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Original poster

Not AIBU so much as WWYD - illegal download

130 replies

randommoment · 21/01/2012 23:24

A good friend has just mentioned in passing on the phone she's watched War Horse tonight at home, and how brilliant it was. But War Horse is still only legally available to watch in cinemas. I said 'but that's only just out in the cinema - we went to watch it last week as birthday treat' she replied 'oh, download off the Net of course'. AIBU to feel that she's let the side down - I truly thought she was a thoughtful person who realises that illegal downloads mean that the production people etc who slaved away to make the films/music/tv we love don't get paid properly for their effort. What would you do?

OP posts:
RozziB · 21/01/2012 23:45

Dd came home the other day saying her friend could get the latest cinema releases on her laptop through a website, I told my dd not to ever try and download any films on our home computer or her laptop as it is illegal to do so.

There is a story in the news at the moment about the boy in the UK who was giving people links through his website to download illegally and he is now being threatened with extradition to the US and I don't think it will be long before they start trying to go after the people who are downloading illegally too. Don't think there is much you can do, maybe someone else will come along and say different but I think yanbu to be annoyed when you have paid to see a film and your friend gets to see it for free.

MildlyNarkyPuffin · 21/01/2012 23:49

Tell the US. They'll have her extradited and jailed before it's out on DVD.

FabbyChic · 21/01/2012 23:49

Ive watched loads of stuff from Torrent that Ive not paid for, bad me.

AgentZigzag · 21/01/2012 23:49

I have far more compassion for people who work in care homes and get paid buttons OP, or nurses, or...well anyone who grafts like fuck and gets peanuts for their efforts.

Making films, and I say this as an avid film watcher, isn't in the same ball park.

BrightnessFalls · 21/01/2012 23:49

I wouldnt say a thing. I dont know anyone who hasnt watch a telly programme/film that has been downloaded.

PocPoc · 21/01/2012 23:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WorraLiberty · 21/01/2012 23:52

At the end of term when the teacher asks the kids to bring DVDs in to watch with the class, I always panic and go through DS's bag to make sure they've actually been released in the UK Blush

yellowraincoat · 21/01/2012 23:52

RozziB, the number of people who download illegally in this country is massive. There is no way that they will start arresting people.

Original poster
randommoment · 22/01/2012 00:01

Of course I'm not going to report her to the Illegal Download Police, whoever they might be. And as a matter of fact I'm not particularly pissed off that I paid to watch it with DDs and two Dear Little Friends at cinema last week while she didn't pay Empire Cinemas a bloody fortune including 75p per person credit/debit card booking fee (whole other thread there...). We got the Cinema Experience to go with it, she missed that. And I took extreme pleasure in smuggling in our own bottled water and large bag of sweeties. Just wish that all my friends in costume and make-up and set-building had got something for her pleasure.

OP posts:
NannyPlumIsMyMum · 22/01/2012 00:01

Agent , I'm a nurse it was good to read your post !

noblegiraffe · 22/01/2012 00:03

Do people in costume, make-up and set-building get royalties per viewing?

GirlWithPointyShoes · 22/01/2012 00:04

"If Megaupload can work out how to make $175 million from giving stuff away for free, why can't the content creators? Join the fucking dots."

As long as the industry takes advantage of people, People will try to take advantage of the industry.

yellowraincoat · 22/01/2012 00:05

You know that cinemas make virtually nothing off tickets and make all their money off sweets and popcorn, right?

So by smuggling stuff in you are depriving the poor ushers/snack bar workers/ticket sellers.

BleatingRose · 22/01/2012 00:05

I don't think I've ever watched an illegal download, nor a pirated video.
I don't understand the mindset where it's okay to take something without paying for it.

WorraLiberty · 22/01/2012 00:06

And I took extreme pleasure in smuggling in our own bottled water and large bag of sweeties. Just wish that all my friends in costume and make-up and set-building had got something for her pleasure

Uh-huh and what about the people employed to work at the kiosk selling bottled water and bags of sweeties?

Or do their minimum wages not matter because they're not your 'friends'?

yellowraincoat · 22/01/2012 00:08

We take stuff all the time without paying for it, BleatingRose. Every time you buy something you are shafting some poor fucker in a developing country.

AfternoonDelight · 22/01/2012 00:13

Won't someone think of the kiosk workers?

TuftyFinch · 22/01/2012 00:15

People in set building, costume and props do ok. Their wages havn't dropped because people download illegal films. Brad Pitt's not on the bread line. I think they'll work around it.

noblegiraffe · 22/01/2012 00:17

Buy a film legally on DVD and you are stopped by DRM from watching it on whatever device you choose, as well as getting bombarded with crappy ads and trailers. Online your legal option is probably to rent it in which case you can usually only watch it streamed over the internet, so you couldn't do it on a train journey for example.

Film watching is actually a more limited experience when you pay for it legally than when you download it illegally.

They really should sort that out.

yellowraincoat · 22/01/2012 00:17

Actually, Tufty, Brad went on the dole last week.

Bloody tragedy. He keeps on making those films though, FOR THE LOVE.

Original poster
randommoment · 22/01/2012 00:23

Very few of the technical bods get royalties, that's true enough. But they only get jobs when the films make enough money (legally) for the production team to persuade the backers to cough up for the next one.
And my main gripe with Empire Cinemas is how dare they charge 75p per person - not per transaction - booking fee, on top of advertised ticket prices. At least HM gov does seem to be about to do something about that particular rip-off.
Re bottled water, I'm happy to pay a say 10% markup on standard shop prices. But £2.20 for 500ml of Drench is taking the piss.

OP posts:
TuftyFinch · 22/01/2012 00:24

Yellow, it's bloody tragic that's what it is.
OP you're lucky you're not in Sweden. It cost the equivalent of £35 for one ticket to the cinema. You can however take your own (cold) food. Obviously no chocolate for under 7's as that's illegal.

BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability · 22/01/2012 00:24

My set-building friend downloads illegally. Maybe if less people downloaded illegally he would be able to afford to buy DVDs? Grin

WorraLiberty · 22/01/2012 00:27

Re bottled water, I'm happy to pay a say 10% markup on standard shop prices. But £2.20 for 500ml of Drench is taking the piss

Right so...you're ok breaking the rules when you judge they're ok to break?

You've got a lot in common with my DVD supplier, would you like me to hook him up with you? Grin

noblegiraffe · 22/01/2012 00:32

I expect their prices wouldn't have to be so scandalously high if people like you didn't smuggle their own drinks in.

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