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stevesnj · Nov 28, 2006, 11:29 PM

BBspot - MPAA Lobbying for Home Theater Regulations

MPAA Lobbying for Home Theater Regulations
By Scott Small

Los Angeles , CA - The MPAA is lobbying congress to push through a new bill that would make unauthorized home theaters illegal. The group feels that all theaters should be sanctioned, whether they be commercial settings or at home.

MPAA head Dan Glickman says this needs to be regulated before things start getting too far out of control, "We didn't act early enough with the online sharing of our copyrighted content. This time we're not making the same mistake. We have a right to know what's showing in a theater."

The bill would require that any hardware manufactured in the future contain technology that tells the MPAA directly of what is being shown and specific details on the audience. The data would be gathered using various motion sensors and biometric technology.

The MPAA defines a home theater as any home with a television larger than 29" with stereo sound and at least two comfortable chairs, couch, or futon. Anyone with a home theater would need to pay a $50 registration fee with the MPAA or face fines up to $500,000 per movie shown.
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"Just because you buy a DVD to watch at home doesn't give you the right to invite friends over to watch it too. That's a violation of copyright and denies us the revenue that would be generated from DVD sales to your friends," said Glickman. "Ideally we expect each viewer to have their own copy of the DVD, but we realize that isn't always feasible. The registration fee is a fair compromise.

The bill also stipulates that any existing home theaters be retrofitted with the technology or else the owner is responsible for directly informing the MPAA and receiving approval before each viewing.

Gossamer · Nov 28, 2006, 11:34 PM

I'm utterly speechless.
(assuming this is legit)

Eriamjh · Nov 28, 2006, 11:35 PM

Sounds stupid, but I betcha the politicians all have "home theatres" according to those definitions.

First, how can they inforce it? Second, how would they proved you watched a movie? Third, screw the MPAA!!!

Mastrap · Nov 28, 2006, 11:35 PM

It's satire.

Doofy · Nov 28, 2006, 11:36 PM

Obviously a joke, but watch yourselves - this kind of thing is coming.

Dakar² · Nov 28, 2006, 11:40 PM

Just because you buy a DVD to watch at home doesn't give you the right to invite friends over to watch it too.

...screams fake.

Edit:

Originally Posted by Related News

MPAA to Thwart Pirates by Making All Movies Suck

Teronzhul · Nov 28, 2006, 11:42 PM

bbspot is a satire site, but just about anything regarding the MPAA and absurdity is believable these days.

stevesnj · Nov 28, 2006, 11:43 PM

lol...sorry I didnt know the site was a satire site...my bad

Dr Reducto · Nov 28, 2006, 11:46 PM

Something like this would really create a backlash against copyright laws as they exist today

macgeek2005 · Nov 29, 2006, 12:12 AM

Originally Posted by Eriamjh

Sounds stupid, but I betcha the politicians all have "home theatres" according to those definitions.

First, how can they inforce it? Second, how would they proved you watched a movie? Third, screw the MPAA!!!

Why screw the MPAA? I'd rather screw Natalie Portman.

BRussell · Nov 29, 2006, 12:34 AM

Originally Posted by macgeek2005

Why screw the MPAA? I'd rather screw Natalie Portman.

You'd have to pay a fee to the MPAA first.

Eriamjh · Nov 29, 2006, 08:40 AM

The satire part was not detected when I typed my response.

Satire or not, in the USA, these stupid things do come up now and then.

As for Natalie Portman, the MPAA would only charge you to screw her if your TV was over 29" and more than two friends were watching.

PurpleGiant · Nov 29, 2006, 08:48 AM

Guilty.

Wiskedjak · Nov 29, 2006, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by stevesnj

lol...sorry I didnt know the site was a satire site...my bad

The point being that it's almost believable. I fully expect the RIAA to start charging people who hum a catchy tune they heard on the radio.

TheoCryst · Nov 29, 2006, 01:39 PM

Satire, yes. The scary part is how believable this is. I can't speak for everyone else here, but I know that I wouldn't be all that surprised if the MPAA tried to pull a stunt like this next.

TheoCryst · Nov 29, 2006, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak

I fully expect the RIAA to start charging people who hum a catchy tune they heard on the radio.

Australia is beating us to that.

turtle777 · Nov 29, 2006, 02:26 PM

Only in Satirica !

-t

davesimondotcom · Nov 29, 2006, 02:34 PM

Very funny, but at the same time, it is not out of the realm of possibility.

finboy · Nov 29, 2006, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Obviously a joke, but watch yourselves - this kind of thing is coming.

Sounds like something from The Onion.

macintologist · Nov 29, 2006, 03:38 PM

The scary part is that this is quite possible.

Gossamer · Nov 29, 2006, 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by macintologist

The scary part is that this is quite possible.

I'm not so sure about the part about projectors and whatnot having motion detectors to determine how many people are present...I'd like to think that wouldn't get passed.

mitchell_pgh · Nov 29, 2006, 04:21 PM

I'll play "the devil's advocate" here and say that they may have a point (granted, a very very weak one). At what point does a "home theater" become something else?

Also, am I the only person that gets upset that celebrities are given copies of movies ahead of theatrical release for free... but we are "pirates" for downloading them?

mitchell_pgh · Nov 29, 2006, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

I'm not so sure about the part about projectors and whatnot having motion detectors to determine how many people are present...I'd like to think that wouldn't get passed.

Motion detectors?

It's nearly impossible to enforce this... they can't even keep DVDs off the internet weeks before release dates.

turtle777 · Nov 29, 2006, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

I'm not so sure about the part about projectors and whatnot having motion detectors to determine how many people are present...I'd like to think that wouldn't get passed.

Talk about detecting "at least two comfortable chairs, couch, or futon "

How do you detect COMFORTABLE ?

-t

Cadaver · Nov 29, 2006, 07:20 PM

Obviously a joke, but I do agree that this could be coming.

Just like Universal Music Group says that all MP3 players, save the Zune, is a repository for stolen music, when is the MPAA going to say that home theaters infringe on the profits of commercial movie theaters. It would be kind of funny if the MPAA tries to strong-arm microwave popcorn makers and distributers of large bags of candy in to paying a fee to the MPAA for enabling illegal movie performances in non-authorized home theaters.

Kinda funny and scary at the same time.

And I just bought a projector and 106" screen.

But I don't have chairs, so I'm safe (its a couch).

turtle777 · Nov 29, 2006, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by Cadaver

But I don't have chairs, so I'm safe (its a couch).

Can't you read ?

Couch or futon is also included. Duh.

-t