'Matrix Reloaded' dodges illegal online copies, so far

[zodiac]

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/5841304.htm

Trawling Kazaa, the most popular online file-sharing service, reveals that dozens of anonymous people are offering what are purported to be pirated copies of "The Matrix Reloaded," a movie that doesn't open until Thursday. That none appear to be legitimate -- so far -- is a testament to the successful campaign by the film's producers and studio to prevent Internet piracy.

But "The Matrix Reloaded" is the exception, not the rule for Hollywood. Scores of other movies are available for free online, some of them even as they play in U.S. theaters. In fact, both "Spider-Man" and the second "Star Wars" movie were available online before their theatrical release.

And that fact terrifies Hollywood, which sees the devastation wrought on the music industry by illegal downloading as a dark portent for its own business. The music industry's main trade group, the Recording Industry Association of America, estimates that piracy deprives its members of $4 billion in sales each year.

Kazaa claims that 223 million people around the world have downloaded its software, making it the most popular file exchange program of the moment. Kazaa allows users to enter a bazaar of pirated media files, including songs, movies, television shows and software, and download them for free.

"The Matrix Reloaded" files started appearing a week ago. But none of the versions downloaded by a Times reporter since then turned out to be legitimate. Some were simply bad files that would not play. Others turned out to be copies of other movies, including the first "Matrix," "Fight Club," "Ice Age" and "Dumb and Dumber."

Interviews with those purveying the files were fruitless. None would respond to instant messages, the only way to reach them in the anonymous online world.

The unsuccessful attempts to download the movie suggest that Warner Brothers and Australia's Village Roadshow Pictures, the "Matrix's" producers, have successfully prevented not only leaks of master copies, but also prevented viewers at premieres and other screenings from surreptitiously filming a copy.

"People who wouldn't go to a Wal-Mart and steal 40 DVDs have no compunction about downloading movies," said Barbara Brogliatti, Warner Brothers' head of publicity. That's why the studio focuses on making sure no copies find their way into cyberspace, especially before the release date.

Critics and others who attended early screenings of "The Matrix Reloaded" had to pass through airport-like security. If an illegal copy had been made using a camcorder, as is pirates' standard practice, Warner Brothers would investigate using special technology that determines which projector screened the movie, Brogliatti said, and ultimately attempt to identify the culprit.

Brogliatti said that more aggressive tactics for fighting pre-release pirates have been in place since "Spider-Man" showed up on the streets of Asia and the Ukraine before its U.S. domestic release. The new policies prevented leaks of the second "Harry Potter" movie, and so far, the "Matrix" sequel.

That may change once "The Matrix Reloaded" goes into wide release. "Bend it Like Beckham" is widely available on Kazaa, even though it is still playing in theaters. The same is true for almost every movie playing at the local multiplex, although not all of those files have been verified.

Impatience has characterized much of the buildup to the release of "The Matrix Reloaded," the sequel to the popular 1999 movie. Already magazines have run articles based on very limited previews, even as fans speculate online about the movie.

"The target audience for the 'Matrix' is also the target audience for piracy," said Warner Brothers' Brogliatti. In fact, one popular file-sharing service, Morpheus, is allegedly named after one of the key characters in the "Matrix" series.

As online piracy has grown, the Motion Picture Association of America has become more aggressive in going after pirates. It sends angry letters to the Internet service providers of small-fry file-sharers and tries to get law enforcement involved in bigger cases, said Tom Temple, the director of worldwide Internet enforcement at the group.

"We have seen movies come online months ahead of theatrical release," Temple said. "There are a significant number that get 'camcordered.'"

The online piracy problem is growing, he said, along with enforcement. In 2002 the MPAA sent out 163,000 infringement notifications to ISPs up from 54,000 in 2001. Yet it might be an uphill battle, especially as broadband proliferates.

"People are becoming more and more comfortable with downloading and watching movies on their computers," Temple said.

[CaptainC]

Well I guess its Karma or something for years the industry has been ripping people off from music, software, Videos and merchandising.
With the birth of computer technology and the .com boom there getting a taste of there own medicine.

While i understand that in order for these movies, sofware develpment, and advancements to be made in the entertainment industry you gotta pay it also applies to those in the industry thinking everyones an idiot.
In the end it can only bring balance, I bet if you asked any user of the internet if for a small price you could download legitimate movies, music they would pay, but the indusrtry doesnt want to loose the huge profits or talk about it "Yet" think about the huge profits compared to membership fees.
Im also sure that any downloaders dont realise that its illegal either, look at how many video tape a show or have been making compalation tapes for years. The industry has let it get out of control and wants to blame everyone else.
Im sure you could argue that any good film will get money in the box office take Lord Of The Rings i bought a ticket went to the cinema and watched a good movie whether i could dowmload it or not cause its a good film and an experience on the big screen.
If its not a good film then i wont go whether i can download it or not.
When VHS was introduced in the 1980's the industry got behind home rental as tapes could cost up £80 "can you believe it". So Blockbuster was born people for years rented videos plenty of pirates generally unwatchable, it all worked so well. Then SONY and PHILLIPS got together to give the music industry a kick not to mention the revenues in releasing "YELLOW SUBMARINE" 20.000 times over the next few years.
Sony and Phillips fell out Sony stormed off, Ringo checked into the Betty Ford Clinic and lots of people got rich.
Then SONY had a bright idea lets make CD Writers Sony knew what would happen but greed prevailed and exceptance that if they didnt do it Phillips certainly would and they did, Its was only time that the internet would be born.
I mean of course you wont walk into Blocbuster and steal 40 DVD's off the shelf "with all those cameras watching" that would be stupid......

Good thought provoking subject.

[Conquest10]

i think this is all bs about piracy costing studios money. if you look at the all time grossing films, most have been released in the past couple of years. hell, the weekend record holder is spider-man, which came out last year. its followed by harry potter and x2.

[CaptainC]

I think that was what i was saying really a good films gonna make money whether you can download it or not.
The ones who will loose greatest in the end are the video rental stores

[mysticgohan17]

no actually its online alreadyi got mine this morning

[jeex]

"Bend it Like Beckham" is widely available on Kazaa, even though it is still playing in theaters.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00006681N/qid%3D1052950161/202-7076099-5188647

hm.. maybe because its already been released on dvd? idiots.. (not you zodiac)

[mysticgohan17]

"Bend it Like Beckham" is widely available on Kazaa, even though it is still playing in theaters.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00006681N/qid%3D1052950161/202-7076099-5188647

hm.. maybe because its already been released on dvd? idiots.. (not you zodiac)

............ OMG these guys are stupid. everyone in hollywood IS on cocaine.

[zodiac]

Bend it Like Beckham got release in the US march 12.
there are movies that are on dvd in other contrys before its released in the US.
one off the top of my head is '51st state' aka 'formula 51'.there were dvd rips on the internet before it hit US theaters.
i guess they should have given a better example.

that article came out monday and the release of matrix is tomorrow.it is already on the internet. :P

[mysticgohan17]

three releases online as of this post...its been slowed down but pirates wait till the hype dies down to get started.