nsane.forums Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 It is no secret that the MPAA is involved in an ongoing battle against copyright infringers in the United States. Tens of thousands of copyright notices are sent out each year informing illegal file-sharers that they are breaking the law.Less known are the movie industry’s efforts to clamp down on copyright infringers who are defending their country’s interests on foreign soil. Because the availability of legal movies and TV-shows is limited in countries such as Iraq, soldiers sometimes use BitTorrent to get their fix, or buy pirated DVDs from local sellers.The MPAA is not happy with these defiant soldiers. A declassified document from the United States Central Command shows that, a few years ago, the MPAA asked the military what they do to prevent soldiers from accessing pirated DVDs in Iraq.One of the questions posed by the MPAA is whether they have banned U.S. troops from going to stores that sell pirated DVDs. The Central Command answered this question negatively, as it would hurt the business of Iraqi salesmen. “No….banning our troops from visiting these shops would have the unwelcome secondary effect of harming Iraqi entrepreneurs selling legitimate goods.†They add that there is nothing they can do about DVDs that are being sold on Iraqi property because these stores fall under Iraqi law. The declassified CENTCOM document (full pdf)The document does state, however, that selling pirated DVDs on US bases is not permitted. It further says that piracy could be reduced by giving soldiers access to legal forms of entertainment. “U.S. forces have had a long-standing, positive relationship with the entertainment industry. Working to continue this relationship, including the provision of popular entertainment like first-run movies, concerts and other events will help to curtail the demand for pirated media,” it states.Pirated DVDs are not the only worry for the MPAA as more recently military personnel have also been using BitTorrent to access U.S. entertainment on foreign bases. A military insider told TorrentFreak that they see no other option than to ‘pirate’, as the entertainment industry gives them little opportunity to enjoy digital media legally.“We have sent letters to the RIAA and the MPAA repeatedly letting them know that our downloads are a direct representation of their failure to allow us to be good consumers as others in the US can be,†our military insider explained.Instead of holding out a helping hand to deployed soldiers, the entertainment industries continue to treat them as criminals. On a daily basis, the MPAA and RIAA send copyright notices to military personnel via their base ISPs. In turn, the personnel are threatened with account suspension and in serious cases, disconnection.At the same time Hollywood continues to exploit military conflicts with hit shows like The Pacific and Oscar-winning movies such as The Hurt Locker. Ironically, The Hurt Locker centers around a friendship between a heroic soldier and a young Iraqi boy who sells pirated DVDs at a U.S. base. Article from: TorrentFreak. View: Original Article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irefay Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 Pirated media in Iraq/ Afghanistan is as prevalent as stupidity in the MPAA/RIAA. Besides, do they really think that an Iraqi who only makes $6,000 a year is going to fork out $24 for a stupid movie? Or how about an Afghane who only makes $2000. If the MPAA really wants to turn this around, provide pre-released movies to soldiers then ask them to write reviews about them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myidisbb Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 Pirated media in Iraq/ Afghanistan is as prevalent as stupidity in the MPAA/RIAA. Besides, do they really think that an Iraqi who only makes $6,000 a year is going to fork out $24 for a stupid movie? Or how about an Afghane who only makes $2000. If the MPAA really wants to turn this around, provide pre-released movies to soldiers then ask them to write reviews about them.i liek when the news media showed up talking to these 3 guys in an iraqi music store before we went back in to remove the terrorist supporting dictator. everything in that store was clearing illegal. as for no illegal movies sold on a base. sure..... its called 3rd nationals going through aafes to sell their wares. all these dvds came out of uae. usually the first shitty copies uploaded online Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KotaXor Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 A country at war will not think of piracy.Only peaceful one will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtmulc Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 Just legally thinking aloud here...When it comes to digital downloading, the MPAA et al have the right to be as big a prick to overseas soldiers as they do to the us civvies at home. These are U.S. military bases and subject to U.S. laws, however stupid they may be. However, once off the base, soldiers can buy unlimited pirated DVDs and the MPAA without repercussions because they are no longer on U.S. territory, they're on Iraqui soil and subject to Iraqui law. I rather doubt the Iraqui parliament has been busy debating the finer nuances of Copyright law (I would guess they're a bit looser than here) and even if they do have their own version of the DMCA, the cops there are a tad busies enforcing the "Don't blow up the marketplace with a car bomb" laws than copyright infringement. Once back on base, the soldier can watch their bootleg DVDs to their heart's content. Copyright law (to the best of my knowledge) covers selling, copying, transferring, and so forth, not possession, and the crime (if it is one in Iraq) happened in a different jurisdiction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myidisbb Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 there is no usa base in iraq. where the soliders stay are is not consider a base. they are allowed to bring back 1 copy of any cd or dvd (that means 50 different dvds etc) no matter what as long as it doesnt look like porn on the name or label. that goes under us customs rules over there. most soldiers give away the crap before leaving anyway. they have other things to worry about when coming homegeneral order number 1 is the only thing to worry about. if you are on offical us terrory as in the embassy you dont have to worry about that either.go #1 no sex, drink or gambling. though they lossen sex so that singles are allowed too now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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