Comments on: Impotent film industry makes angry noises about piracy control http://www.teleread.org/2009/04/07/impotent-film-industry-makes-angry-noises-about-piracy-control/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:01:59 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: RC http://www.teleread.org/2009/04/07/impotent-film-industry-makes-angry-noises-about-piracy-control/comment-page-1/#comment-1034023 RC Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:01:50 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/04/07/impotent-film-industry-makes-angry-noises-about-piracy-control/#comment-1034023 Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) blurting “It’s time to bring the hammer down" sounds as though he's been studying his Clancy, doesn't he? All in a day's work for the pro-torture blowhard. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) blurting “It’s time to bring the hammer down” sounds as though he’s been studying his Clancy, doesn’t he?

All in a day’s work for the pro-torture blowhard.

]]> By: John Perkins http://www.teleread.org/2009/04/07/impotent-film-industry-makes-angry-noises-about-piracy-control/comment-page-1/#comment-1033508 John Perkins Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:19:11 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/04/07/impotent-film-industry-makes-angry-noises-about-piracy-control/#comment-1033508 And Soderbergh used to be one of my favorite directors. If he really thinks this is a plausible solution to an imaginary problem, then I don't think I'll be purchasing any more of his films. It amazes me that these publishers can still think that criminalizing their customers is a viable business strategy. It backfired on the music industry, and as download speeds continue to increase, it will backfire on the movie industry as well. I would have to say that the ratio of movies I've paid for to those I've pirated is somewhere in the range of 25:1 (25 purchases to every one download). For the most part, I can afford the $15-$20 for a DVD, and am interested in supporting the efforts of people whose work I enjoy. On multiple occasions I've pirated a film and went on to not only purchase the DVD, but other DVDs that were done by the same director, actor, or writer. What they need to realize is that the product they deliver needs to have value over what the consumer can download off of the Internet. At this point, it will be impossible for them to stop people from pirating, but many of those people would never be willing to pay for the content anyway. Those aren't their customers. They need to market to people like me, who will occasionally pirate a movie, but has no problem buying a CD for extra features, better picture and sound, or just to support the creators. I love your suggestion about using the pirated version to their advantage as a marketing tool. That's exactly the sort of thing they should be doing. I think a prime example of what can be done with enough creativity and willingness to explore different revenue streams is "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog." The movie was released for free through Hulu. Then sold on iTunes. And eventually released on DVD with one of the most creative and entertaining commentaries I've ever experienced. While not every movie is capable of being successful using that same strategy, it's interesting to note how well it worked out for Joss Whedon and company. It would do the rest of the industry to take note that by not treating your customers as criminals, even the ones who don't pay for the product can make up for it by telling their friends, who then go on to make a purchase, or even spending more money on the next product you release. And Soderbergh used to be one of my favorite directors. If he really thinks this is a plausible solution to an imaginary problem, then I don’t think I’ll be purchasing any more of his films.

It amazes me that these publishers can still think that criminalizing their customers is a viable business strategy. It backfired on the music industry, and as download speeds continue to increase, it will backfire on the movie industry as well.

I would have to say that the ratio of movies I’ve paid for to those I’ve pirated is somewhere in the range of 25:1 (25 purchases to every one download). For the most part, I can afford the $15-$20 for a DVD, and am interested in supporting the efforts of people whose work I enjoy. On multiple occasions I’ve pirated a film and went on to not only purchase the DVD, but other DVDs that were done by the same director, actor, or writer.

What they need to realize is that the product they deliver needs to have value over what the consumer can download off of the Internet. At this point, it will be impossible for them to stop people from pirating, but many of those people would never be willing to pay for the content anyway. Those aren’t their customers. They need to market to people like me, who will occasionally pirate a movie, but has no problem buying a CD for extra features, better picture and sound, or just to support the creators.

I love your suggestion about using the pirated version to their advantage as a marketing tool. That’s exactly the sort of thing they should be doing.

I think a prime example of what can be done with enough creativity and willingness to explore different revenue streams is “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.” The movie was released for free through Hulu. Then sold on iTunes. And eventually released on DVD with one of the most creative and entertaining commentaries I’ve ever experienced. While not every movie is capable of being successful using that same strategy, it’s interesting to note how well it worked out for Joss Whedon and company. It would do the rest of the industry to take note that by not treating your customers as criminals, even the ones who don’t pay for the product can make up for it by telling their friends, who then go on to make a purchase, or even spending more money on the next product you release.

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