From: WorstPreviews.com
Ever since "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" leaked online, 20th Century Fox, the FBI and the MPAA started a manhunt for the person responsible for stealing a copy of the yet to be released film.
Since "Wolverine" is shared through BitTorrent sites, the MPAA has been doing everything in its power to obtain private emails of TorrentSpy and The Pirate Bay, in order to dig up dirt on their owners and users.
One way the organization has been doing this is by hiring a hacker back in 2005, who has previously configured the TorrentSpy mail server to copy and forward all of the site's emails to his own Gmail account. The 34 pages of information he gathered was then sold to the MPAA for $15,000. TorrentSpy's owner later sued the MPAA, arguing that they had spied on him illegally, but he ended up losing the case.
The court ruled that the MPAA did not technically intercept them under the WireTap Act, but TorrentSpy is calling the decision a "dangerous attempt to circumvent privacy laws." If the ruling is upheld, it will basically legalize the unauthorized copying of other people's emails, which raises serious privacy concerns.
TorrentSpy has now filed a brief at the Court of Appeals and that the MPAA is expected to do the same in the near future. From then on it can take up to a year before the appeal is heard in court.
The point of this story is that if the law sides with the MPAA, everyone who has downloaded a copy of "Wolverine" or uses sharing sites could be at risk.
Showing posts with label MPAA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MPAA. Show all posts
Monday, 13 April 2009
Saturday, 4 April 2009
FoxNews Illegally Downloads "Wolverine" and Reviews It
From: WorstPreviews.com
20th Century Fox is working alongside the MPAA and the FBI to track down the person responsible for leaking an early cut of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," which could potentially cost the studio millions.
So while the search continues, FoxNews' reporter Roger Friedman downloaded himself a copy and reviewed the film on the FoxNews.com website. Here is an excerpt:
"Right now, my 'cousins' at 20th Century Fox are probably having apoplexy. I doubt anyone else has seen this film. But everyone can relax. I am, in fact, amazed about how great 'Wolverine' turned out. It exceeds expectations at every turn. I was completely riveted to my desk chair in front of my computer."
So according to Friedman, 20th Century Fox has nothing to worry about since he thinks it's a good movie. Too bad Fox doesn't feel the same way. The studio released the following statement:
"We've just been made aware that Roger Friedman, a free-lance columnist who writes Fox 411 on Foxnews.com — an entirely separate company from 20th Century Fox — watched on the Internet and reviewed a stolen and unfinished version of 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine.' This behavior is reprehensible, and we condemn this act categorically — whether the review is good or bad."
20th Century Fox has taken down Friedman's review. There is currently no word on whether he will end up losing his job over this or get sued.
20th Century Fox is working alongside the MPAA and the FBI to track down the person responsible for leaking an early cut of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," which could potentially cost the studio millions.
So while the search continues, FoxNews' reporter Roger Friedman downloaded himself a copy and reviewed the film on the FoxNews.com website. Here is an excerpt:
"Right now, my 'cousins' at 20th Century Fox are probably having apoplexy. I doubt anyone else has seen this film. But everyone can relax. I am, in fact, amazed about how great 'Wolverine' turned out. It exceeds expectations at every turn. I was completely riveted to my desk chair in front of my computer."
So according to Friedman, 20th Century Fox has nothing to worry about since he thinks it's a good movie. Too bad Fox doesn't feel the same way. The studio released the following statement:
"We've just been made aware that Roger Friedman, a free-lance columnist who writes Fox 411 on Foxnews.com — an entirely separate company from 20th Century Fox — watched on the Internet and reviewed a stolen and unfinished version of 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine.' This behavior is reprehensible, and we condemn this act categorically — whether the review is good or bad."
20th Century Fox has taken down Friedman's review. There is currently no word on whether he will end up losing his job over this or get sued.
FBI and MPAA Step Up "Wolverine" Leak Investigation
From: WorstPreviews.com
20th Century Fox has determined that the copy of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" that leaked online this week was a roughly month-old work print. The leaked copy was digital rather than film, making it more difficult to trace, but The Wrap is reporting that the studio's investigators and the MPAA are "chasing at least a half-dozen leads." The FBI is also on the case.
Given the quality of the leaked print, the focus of the investigation is reportedly on the third-party vendors (special effects firms, reproduction houses, trailer companies) that the studios send their movies to for post-production work, although it hasn't been determined yet how many vendors had access to a full digital copy of the film.
A stamp for special effects company Rising Sun Pictures was on the leaked print, but the company's chairman issued a statement saying "neither RSP or its staff members have ever been in possession of a full-length version, so it would have been impossible for the movie to have been leaked from here."
Twentieth Century Fox chairman Tom Rothman told Entertainment Weekly [via IGN]: "We, like everybody, thought our system was secure. ... Just like I'm sure there are lots of banks that get robbed that thought their vault was safe. We thought the post-production pipeline was secure at every juncture. But, obviously, it's self-evident that it wasn't. I have a high level of confidence we'll find out where the lapse in security was and we'll bring the perpetrators to justice."
20th Century Fox has determined that the copy of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" that leaked online this week was a roughly month-old work print. The leaked copy was digital rather than film, making it more difficult to trace, but The Wrap is reporting that the studio's investigators and the MPAA are "chasing at least a half-dozen leads." The FBI is also on the case.
Given the quality of the leaked print, the focus of the investigation is reportedly on the third-party vendors (special effects firms, reproduction houses, trailer companies) that the studios send their movies to for post-production work, although it hasn't been determined yet how many vendors had access to a full digital copy of the film.
A stamp for special effects company Rising Sun Pictures was on the leaked print, but the company's chairman issued a statement saying "neither RSP or its staff members have ever been in possession of a full-length version, so it would have been impossible for the movie to have been leaked from here."
Twentieth Century Fox chairman Tom Rothman told Entertainment Weekly [via IGN]: "We, like everybody, thought our system was secure. ... Just like I'm sure there are lots of banks that get robbed that thought their vault was safe. We thought the post-production pipeline was secure at every juncture. But, obviously, it's self-evident that it wasn't. I have a high level of confidence we'll find out where the lapse in security was and we'll bring the perpetrators to justice."
Thursday, 2 April 2009
Film Bosses Furious About Jackman Film Leak
From: Imdb.com
Film bosses at 20th Century Fox have threatened to get tough with anyone who posts a stolen version of Hugh Jackman's new movie X-men Origins: Wolverine online.
The executives have confirmed reports an incomplete print of the new action film was stolen on Tuesday night - and posted illegally on websites.
A statement from the studio reads, "It was without many effects and had missing scenes and temporary sound and music. We immediately contacted the appropriate legal authorities and had it removed.
"We forensically mark our content so we can identify sources that make it available or download it. The source of the initial leak and any subsequent postings will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
"The FBI and MPAA are also actively investigating the crime. We are encouraged by the support of fan sites condemning piracy and this illegal posting and pointing out that such theft undermines the enormous efforts of the filmmakers and actors and, above all, hurts fans of the film."
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