« Zac Does HSM4... And Walt Defrosts | Main | The Spirit: The Surprising Blu-Ray Experience »
April 13, 2009
Piracy & News
It's an interesting discussion...
Phil Spector was found guilty today. Vikram Jayanti made a wonderful documentary about Spector for BBC2 - The Agony & The Ecstasy of Phil Spector - that ran a week on the BBC2 website then was pulled down after a week. Spector gave Jayanti access to and allowed the use of all kinds of materials that Spector holds the rights to and this makes the doc truly one of a kind. The interview with Vikram took place right before and/or during the first trial. Great stuff. So much so that the film won an award for Best Single Documentary at the 35th annual Broadcasting Press Guild Awards in the UK just a couple of weeks ago.
The film is not scheduled to play in America... and I have no idea whether it ever will. It seems likely that Spector will allow it to play here after the legal battle is completely over, but this conviction, which will be appealed, may keep it out of view for years to come. The film actually leans towards Spector's argument that he could not have had his hand on the trigger when Ms. Clarkson was shot. But who knows what kind of spin writers and potential jurors might take on the film.
So a few hours ago, I look on the MCN front page and Ray Pride had stumbled upon the documentary, in full, on a major streaming website.
After a bit of investigation... and after excitedly preparing an entry about the film here on The Hot Blog, I pulled the link down and dumped my planned entry.
Obviously, this is frustrating. It's a great film. It should be seen. I have no idea whether it is not being shown because Spector set the rule or because there is a US deal still pending or whatever. Still, the moral issue is the moral issue. I don't have the legal right to see or distribute the film and clearly, neither does the person who posted it to the web... in good conscience, solely interested in sharing similar materials with others who are interested.
It frustrates me in these situations that we don't even have the right to pay for access to content, like this, which is so valuable to those with an interest. I would surely pay for access via BBC's website or buy a DVD of this film. But no.
Of course, the next step is to question whether watching a region coded DVD on a region-free player is morally valid.
Sigh...
Posted by dpoland at April 13, 2009 07:00 PM
Comments
"Of course, the next step is to question whether watching a region coded DVD on a region-free player is morally valid."
Yes of course it is both morally and legally valid. Why wouldn't it be, unless were you secret jury member #13?
It has nothing to do with your issue of attempting to self-distribute licensed material.
Posted by: Jeffrey Boam's Doctor ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.mcnblogs.com/thehotblog/nav-commenters.gif)
at April 13, 2009 07:56 PM
I agree. When you buy a legal DVD of any region, those who should get paid do.
In Europe, region-free players are legal and available at major retailers.
I actually feel no moral qualm whatsoever about watching a bootleg if it is something not likely to ever be released here. Back when George Lucas said he was never releasing the original Star Wars movies again, a friend ripped 'em from a Laserdisc for me. When they finally did come out legally on DVD, I bought them.
And I own a DVD of a Korean movie called Blue Swallow that I found in a Chinatown mall in Calgary, Canada, for $4. Probably not official -- but the movie is never likely to be released here. If it is, I'll buy it again just to be good.
Posted by: LYT at April 13, 2009 09:55 PM
Here in Australia pretty much all DVD players come region-free (and if they don't then the store employees will give you a code for make it so) and that's good because I have gotten so many DVDs from America because a) you have better editions of certain movies, b) they're released earlier and c) sometimes they just don't release them in Australia at all.
There was a documentary out last year called Celebrity: Dominick Dunne, which - obviously - was about Dominick Dunne and was filmed during the initial Spektor trial. It was actually a very good doco and I'd recommend it if it appeared on DVD/TV/Festival at some point.
Posted by: KamikazeCamelV2.0 at April 14, 2009 01:01 AM
Buy the DVD and then send it to the BBC when you're done.
Posted by: Devin Faraci at April 14, 2009 01:21 AM
"Buy the DVD and then send it to the BBC when you're done."
Save the postage, Devin. You only have to ask the BBC if they'd like you to send them the DVD to absolve the sin.
Posted by: Hallick at April 14, 2009 06:49 AM
Ethical piracy is easier than I thought.
Does this go for standard, non-digital stolen goods as well?
Posted by: Devin Faraci at April 14, 2009 04:28 PM
Piracy can open your eyes to the world. If not for pirated DVDs, I might still think The Star Wars Holiday special that I saw as a kid was good.
Posted by: The Big Perm at April 14, 2009 04:59 PM
I don't think there's another person on the planet who considers region-free DVD players an ethical grey area, David. Is there? Seriously?
They're DVD players. They're not doing anything illicit or illegal. They play software that is sold legally. If you're willing to spend the extra money to import that software, then enjoy.
You can pull up on the reigns a little bit. You're like the copyright equivalent of those people who think gay marriage is gonna lead to people getting married to lawn furniture or three goats or their own brother.
Posted by: Drew McW at April 15, 2009 02:12 AM
Aren't region-free players technically illegal here, Drew?
I certainly don't think they should be...but believe that they are.
Posted by: LYT at April 15, 2009 04:13 AM
That makes no sense. Or, if nothing, doesn't make sense in 2009.
Posted by: KamikazeCamelV2.0 at April 16, 2009 01:13 AM
every laptop i own is region free...i just assumed that was standard....am i wrong?
Posted by: scooterzz at April 16, 2009 05:12 AM
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)