The Dark Knight Warner's Launches Anti-Piracy Campaign For Dark Knight

[Etienne]

http://www.imdb.com/news/ni0268270/

Warner's Launches Anti-Piracy Campaign For Dark Knight

28 July 2008 11:02 AM, PDT

In advance of the release of The Dark Knight, Warner Bros. launched an unprecedented anti-piracy effort to prevent copies of the movie from being uploaded onto file-share websites and being distributed on DVD, the Los Angeles Times reported today (Monday). According to the newspaper, the studio set up a "chain of custody" system so that studio executives could keep track of who had prints of the movie and where they were at any given moment. The film reels were delivered in staggered shipments so that a complete version was not available in theaters until the last moment. Exhibitors in Australia, where the film opened two days in advance of its U.S. premiere, were given special night-vision goggles to help spot anyone in the audience attempting to camcord the movie. The strategy, according to the Times, kept any print of The Dark Night off the internet for 30 hours -- enough time to allow it to break box-office records in its first weekend. In an interview with the Times, Darcy Antonellis, president of Warner's distribution and technical operations, said, "A day or two becomes really, really significant. You've delayed disc manufacturing that then delays distribution,which then delays those discs from ending up on street corners for sale." (Many of those who buy bootlegged films insist that they are among the most devoted movie theater customers.)

 

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

Good Im glad, anyone who bootlegs this film, does not respect it one bit!

 

[d.k.]

Yeah before the movie started when I saw it on the screen there was a message saying they were implementing new technology to prevent bootlegging of the film

 

[Mike53421]

Umm... good luck with that. It's nice to see them making the effort but let's see how well they do.

 

[Nirvana]

Yeah before the movie started when I saw it on the screen there was a message saying they were implementing new technology to prevent bootlegging of the film

The same happened in my theater...In Imax!

 

[BAILY]

wait who actually 'pays' for bootlegs?? lmao!! just pay to see the movie you cheap bastard.... seriously

 

[Two-Face]

I hate piracy! go buy official DVD.

 

[DARKxGOTHAMITE]

ftw!

 

[SPIDERMAN117]

Idk guys go to Youtube and you will find tens of videos from the film. I doubt Waner Bros. really cares at this point

 

[Two-Face]

I watch clips from movies or music but I won't watch from start to finish.

 

[AxlsAppetite]

man i have the bootleg burned on a dvd already. watch it all day. some of you out there talking about it being disrespectful if you watch this movie on bootleg probably have other bootlegs saved on your computer. Only saying that stuff because its TDK. i think i earned the right to watch it all day everyday on bootleg. ive seen it in theaters around 8 times already.

 

[mavsmaniac21]

i just want to be able to watch it at home before the dvd comes out which i will purchase. i have seen it in the theatres 8 times as well.

 

[Charlie The Red]

Yeah I've seen it in theaters six times. I've paid my dues...

 

[TLH]

The irony is that the people who save money via bootlegs are missing out on the experience of paying to see it in theaters. In the end the joke is on them.

 

[mrwho]

unless those same people see it multiple times in the theaters, then when it's not in theaters, they get a copy until the DVD comes out

 

[Mike53421]

The irony is that the people who save money via bootlegs are missing out on the experience of paying to see it in theaters. In the end the joke is on them.

Yeah I told my one friend that (or at least relayed the message his way) when I heard he watched a downloaded copy. He is apparently going to see it in IMAX this week though...

 

[up2nogood316]

to be far if people are gonna be bothered to download the bootleg to watch after seeing it at the cinema, those same people are also gonna be bothered to buy the dvd / blu-ray version when its out in order to see it in all its glory with extras. it may not be ideal, but plenty of people are blatantly gonna do it. the whole idea with piracy is to take out the SOURCE of where people are getting it from in the first place. taking it out on individuals who get it is pretty cowardly. The thing is, in life no one turns down a free lunch, unless your pretty stupid lol

 

[Lazlo Panaflex]

Hey with how bad the economy is it's hard to go pay $9.00 to see a movie, I've bought pirate DVD's before but because I did like the movie and wanted to enjoy the experience at home instead of looking over some guys head.

Now I don't really care if by buying a bootleg movie makes me a criminal or if I'm enticing the seller to make more bootleg movies, if that person has to make a living why do I care if he's breaking the law.

And just to make matters clear I do eventually go out and buy the official DVD's when their released.

 

[Mollins]

I've downloaded a bootleg too, because I simply can't AFFORD to go and see the film 6/7/8/9 etc. times in the cinema, so I've got a decentish copy downloaded so that I can watch it again and again, but I'm also making a dvd to stick it on for myself, with custom menus and specil features and stuff

 

[Beanjuice]

Lol!

 

[Krypton Girl]

Movie theatres need to figure out how to keep people going to them. $5 soda and $4 popcorn PLUS we have to sit through advertisements in the middle of trailers? It is no wonder that people are looking for a way to see it outside of the theatre. Not to mention all the crying babies and talking people we have to sit with. I don't think it justifies piracy, but going to a movie theatre isn't as pleasant as it used to be, that's for sure.

 

[raxor]

It kind of sucks watching an action movie on bootleg prints..

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

While I am against bootlegging movies that are in theatres honestly does it really hurt the studios especially with big budget movies like this one which happens to be on of the highest grossing movies of all time at this point? Do you guys know anyone who has a bootleg only dvd collection? I watched bootlegs for a while years ago but eventually got sick of how bad they looked and sounded it realized it was just ruining the experience of the movie. I just don't understand how people can watch a bootleg and be satisifed with that. But still I think even with bootlegging going on the studios should just face the fact it happens but its obvious people will still go to the movies AS LONG AS THE MOVIE IS WORTH PAYING FOR. That is the message studios should be getting.

 

[Nepenthes]

3D cinemas and more Imax features will make piracy less of an issue. For blockbusters at least

Batman needs to team up with The Phantom, scourge of pirates everywhere

 

[Nivek]

Old man yells at Cloud.