fred_A]

But on the other hand, sale of pirated DVDs helps the plastic industry flourish !