Re: Fury as Fahrenheit 9/11 director backs illegal not-for-profit downloads

From: Captain Compassion (res0mp8t_at_NOSPAMverizon.net)
Date: 07/06/04 

Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 00:24:28 GMT

On 5 Jul 2004 12:49:59 -0700, Melchizedek@USA.com (Psalm 110) wrote:

>http://www.sundayherald.com/43167
>
>Moore: pirate my film, no problem
>
>
>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.
>
>Jack Valenti, the outgoing president of the Motion Picture Association
>of America (MPAA), said: "We are proud that American films continue to
>enjoy immense popularity around the world but the need for copyright
>protection in the digital age is crucial to the preservation of our
>most prized trade asset.
>
>"Piracy is having a dramatic impact on the creators and copyright
>owners of this nation, and its defeat depends largely on the commit
>ment and resolve of the entire industry.
>
>"File sharing causes tremendous financial loss to the movie business,
>untold hardship to support workers, and costs thousands of jobs."
>
>Distributed via websites such as suprnova.org, which lays claim to
>having served more than 17 million downloads, Moore's documentary
>critique of the Bush administration's red, white and blue rush into
>war with Iraq is among the web's hottest properties.
>
>Thousands of copies of Fahrenheit 9/11 have already been downloaded,
>each taking about 3.5 hours over a broadband connection.
>
>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.
>
>Valenti said: "Nobody can allow their rights to be stolen because, if
>you can't retrieve your investment, you're out of the movie business,
>
>"I don't think there's really a single actor or director in the world
>who does not believe that if you don't combat piracy, it will devour
>you in the future."
>
>04 July 2004

LOL!! Again the Captain is on the cutting edge.

Steal this Movie.

Wonder if Moore even owens the copyright? It certailly isn't
registered under his name.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Only one ambition is worthy of Islam, to save the world from the
curse of democracy: to teach men that they cannot rule themselves
on the basis of man-made laws. Mankind has strayed from the path of
God, we must return to that path or face certain annihilation."
-- Sheikh Muhammad bin Ibrahim al-Jubair

"Long term commitment in relationships is only necessary because it takes
so damn long to raise children. Marriage may well be some kind of trick
to keep the males around beyond sexual satiation." -- Captain Compassion

"Progress is the increasing control of the environment by life.
--Will Durant

Joseph R. Darancette
res0mp8t@NOSPAMverizon.net

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