MPAA Contributes to Public Surveillance

Here is a press release distubuted but the MPAA on there website. It can be downloaded HERE

This just seems wrong that a big conglamorate is assisting LA to put up public surveillance. LAPD is goin to give the MPAA unlimited acces to these camera because of their genrous donation.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MAY 31, 2005


MPAA FUNDS INSTALLATION OF POLE CAMERAS
IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

Los Angeles -- The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) held a press conference today to announce new pole cameras in downtown Los Angeles to help catch individuals engaging in illegal sales of counterfeit DVDs and other crimes. Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton thanked the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) for contributing the money necessary to buy and install10 cameras.

“The MPAA is delighted to assist the fine and dedicated efforts of Los Angeles law enforcement officials in catching people selling illegal DVDs,” said John G. Malcolm, Senior Vice President and Director, Worldwide Anti-Piracy Operations, MPAA. “It is our pleasure to assist them with these cameras which will help them lift a rock and shine a light on rampant counterfeiting of DVDs which used to take place in the dark shadows.”

In addition to LAPD Police Chief William J. Bratton, other participants in the press conference included: Councilwoman Jan Perry, 9th District; Captain Andy Smith, Commanding Officer, central area; and John G. Malcolm, MPAA.

The MPAA donated $186,000 for the purchase and installation of ten surveillance cameras in the Fashion District. The surveillance system is equipped with video capabilities and intelligent software, which identifies human movement. Officers monitoring from Central Police Station can direct officers to suspicious activity.

This is LAPD’s third phase of surveillance camera installations. Cameras were previously installed in MacArthur Park and along Hollywood Boulevard.Councilwoman Perry told the group that cameras previously installed by Hamilton-Pacific have helped crack down on local crime in the area of MacArthur Park and Hollywood Boulevard.

A federal interagency report published in 2004, estimated that counterfeit and pirated goods, including those of copyrighted works, cost the American economy $250 billion a year. In response to the report, the U.S. Justice Department and other federal agencies have committed to increased law-enforcement and prosecutorial efforts against pirated and counterfeit goods.

The MPAA estimates that the film industry lost approximately $3.5 billion to movie piracy in 2004, a total that does not include losses due to illegal file sharing online. According to a Smith Barney study, that number is expected to jump to $5.4 billion in 2005. By deeply cutting into revenues, movie piracy limits the choices for consumers at the box office. Sixty percent of all movies never recoup their production and marketing costs which average well over $100 million. Piracy also hurts the hundreds of thousands of individuals, whose jobs depend on a vital movie industry, including sound and lighting technicians, carpenters, and theatre and video store employees.

About the MPAA:
The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) serves as the voice and advocate of the American motion picture, home video and television industries from its offices in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. These members include: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.; Paramount Pictures; Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.; Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation; Universal Studios from Universal City Studios; and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

# # #


For more information:
MPAA Los Angeles
Kori Bernards
Anne Caliguiri
(818) 995-6600

MPAA Washington, DC
John Feehery
Gayle Osterberg
(202) 293-1966

And how much does the MPAA make from legal movie sales and theatre profits per year? Well Star Wars III has already made $629,700,000 alone since its release.

www.the-numbers.com...

Global Film Industry - Origin of Revenues

* Global annual film production > 3000 films.
* Annual revenues exceed $180 billion*, and are forecast to increase at a rate of 20% per year to
an estimated $450 billion by 2005.
* Hollywood films currently account for about 35% of total industry revenues by value (almost $63 billion).
* Annual Global box-office revenues amount to $21.4 billion, across 205,000 theatres, with total seating capacity of 13.6 million#
* source: Screen Digest
# source: UNESCO report

Movie revenues originate not only from the box office. Video and DVD sales / rentals, network and cable TV, pay-per-view, and on airplanes are all important sources of revenues.

Films continue to generate revenues for their production studios across all of these platforms, known as "windows of exhibition," for years after their theatrical release.

www.factbook.net...

A loss of $3.5 billion in one year for the MPAA doesn't look like much now, does it?

To answer the thread I would say: Whats to stop the "criminals" from just simply moving away from the camera poles??

Besides these companies "might" be loosing money, I VERY much doubt it.

The pics explain for themselves.

b8.picturehost.co.uk...

www.parkyourpic.com...

Just 2 companies out of a heap that are connected to many, many external sources. hmmmm........Funny that.

EDIT: Sorry about that.

[edit on 13/6/05 by Hunting Veritas]

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.



Oh and the tax cuts for the wealthy that bush loves to give really helps the average joe. Seeing as 3.5 Billion is pocket change for the entertainment industry, yet the MPAA puts up a fuss about it just proves how greedy the rich really are.

If I saw 3.5 billion dollars anytime during my life I would spread the wealth and make this world a better place instead of keeping the money for my own greedy purposes.

Well thats the whole arguement about the MPAA. They are greedy as hell. Its not about us takin away money from the poor filmakers its us usurping their revenue. Its absolutly stupid. This is why this buerocratic system is so curropt and need to be broken up.