I bought a bootleg copy of "Hotel Rwanda". Am I a bad person.

[maveric]

A woman at work has "friends in LA" from Hong Kong, and ahe came in with several DVD's, multiples even, of films currently showing at theaters near you. She claims that they were taken "from the original". Withy the aid of a portable DVD player she played parts of it for me and the picture and sound quality were ok.

How bad of a person am I for doing this?

[Richardo]

1. I don't know if you're a bad *person*

But it's a bad thing to do.

[Richardo]

6. ...and don't come crying to me when jobs got to those IP pirates

...in China.

[bigwillq]

2. Not at all-I have a bootleg copy of that movie too!

As well as bootlegs of Ray, Million Dollar Baby, Closer.

I just watched Hide and Seek via bootleg last night!

[maveric]

5. This woman has all of those and many more.

For only $10.00 a copy too.

[bigwillq]

10. I only paid $5! a copy

:)

[maveric]

14. Aw! I got ripped!

Wait'll I get back to her.....

[bigwillq]

19. Now don't be too harsh on her!

:)

[Democrat Dragon]

42. Only buy a bootleg when it's from Universal or Warner Bros.

Universal is owned by GE who supports *. Warner Bros. is owned by Time Warner, who also supports *.

[Beaverhausen]

47. Ok I have to defend the Warner Bros film studio

The top execs at Warners are bigtime dem supporters.

[driver8]

52. That is the dumbest thing I have ever read at DU...

I work for Warner Bros. as do a lot of people that contribute a lot of money to the Democratic Party. Believe me, despite the corporate political leanings of Time Warner, there are thousands of liberals who work here.

So now you can pick and choose who you steal from and it is ok. You are stealing from me and all of my co-workers, asshole.

[Democrat Dragon]

63. Ok, scap that bit about Time Warner. But you know my point.

no money for blood.

[driver8]

39. I wouldn't be bragging about this if I were you...

I work for a major movie studio in the feature mastering department. We do a lot of work for our Home DVD department. Piracy is a huge problem right now and millions, if not billions, of dollars are being lost.

I know it's hard to cry for the big corporations -- but by buying these bootlegs you are supporting a criminal activity.

Your friend had better watch her step. If the wrong people catch wind of her "little business", she could be in some deep shit.

[bigwillq]

40. A cop friend told me that us "customers" aren't the one's they "want"

They want the people who are getting the films in mass quantity and the distributors who are selling them.

The cop friend told me if I got caught with the films, the cops probably wouldn't do too much, maybe just confiscate them.

[driver8]

41. I'm talking about your friend...

She better watch who she lets in on her "little secret."

[bigwillq]

43. You mean maveric's friend--

I know people are losing money but just like the music that is downloaded-why shouldn't we have the option of getting music/movies at a lower price?

We are getting screwed in this country. Who can afford to go to the movies anymore, especially if you bring a date or your children?

[Beaverhausen]

45. If you are downloading music from a legit site then the artist...

...is getting the money.

what this is is stealing.

[stopbush]

64. You are not entitled to even see a movie. It's entertainment,

fer chriss sake!

I can't afford a Porsche. Does it make it OK for me to steal one?

[maveric]

57. She is making this NO secret.

Has a mini-van loaded with DVD's.
Who's gonna tell?

[driver8]

59. You never know who might tell...

In Los Angeles there was recently a story of a woman who was a big wig in law enforcement. She was doing the same thing that your friend is doing. She never thought she would get caught, either.

Guess what? She got caught...and she is now in deep shit. I don't like to wish bad luck upon people, but I hope that your friend gets caught.

[maveric]

60. This is San Diego.

People down here eat that shit up.

[driver8]

62. Why did you even post your original question??

You have already made up your mind that you are not a "bad person" for doing this. You obviously don't give a shit what any of us have to say...

I'm sure you are a nice person...but what you are doing is illegal...I don't care where it is happening...it is stealing and it is illegal.

[maveric]

66. Just curious what the general consensus would be.

Thats all.

[datasuspect]

3. not bad

stick it to the Man every time/way you can.

[Richardo]

7. Yeah. Way to support China's IP piracy!

Woo Hoo!!

[datasuspect]

11. why we always gotta take it out on the chinese

everyone knows the best rips are coming out of france, germany, and russia . . .

[Richardo]

12. Well his are out of Hong Kong.

Which is China.

[donheld]

4. Bad boy, bad boy, what you gonna do when they come for you

:spank: i'd have taken them.

[jonnyblitz]

8. i downloaded hotel rwanda from a torrent site a few weeks ago

that is how i watched it.

[stopbush]

9. You broke the law, laws designed to allow artists to make

money from their work. Would you mind if they came into your pocket and took a few hundred dollars out so they could "put it to the man" who pays your salary? Didn't think so.

By what sense of entitlement are you allowed to do what you did? The "everybody else does it" defense? How about the "sticking it to the man" defense? I'm waiting.

[datasuspect]

13. let me get out my custom hanky

for the big tears i am crying for the entertainment industry.

i dunno where you consume entertainment products, but i see less and less art and more and more heavily programmed, marketing-driven product placement vehicles than anything else.

[Richardo]

15. Doesn't make it right to steal.

And if it's so bad, why do you even WANT it?

[datasuspect]

23. uhh . . .

i'm sorry if i didn't take 5,000 words to spell out my position.

do you work for the RIAA or something?

[Richardo]

27. I'm not with the RIAA. Stealing is stealing.

If you buy bootlegs, you're a thief. Five thousand (or five million words) will make not the slightest difference in that simple irrefutable fact.

[stopbush]

16. So let me get this straight:

you "see less and less art and more and more heavily programmed, marketing-driven product placement vehicles than anything else," so that gives you the right to rip off art (ie: Hotel Rwanda) when it occasionally raises its head above the commercial dreck. Interesting POV.

There's a name for people who pick and choose which laws they deign to follow: "Republicans."

[datasuspect]

21. boy that didn't take long

do you often label people who disagree with you "republicans?"

boo hoo.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[datasuspect]

37. anyway

you and your morals can have a nice day.

if the best you can do is label somebody else a republican (when you don't even know them) you're really not worth talking to.

smooches

[stopbush]

65. It's not a matter of "disagreeing." You're advocating

breaking laws that are firmly on the books. This isn't a matter of opinion, it's a matter of law. Trying to reframe an indisputably established legal "issue" into a disagreement of equally valid opinions is, well, I'll say it again, Republican.

Here's an idea: let's head into a courtroom and argue our "positions." Who's gonna win? Me, with decades of contract, intellectual and material copyright law on my side, or you, with your self-serving opinion? You get one guess.

Here's another idea - if you feel you're right, work to change the law. I could at least respect that. What I can't respect is your utter disregard for the law and your smugly stealing from other people's livelihoods.

BTW - let me know in advance if you're planning on running a red light or burning down my home because it's blocking your view. There's inconvenient laws against that kind of behaviour as well.

[stopbush]

18. And if you could answer my question: how would you feel

about artists - or anyone else - stealing part of your compensation? Maybe they wouldn't cry big tears for you, either. Would that make it "OK" with you?

[datasuspect]

22. i have a very rich uncle

who steals a good percentage of my compensation.

[Richardo]

31. Taxes are stealing? Another republican indicator.

You get NOTHING in return? Unless you're living like the Unabomber, you're getting plenty of value from (most of) your tax dollars.

[datasuspect]

36. spell out that value for me?

guns, bombs, and a war machine?

much responsibility (like roads/education) have devolved to the states.

[stopbush]

68. And that Uncle steals from the artists at the same rate

that he steals from you. Does THAT entitle you to also "steal" from those artists?

And, BTW - you may think that I "don't know you," but I know your type: self-serving, self-centered and blissfully knowlegable that they're doing something wrong and not giving a damn about who gets hurt as long as it isn't ME!

Your sense of entitlement to the fruit of other people's labor is disgusting.

[maveric]

24. Hundreds of film executives may not be able renew their country club

memberships.
Damn! I feel so bad now!

[datasuspect]

26. not to mention

losing .33 to 1.00 per unit on something that costs a dime to manufacture.

[driver8]

50. Datasuspect -- out of curiousity, what type of work do you do?

Apparently it is one that you make so much money at that you aren't worried about people stealing from you.

Good for you -- you are very fortunate.

[Beaverhausen]

28. I work at a film studio

I'm not an executive. I'm just a poor working slob trying to earn a living. You just took revenue, however small a percentage it was, away from everyone employed here.

You know what you did...you just came here to try to assuage your guilt.

sorry...you aren't getting off that easy.

[datasuspect]

30. so how do you feel

when you get your paycheck and a nice chunk gets taken out automatically?

doesn't that bother you?

did you choose to have a war in iraq? do you feel comfortable with knowing that the fruits of your labor are being divvied up by corporations and swallowed up by the us military?

[Richardo]

32. You consent to that deduction from the mere fact of living here

Get over it, or contact Grover Norquist. He's your kinda guy.

[Beaverhausen]

35. No- paying taxes doesn't bother me at all

If I could choose where the money was spent I would be happier but I can't. To live in this great country means having to give some back. Doesn't bother me in the least.

[driver8]

48. It is not the same thing -- nice try, though.

So, because the government is taking money from my paycheck every week to fight an unjust war...another person has the right to purchase an illegal product which also affects me in some way?

Nice logic...stealing is stealing and piracy is stealing.

[driver8]

44. It is not the movie execs I am worried about...

It is the "below line" workers who are working their ass off to make a living in the movie industry...of which I happen to be one.

Piracy is theft, plain and simple. But, I guess because the movie studios have a lot of money, it is ok, right?

I cannot tell you how pissed off I am right now...this casual attitude that "stealing is ok because we aren't hurting anyone that matters".

Enjoy your movie.

[WMliberal]

49. Totally. I don't feel sorry for people who own jets and beemers.

[Beaverhausen]

51. I don't own a beemer or a jet

a very small percentage of those trying to create and produce films are that wealthy. The rest are just working.

do you steal food because the head of Safeway is a millionaire?

[maveric]

58. Not yet. But when priced out of the market I may.

[driver8]

55. AAAAAARRRRGGGGHHH! Are you really this ignorant?

Let us use another industry since you all seem to think that eveyone that works in entertainment drives a beemer and owns a jet.

Let us say that you were able to buy "pirated steel". I guess that is ok because we all know that every steel worker has a private jet and a beemer,that you aren't hurting anyone?

You guys are taking jobs and money from the business that I am in -- a business that supports me and many of my friends. We are definitely not driving beemers and flying in private jets. If that is your view of the world, you have got a lot to learn.

[WMliberal]

61. nah, I just wanted to make your eyes pop out.

You seemed on the verge in the earlier post. I thought I'd give a gentle nudge }(

[Hell Hath No Fury]

17. Yes...

buying a bootleg of a film like that is especially nasty because it is potential revenue that many film companies look at when determining what films to green light/or give distribution to. If a small, politically oriented film does well financially it gives the studios incentive to produce/distribute more such films.

Shame on you, bad person. x(

[CBGLuthier]

20. Legit DVDs are cheap enough.

If they still used the old video tape model of almost a hundred dollars for a movie I could see it but since most movies can be gotten for under 20 then it is wrong.

[DS1]

25. Whether or not you're a bad person is one thing

Talking about buying bootleg DVDs on a public messageboard is another :eyes:

[DU GrovelBot]

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[4_Legs_Good]

38. I buy bootlegs of stuff I can't wait for on video...

but that I've seen in the theaters.

And I always have a hard time finding them. But anyway, stuff I saw a couple times in the theater, but is gone now and I don't want to wait until the video. I always, of course, buy the DVD when it's officially released as well...

david

[driver8]

46. No excuse!!

By supporting piracy you are encouring these people -- you are putting money in their pockets and taking it away from the people who produced the movie; who worked hard to make the movie you enjoyed.

You might not think that your "little contribution" to piracy matters...but it all adds up into a shit load of money.

Think about that before you purchase a pirated DVD.

[DrWeird]

53. I'm all for piracy.

Especially for big budget box office hits that are extremely popular, but really aren't that good. Those movies don't deserve to make money, they're not getting any of mine.

In the case of something like Hotel Rwanda, I'd only get a bootleg if I lived somewhere that the movie wasn't being released. Then I'd buy it when it came out on video to support them.

[Schema Thing]

54. Teh least you could do is wear an eyepatch, matey. Aaaaarrrggh

[Rabrrrrrr]

56. Maybe not a bad person. But your behavior was VERY bad indeed.

You stole, plain and simple.

I know some like to think it's okay to steal from the big guys, but stealing is stealing and theft is theft. You are stealing from artists, you are stealing from workers, you are stealing from distributors, you are stealing from the messenger guys, you are stealing from the mail room guys, you are stealing from everyone - from the CEO all the way down - every time you pirate a work of art.

That's bad.

That's always bad.

And you contribute to a disincentive for the studios to release less-popular, but usually way-better, stuff.

[Liberal In Texas]

67. Yes.

You are contributing to piracy.

How about a little analogy?

Let's say you just spent several years of your life and a lot of your money, creating a really cool business that produces the best ever hanging art.

Someone comes into your gallery (that you built with your money) and secretly takes photos of all of your ideas.

The next day, they are selling knock-offs for 10% of what you charge. Oh, the quality isn't the same, but WTF, I have a wall hanging that's a "Maveric" - sort of.

Wouldn't you be pissed?

Same with the movies.

You're helping to rip people off.

Don't do it.