Moore: pirate my film, no problem

[BJ_M]

http://www.sundayherald.com/43167


Fury as Fahrenheit 9/11 director backs illegal not-for-profit downloads
By Iain S Bruce, Online Editor


Controversial film-maker Michael Moore has welcomed the appearance on the internet of pirated copies of his anti-Bush documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 and claimed he is happy for anybody to download it free of charge.
The activist, author and director told the Sunday Herald that, as long as pirated copies of his film were not being sold, he had no problem with it being downloaded.

“I don’t agree with the copyright laws and I don’t have a problem with people downloading the movie and sharing it with people as long as they’re not trying to make a profit off my labour. I would oppose that,” he said.

“I do well enough already and I made this film because I want the world, to change. The more people who see it the better, so I’m happy this is happening.”

Moore’s views have not been well received by Hollywood’s establishment, which is fighting a war against the online pirates it claims cost the industry £1.6 billion a year in lost sales.


Ironically, the burgeoning underground market for Moore’s much-debated documentary has been championed by both sides of the political divide. While left-wing sites promote the film’s message, opponents of the high-profile polemicist are urging people to “steal” their copy, thus denying its director his cut of the profits.

Last month the website of producers Lions Gate Films was subjected to a barrage of attacks by hackers, with one creating a link to a download destination on the site’s front page.

Despite up to 150 people simultaneously bagging free copies of its most valuable property at any given time 24 hours a day, Lions Gate says it has no plans to oppose the practice. While unwilling to make any official statement likely to further provoke Hollywood’s heavy hitters, the film company appears to have fallen into line with its director’s laissez-faire approach.

Moore said: “Is it wrong for someone who’s bought a film on DVD to let a friend watch it for free? Of course it’s not. It never has been and never will be. I think information, art and ideas should be shared.”

Defenders of Moore’s position include Pulp Fiction director Quentin Tarantino, who earlier this year encouraged audiences in countries where his films are not legally available to obtain counterfeit copies.

The furore engulfing Moore is just the latest in a series of controversies surrounding the film. Almost smothered by original production company Miramax’s refusal to distribute the final cut, he also this year launched an unsuccessful legal attempt to overturn the MPAA’s decision to give the documentary an “R” rating, which barred under-16s from seeing the movie without an adult.

Opposed by Move America Forward, a conservative group set up to dissuade cinemas from showing the film, Fahrenheit 9/11 has become one of the most controversial productions in Hollywood history. Last month Australian distributors Hopscotch Films claimed to have received e-mails warning that if the company went ahead with its planned release of the movie, it would do so “at our own peril”.

The hubbub is unlikely to subside any time soon. With Lions Gate reporting that DVD rights are likely to be won by Disney-owned Buena Vista Home Entertainment, many commentators believe the digital distribution network may yet face serious opposition.

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NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) -- The war between Michael Moore and his critics has escalated, with a Web site targeting the "Fahrenheit 9/11" director posting a link to an illegal "Fahrenheit" file download. In the process, it also attacked the filmmaker's stance on copyright law.
A June 27 posting on the site www.MooreWatch.com invites visitors to download the film. It quotes Moore, though it doesn't cite a source, as encouraging such downloading by saying: "I don't agree with the copyright laws, and I don't have a problem with people downloading the movie and sharing it with people. As long as they're not doing it to make a profit, you know, as long as they're not trying to make a profit off my labor. I would oppose that."

Tom Ortenberg, president of Lions Gate Films Releasing, which is distributing the film with IFC Films and Harvey and Bob Weinstein's Fellowship Adventure Group, said Wednesday that his company is exploring legal action.

"I think it's deplorable what enemies of 'Fahrenheit 9/11' are doing," he said. "We are currently looking into our legal options. We are not going to tolerate anybody trying to infringe on (this film's release)."

[Capmaster]

Actually that would be a clever tactic by Moore - make it easier to spread his venom :P

[Nilfennasion]

The reason why the MPAA is so upset is because Michael has shot a hole in the idea that people who obtain films illegally would buy said films if they couldn't. It's like saying that I would pay to see Harry Potty And The Dirty Nappy if I couldn't pirate it. The reality is that I wouldn't even bother pirating it, because I wouldn't waste a disc storing such disingenious garbage. Michael has apparently twigged to this.

[indolikaa]

Harry Potty And The Dirty Nappy

ROTFLMAO!!!


So I have the copy of Fahrenheit 9/11 I downloaded from videohelp.com, and I was wondering how to...

[marvel2020]

Why anyone would want to download that load of crap, is beyond me.

If ya don't like Bush then vote ya lazy b**tards, thats what elections are for.

[handyguy]

Well, if you watched that film, you'd see that Bush didn't win in Florida, so, people did vote right, just wasn't counted as such

[marvel2020]

Nope, i ain't gonna watch it, i didn't watch BFC, so i'll not be wasting my money on this SHIT.

[fritzi93]

It's hard to take seriously anything the guy says. He asserts Saddam never harmed any American, therefore the war was unjustified. Then he says Dubya was just after revenge, on account of Saddam trying to assassinate Bush senior. Last I heard, George Herbert Walker Bush is indisputably an American.

Christopher Hitchens perhaps said it best when he said the film is "nauseating rubbish".

I herewith humbly beg forgiveness for discussing politics. But really, Moore is a buffoon.

[JohnnyCNote]

It would help to actually see the movie before making mischaracterizations that are frequently as outrageous as the "lies" they contend are in the movie itself.....

[BJ_M]

YEA -- i have not seen it - so i have no freaking idea what it's saying ..

[Conquest10]

It's hard to take seriously anything the guy says. He asserts Saddam never harmed any American, therefore the war was unjustified. Then he says Dubya was just after revenge, on account of Saddam trying to assassinate Bush senior. Last I heard, George Herbert Walker Bush is indisputably an American.

Last I heard H.W. was still alive. If you want to continue, click on the link in my sig.

[GKar]

Anyone that wastes their money on that scumbag's movie or even on a blank disk to put it on needs their head examined. He should be put up against a wall and shot for treason.

[Conquest10]

He should be put up against a wall and shot for treason.

Got to love that "patriotic" environment we live in now.

[MOVIEGEEK]

[fritzi93]

This one's bound to start a pissing match. So go ahead and download it, you have Moore's blessing. Or see it in a theater, seems it's doing fairly well and is still being shown.

[overloaded_ide]

I have no comment on the person or film, I know nothing of either!

HOWEVER, this is what we need, insiders in the industry openly saying take my stuff free, and I oppose copyright laws, and as long as profit is not involved!

[Josef K]

...I don’t have a problem with people downloading the movie and sharing it with people as long as they’re not trying to make a profit off my labour...

Out of curiosity, If I were to download Fahrenheit 9/11 (and not paying for it) and had some dilemma (e.g. playing, extracting, whatever) - would it then not be considered against the rules of VideoHelp.com to discuss this since Moore would condone my actions? Would this still be considered warez?

[BJ_M]

1. yes it is still warez - i was only reporting this news item and no mater what , it is a copyrighted film and as such , would be still classed as warez (until the copyright holder makes the film available for download)

2. no political discussions on the contents of the film - there is another forum for that ... any further posts will be locked ..


thank you

[mh2360]

Moore’s views have not been well received by Hollywood’s establishment, which is fighting a war against the online pirates it claims cost the industry £1.6 billion a year in lost sales.

Is 1.6 BILLION a figure they just plucked out of the air or have they got any sort of evidence to support it?...

[handyguy]

Well, it doesn't do much for me since I can't hear it & have to wait for it to come out on dvd. It might be nice if deaf people could watch it at home & have someone interpret it. Try seeing an interpreter in a theatre.

[CaseyComb]

Well, Moore is essentially a socialist so I can see why he wouldn't mind people downloading it. Really though he shouldn't bite the hand that feeds him. I wouldn't pay money to see it.

[vitualis]

If ya don't like Bush then vote ya lazy b**tards, thats what elections are for.

I think perhaps people look at Michael Moore too literally.

He is fighting fire with fire (i.e., the propaganda that comes out of the White House with his own brand of misinformation). He is basically providing counterpoint to the extreme views of one side with his own extreme views.

As an outsider looking in, it seems to me that both sides treat the common man as a moron, unable to hold a rational debate and need to be spoon-fed sensationalist crap. If I were American, I don't think I'd be too happy about that...

As for voting and elections, Gore won the popular vote by about half a million votes... Ignoring that, Gore undoubted would have won the Florida vote as well if your Supreme Court didn't suddenly decide to halt the recount. I think you Americans need a serious review and audit of your electorial process.

Regards.

[Colindale]

There's none so blind, that do not see.

Keep them flags aflying over there, and stay blindly patriotic, until you go and see it, you cannot make a judgement.

When it comes to politicians, believe nothing you hear, and little of what you see. ( thier so damn good with doctoring video's these days ). and lying.

[JohnnyCNote]

The numbers say it all:

Budget
$6,000,000

Opening Weekend
$23,920,637 (USA) (27 June 2004) (868 Screens)

Gross
$24,078,959 (USA) (27 June 2004)

Weekend Gross
$23,920,637 (USA) (27 June 2004) (868 Screens)

Quite obviously a lot of people are interesting in paying money to hear and see what he has to say....

[MOVIEGEEK]

1. yes it is still warez - i was only reporting this news item and no mater what , it is a copyrighted film and as such , would be still classed as warez (until the copyright holder makes the film available for download)

2. no political discussions on the contents of the film - there is another forum for that ... any further posts will be locked ..


thank you

Interesting since you posted the topic.

vitualis wrote:
"As for voting and elections, Gore won the popular vote by about half a million votes... Ignoring that, Gore undoubted would have won the Florida vote as well if your Supreme Court didn't suddenly decide to halt the recount. I think you Americans need a serious review and audit of your electorial process."

The mods. can talk politics but the masses can't?
BTW...good to see you back vitualis I haven't seen you post anything in awhile.

[vitualis]

The mods. can talk politics but the masses can't?
BTW...good to see you back vitualis I haven't seen you post anything in awhile.

Ha, good point.

But BJ_M has already locked the thread...

Regards.