The Lone Ranger

[Wezil]

The real litmus test, to me, is whether it actually causes harm. The studios are clearly making smaller and smaller profits as a result of piracy.

It could also be a problem with the product.

[Elok]

Did you know that the budget for Jack and Jill was $79 million?
How can they justify that amount of money for a turd like this?
Box office gross was $149,673,788.

THEY ARE NOT LOSING MONEY!

That was the cost for making it, I imagine. How about the promotional budget? That's usually at least as big as production costs, from what I hear. Which would make J&J a net loss. But IIRC you're talking about a movie involving Adam Sandler in drag. I'm not sure how he keeps getting movies made, but I assume it involves foreign drug money, blackmail, or tax evasion. Anyway, he's a weird aberration.

The actual mechanics of their crisis are too complicated for me to bother explaining in detail--and I'm not really an expert--but the brief version is that sales of home videos were traditionally a kind of stabilizing force. Studios could get back their money there even if the box office didn't do so hot. Now that's going to hell, and it's having a whole lot of weird and (if you're in the industry) scary effects. Now, all those problems were/are aggravated by clumsy, belated, and inappropriate responses from the studios; some of them still don't seem to realize that they can't go back to the way things were. But damage is being done.

[Elok]

Of course there are the secondary results. For example, some studios ARE responding to the high rates of piracy by creating content that doesn't translate to piracy - such as super high special effects movies because people will want to see that on a big screen rather than on a computer, or reality television because a lot of the thrill is finding out the result ASAP and then discussing it on social networking. When people complain about the content on offer, they fail to realize that to a great extent it is due to studio attempts to combat piracy by offering consumers something that is simply a visual treat (for movies) or contests where instant social media is important (for TV).

I mentioned this (more briefly) in a previous DFG thread. Also, you leave out that reality TV is generally cheaper than all get-out to produce. But good points nonetheless.

[Wezil]

Rather than rent the latest Hollywood remake/sequel/comic book flic people are turning on HBO, Showtime, AMC, etc.

Quality drama has migrated to cable.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Rather than rent the latest Hollywood remake/sequel/comic book flic people are turning on HBO, Showtime, AMC, etc.

Quality drama has migrated to cable.

Or pirating that as well

[Wezil]

Don't.

Just don't.

[-Jrabbit]

How old is this thread? A decade? Also...

Going meta with a relativistic ranking of the seriousness of an offense is a pathetic attempt at moral justification -- for anything.

Just sayin'.

[Docfeelgood]

That was the cost for making it, I imagine. How about the promotional budget? That's usually at least as big as production costs, from what I hear. Which would make J&J a net loss. But IIRC you're talking about a movie involving Adam Sandler in drag. I'm not sure how he keeps getting movies made, but I assume it involves foreign drug money, blackmail, or tax evasion. Anyway, he's a weird aberration.

The actual mechanics of their crisis are too complicated for me to bother explaining in detail--and I'm not really an expert--but the brief version is that sales of home videos were traditionally a kind of stabilizing force. Studios could get back their money there even if the box office didn't do so hot. Now that's going to hell, and it's having a whole lot of weird and (if you're in the industry) scary effects. Now, all those problems were/are aggravated by clumsy, belated, and inappropriate responses from the studios; some of them still don't seem to realize that they can't go back to the way things were. But damage is being done.

[Docfeelgood]

How old is this thread? A decade? Also...

Going meta with a relativistic ranking of the seriousness of an offense is a pathetic attempt at moral justification -- for anything.

Just sayin'.

Sorry, you lost me bro.

[Tuberski]

Saying something else is worse doesn't make piracy any less of an offense.

ACK!

[Sava]

it's not an offense, period

[Tuberski]

Says the guy who never creates anything.

ACK!

[Elok]

Saying something else is worse doesn't make piracy any less of an offense.

ACK!

For example, "Yes, I killed those twelve hookers, but at least I didn't violate the bodies like that other guy did" will get you nowhere in most jurisdictions. Possibly not all. Imran?

[Sava]

i've created lots

my performance art on this forum

IRL, numerous mods for games, lots of published letters,

I just don't demand payment for such things

because only psychos do that

[Imran Siddiqui]

For example, "Yes, I killed those twelve hookers, but at least I didn't violate the bodies like that other guy did" will get you nowhere in most jurisdictions. Possibly not all. Imran?

It'll likely get you worse off, as you just admitted to the crime .