GLOBAL FILM INDUSTRY LOSES $1.2 B A YEAR TO PIRATES
MANILA, MAY 1, 2008 (STAR) By Sandy Araneta - The Motion Picture Association (MPA), a big organization of American moviemakers, said the movie industry around the world is losing some $1.2 billion a year due to piracy in the Asia-Pacific Region, including syndicates operating in the Philippines.“Of the $6.1 billion in lost revenue to the studios, approximately $1.2 billion came from piracy across the Asia-Pacific Region, while piracy in the US accounted for $1.3 billion,” the MPA said.
MPA officials said a lot of the pirates operate in the Philippines, illegally recording movies using camcorders inside Philippine theaters, usually during the first day of showing in the country.
“Illegal camcording can cause serious economic damage to the film industry as copies of the movies can be available on the Internet and pirated DVDs within hours of movies opening in theaters,” MPA vice president Steve Zidek said.
He pointed out that since July 2007, 15 camcorded versions of Hollywood films were forensically linked to recordings made in Metro Manila cinemas.
Zidek, Optical Media Board chairman Edu Manzano and local MPA representative Alex Morisson said the illegal recording of movies in Philippine theaters could be prevented by deploying staff equipped with night vision goggles to patrol screening halls to detect anyone using recording devices.
They also said the public should be informed that this act is a criminal offense.
Manzano said the initiative of the MPA is very timely since the local film industry is facing a very serious threat from people he called “flicker pirates.”
“I call on all Filipinos to play their part to prevent these criminals from doing further damage to our industry. Help us protect the very movies you love,” he said.
In 2007, the MPA in the Asia-Pacific Region investigated more than 36,200 cases of piracy and assisted law enforcement officials in conducting nearly 13,000 raids.
These activities resulted in the seizure of more than 31 million illegal optical discs, 40 factory optical disc production lines and 6,400 optical disc burners, as well as the initiation of more than 10,000 legal actions.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2008
by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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