Variety reports that the MPAA is putting together a website to tell consumers where they can legally find a movie. This will come in handy due to the different release windows, exclusive deals, and different viewing options (pay-per-view, download-to-own, rental, and subscription).
Currently unnamed site would let users search by film title and then provide links to options including purchasing theatrical tickets, buying or renting the DVD and legally downloading the pic.All of the major studios are expected to support the site, which fits into the MPAA's overall strategy to fight online movie piracy. According to a studio source, the new website is a response to research that found consumers sometimes have trouble differentiating between legal and illegal ways to watch and buy movies via the Net.
It's believed that the site will link to any legit partner. That could benefit Netcos ranging from Fandango to Netflix, Apple's iTunes and Sony's PlayStation Store.
via Gizmodo.
I hope the database includes all movies, past and present. I would be excited to see that!
Posted by: Becky | July 30, 2008 at 06:23 PM
The MPAA is a morally corrupt, government & studio backed CENSORSHIP COMMITTEE that is designed to PREVENT FREEDOM OF SPEECH in America! The MPAA should be COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, and they can NOT BE TRUSTED AT ALL. Watch the documentary "This Film Is Not Yet Rated", which just begins to scratch the surface of this EVIL ORGANIZATION known as the MPAA.
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/70043954
Posted by: Scott Rose | July 31, 2008 at 12:13 AM
Finally!
A database, of movies, on the internet.
What an original and creative idea!
They should call the site, "dbmi.com" - for "database of movies on the internet".
Posted by: blah | July 31, 2008 at 12:04 PM
@Scott Rose
I hate the MPAA too, but wow.
@Becky
Is that sarcasm? Because such a magical database already exists.
Posted by: Dr. Quasius | July 31, 2008 at 12:23 PM
I'm sure the site will be an excellent source of misinformation.
Posted by: Gir | July 31, 2008 at 02:19 PM
@Scott_Rose;
In addition to what you've said I think that everybody in the MPAA who had to do with any of the bogus lawsuits should be shot and killed.
In case anyone wants to ask, I am being serious. In addition I also want to say I personally know of no one who has been subject to any MPAA lawsuits, myself included.
Posted by: Tester | August 01, 2008 at 07:02 AM
The piracy issue isn't in the United States, per se, but oversees where a film finds its way onto the black market before it releases to the legitimate markets.
The biggest problem with the MPAA is that it is an American (...of America) group and likely will not be cognizant, recognize, or catalog and non-American films. The imdb.com database isn't complete, but my guess is that it will be more inclusive than anything the MPAA and "major studios" put together.
I agree with the other sentiments. This is just another ploy to grab control of the movie industry.
For the record (and I'm not expert), I understand that Canadian copyright law allows a person to make up to ten copies of any DVD they own. Of course, Canadians are not under the same restrictions regarding decoding software that we are (thanks to the paranoid laws in this country).
Posted by: Old Timer Too | August 05, 2008 at 12:05 PM