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American Gangster available on P2P prior to theatrical release

26 October 2007 0:34 by Rich "vurbal" Fiscus | 62 comments

More than a week before its theatrical release, the movie American Gangster has shown up on P2P networks, and has even been spotted on DVD on the streets of Los Angeles for a mere $5. The movie, which stars Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, follows such hits as Ratatouille, Sicko, and Hostel: Part II, which were also leaked on the internet before being officially released.

Wall Street Journal sources indicate Universal Studios, who owns the film, is confused about the source of the leaks because there weren't any advance copies distributed. Some internet sources have indicated that it's from a DVD Screener, which at one time was a common source for Oscar nominated movies, although its become less common since the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences began adding Watermarks to all DVDs sent to academy members. Other sites have reported that the copy is of low quality, which combined with Universal's statement of confusion would seem to indicate it's not actually a Screener.

Although the availability of the movie just a week and a half before its U.S. debut may not have much impact on domestic ticket sales, it's well in advance of the movie's planned international release in February of next year. That means there's plenty of time for it to make its way to potential audiences outside the U.S.

Source: Slashfilm

Permalink to this article

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Weinstein Co. goes after "Sicko" uploader (23 June 2007)

Dont blame the Academy for screener leaks says Wired (2 April 2007)

Oscar screener pirate busted (23 February 2007)

Oscar screener pirate found dead in jail cell (1 March 2005)

MPAA files more lawsuits against movie and TV series sharers (25 February 2005)

Actor fined over Oscar screener piracy (24 November 2004)

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Discuss this article!	There are more user comments available, read them here
cleverick (Junior Member) 26 October 2007 18:04
isn't that what being an American Gangster is all about? [ + quote]
hughjars (Inactive) 26 October 2007 18:28
*Originally posted by AZVet:* WOW! I had no idea you good folks across the pond had to pay so much for those services... A little costly to be living in such a beautiful country! - Ha, yeah, that's prt of the deal living here in Europe. *Originally posted by AZVet:* I think my comments may have been a little misleading. The copying I was refering to was when people make copies of movies and music which they have no investment in, simply to avoid any costs at all....... .....It sounds like we are on the same page after all. - Fair enough. The national differences do alter the outlook I guess depending on where you are in this. *Originally posted by AZVet:* Thanks for your response. Very educational and interesting. - NP you're welcome & you too. [ + quote]
svtstang (AfterDawn Addict) 26 October 2007 18:35
@hughjars Look at it from a different perspective...the US $ is so damn weak, you will be rather wealthy if you come across the pond! As long as you can deal with thug like corporations and corrupt politics, come on over! :p [ + quote]
AZVet (Inactive) 26 October 2007 19:24
I'd love to visit the UK again, it's been a long time. As far as the corruption etc., well we certainly have our share here too. Guess politics and corruption go hand in hand all over the world. You remember the one that goes; "power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely...." Have a great weekend and will look forward to another visit soon. [ + quote]
hughjars (Inactive) 26 October 2007 21:37
*Originally posted by svtstang:* @hughjars Look at it from a different perspective...the US $ is so damn weak, you will be rather wealthy if you come across the pond! As long as you can deal with thug like corporations and corrupt politics, come on over! :p - I do have US relatives but you know what they say about 'home'. ;) TBH I think it's all gone crazy & I have trouble seeing it last (and not just in the USA either, we have similar stuff going on here if a little less obvious & brutal). The 'monopoly money' property is supposedly 'worth' is just stupifying (nevermind the seriously 'out of balance' situation that now exists IMO between the people, state and commerce). Sadly it's hard to just up sticks & 'cash in' - it's all relative and you've got to live somewhere......and I do love to live in a pretty town on the coast here. Ireland & the UK & continental Europe can be very beautiful (if I was to choose where I'd like to go it'd be a lovely Greek island I reckon). But every so often I do wonder how it can continue like this & wonder when the next really bad crash is going to hit. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 29 October 2007 11:17
spydah (Junior Member) 26 October 2007 22:07
Frankly ima be very bold with my statement i agree with a lot of post besides that one guy/girl that most people have quoted. If i pay for TV, taxes, and so on i am giving back and so is anyone doing the same is giving back. Point being we end up paying more and more for things we supposedly own like homes, cars that are paid off and you have to keep paying the state to keep your car, taxes on food, buying my few favorite dvds a year i am giving back to somebody mainly the Gov. Downloading a file is nothing close to stealing unless i attempt to sell a product thats not mines especially before it comes out. Whats the difference in when you go to lets say Walmart and get a dvd you like then decide to sell that dvd isnt that the same as selling a copy of a movie you or somebody else made. If a person doesnt physically take someone else's property and start selling it as their own its not stealing. This movie was clearly leaked from somebody in the right position to get their hands on a dvd-screener before it hits theaters. If they want to blame somebody they need to looking at their self because they are the fools with loop holes. [ + quote]
casemodd (Newbie) 27 October 2007 6:45
It was a ok film a little two much hyped & who buys dvds/cds now a days when you can download them with huge connections :) All i buy now are blanks. God bless the internet. My movie collection is over 1,000 & still growing all copies yay. It's great getting a dvd weeks before its in stores if you know where to get them from :) Like many here i live ****** pay taxes,work & movies are overpriced so its my turn to take back even if its wrong & make profit on the side from it also. [ + quote]
DjDanio (Newbie) 27 October 2007 12:07
here's a question (I live in the uk if that helps): if i own a cd, is it legal for me to download it as an mp3? if i own a movie is it legal for me to download it? if i have recorded a programme off of tv, is it illegal for me to download it? if i have recorded a film off of tv, is it legal to download it? Under this logic, i believe that i would be well within my rights to download a film that has been shown on TV ever (well, within my own lifetime lol), as i may have recorded it myself? [ + quote]
hughjars (Inactive) 27 October 2007 13:15
*Originally posted by DjDanio:* Under this logic, i believe that i would be well within my rights to download a film that has been shown on TV ever (well, within my own lifetime lol), as i may have recorded it myself? - You're highlighting the absurdity of the current copyright laws in relation to this type of 'intellectual property'. Once it goes out into the public domain the standard ideas are unworkable, illogical and frankly, IMO, pointless. They're not only out-dated and ill-suited to the reality of the situation but on balance unfit for purpose as they do not actually 'protect' the copyright holder (the serious 'pirates' will always get around the so-called security) but they effect most the paying punter (with things like incompatibility and ultimately over time more and more needless 'work' to make them work properly). The fact is that for any law to be respected & observed by the populace it has to command popular consent, clearly the current law is very lacking in this regard. Right now what we have are poor unfortunates (who only ever downloaded music or movies for personal use and not to sell for profit) being picked out to be held up as examples and their lives are being destroyed with 'punishment' ranging from incredibly ruinous fines and /or imprisonment. IMO that's simply an outrageous and obviously disproportionate abuse of the law not a just use of the law. (and you'll not find someone like Bush prosecuted; despite him saying, long before they were available legally, that the Beatles were one of his favourites on his iPod) Sadly far too much of our law is now determined because international corporations are treated as individuals under the law and their 'rights' can stand over ours. It does vary between states (not everyone has a BBC or a levy on blank media for instance) but with the spread of international law it's more and more 'the same' wherever you go. We can either ignore this like sheep and put up with an patently unjust situation or we can agitate to change the law. That requires a little effort & 'we the people' will have to decide whether we want to devote time to this. It sure as hell won't get any better just bitching about it & doing nothing. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 27 October 2007 13:27
spydah (Junior Member) 27 October 2007 17:07
You know what else makes these complaints about movie downloads stupid is when people have been coping for years especially by VCR. You know how many VCR tapes that were circulated before the DVD era. Them making a big thing about this is dumb and will continue to be. [ + quote]
WierdName (Senior Member) 27 October 2007 18:54
*Originally posted by spydah:* You know what else makes these complaints about movie downloads stupid is when people have been coping for years especially by VCR. You know how many VCR tapes that were circulated before the DVD era. Them making a big thing about this is dumb and will continue to be. But they weren't smart enough to realize that they could sue all those bootleggers to inflate their revenue account. [ + quote]
B33rdrnkr (Newbie) 28 October 2007 17:32
*Quote:* Other sites have reported that the copy is of low quality *Quote:* LoL The quality is f@cking awesome........ [ + quote]
B33rdrnkr (Newbie) 28 October 2007 17:42
*Originally posted by DjDanio:* here's a question (I live in the uk if that helps): if i own a cd, is it legal for me to download it as an mp3? if i own a movie is it legal for me to download it? if i have recorded a programme off of tv, is it illegal for me to download it? if i have recorded a film off of tv, is it legal to download it? Under this logic, i believe that i would be well within my rights to download a film that has been shown on TV ever (well, within my own lifetime lol), as i may have recorded it myself? I was under the impression that it is only illegal to share it, not to download it.... any feedback on that? [ + quote]
WierdName (Senior Member) 28 October 2007 17:44
*Quote:* I was under the impression that it is only illegal to share it, not to download it.... any feedback on that? I think it read that somewhere. It is legal to download the file if you have rights to it, but illegal to upload it. [ + quote]
chwoolgar (Senior Member) 28 October 2007 18:46
*Quote:* *Quote:* I was under the impression that it is only illegal to share it, not to download it.... any feedback on that? I think it read that somewhere. It is legal to download the file if you have rights to it, but illegal to upload it. If you have the rights to your file you can do whatever the hell you want to do with it [ + quote]
svtstang (AfterDawn Addict) 28 October 2007 19:20
You guys need to go over copyright law. In America, it is ILLEGAL to download any copyrighted material, whether you own it or not. When you purchase a cd/dvd/game, you own THE RIGHT to use it, that is all. If you do not believe me read the DMCA. [ + quote]
WierdName (Senior Member) 28 October 2007 19:48
*Originally posted by svtstang:* You guys need to go over copyright law. In America, it is ILLEGAL to download any copyrighted material, whether you own it or not. When you purchase a cd/dvd/game, you own THE RIGHT to use it, that is all. If you do not believe me read the DMCA. Hmm, interesting. Guess I was wrong. Although if everyone computer user is lucky, we won't have to be referring to the DMCA much longer because it will be removed because of how outdated it is. It's like trying to apply horse and buggy traffic laws to modern day car traffic. [ + quote]
svtstang (AfterDawn Addict) 28 October 2007 19:59
I totally agree. The truth, as sad as it is.....is that the people making these laws do not even understand how to operate a computer. I always fall back on this: I bought a dvd, now it is scratched due to prolonged use, when can I expect my free replacement Mr. MPAA? Oh I see, I will not be given a replacement and I am not allowed to make a backup to prevent my situation....makes sense cough It is only a matter of time before people will realize how screwed up current laws are and things will change. Although it may not happen in the foreseeable future, it will happen. [ + quote]
WierdName (Senior Member) 28 October 2007 21:58
*Originally posted by svtstang:* I totally agree. The truth, as sad as it is.....is that the people making these laws do not even understand how to operate a computer. I always fall back on this: I bought a dvd, now it is scratched due to prolonged use, when can I expect my free replacement Mr. MPAA? Oh I see, I will not be given a replacement and I am not allowed to make a backup to prevent my situation....makes sense cough It is only a matter of time before people will realize how screwed up current laws are and things will change. Although it may not happen in the foreseeable future, it will happen. Eventually, enough people will get involved with the madness that something will be done. For now, lawmakers will just ignore the outcries and go on their merry way. Doesn't expecting the unexpected make the unexpected expected and therefore mean your expecting the expected which was the unexpected until you expected it? Opinions are immunities to being told we're wrong. [ + quote]
maryjayne (Junior Member) 29 October 2007 14:27
*Quote:* You guys need to go over copyright law. In America, it is ILLEGAL to download any copyrighted material, whether you own it or not. When you purchase a cd/dvd/game, you own THE RIGHT to use it, that is all. If you do not believe me read the DMCA. It is legal to download and illegal to upload. If it were illegal to download, then services like iTunes and Netflix (using the viewing hours) would be illegal in the US. What you are paying for to legally download is the right to fair use of the downloaded media. This is why a lot of companies use DRM to protect themselves from their customers "abusing" their fair use. There is a few other fuzzy areas as well. If you own a game for example, you can legally download a copy of the game for personal use but if you lose or damage the original then the downloaded copy becomes illegal since you no longer have the fair use rights to that game. Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. - Benjamin Franklin Time is never wasted when you are wasted all the time. - Catherine Zandonella Reality is an illusion that occurs due to the lack of alcohol. - W.C. Fields [ + quote]
svtstang (AfterDawn Addict) 29 October 2007 14:53
Incorrect. Why do you think iTunes is legal?? Here is a hint, you are PAYING for what you download! Nothing complicated about it. You purchase something, you own the right to use what you bought. You do not own the right to anything else besides that one copy. Buying item A does not entitle you to download Item A off the web. Believe whatever makes you feel good, but you are wrong. *Quote:* If you own a game for example, you can legally download a copy of the game for personal use but if you lose or damage the original then the downloaded copy becomes illegal since you no longer have the fair use rights to that game. That is silly. I am sure Nintendo and the ESA agree with you...they have no beef with having an unauthorized copy of one of their products *sigh. You are confusing your opinion with the law. This is a pointless debate, the law is the law and either you understand it or you don't. [ + quote]
borhan9 (AfterDawn Addict) 31 October 2007 17:52
This is surprising why?? this is common practice nowadays :) [ + quote]
FredBun (Senior Member) 3 November 2007 7:38
if you bought your cd or dvd, as long as you are not trying to profit from it use it any way damn well you please, jees its a no brainer. [ + quote]
FreqNasty (Newbie) 3 November 2007 9:03
*Quote:* *Quote:* I was under the impression that it is only illegal to share it, not to download it.... any feedback on that? I think it read that somewhere. It is legal to download the file if you have rights to it, but illegal to upload it. In that case it wouldn't be illegal to upload it to the people who have rights to download it. [ + quote]
WierdName (Senior Member) 3 November 2007 17:05
*Originally posted by FreqNasty:* In that case it wouldn't be illegal to upload it to the people who have rights to download it. Actually, with the screwed up laws here, it's completely plausible. However, someone has since mentioned this is incorrect. Doesn't expecting the unexpected make the unexpected expected and therefore mean your expecting the expected which was the unexpected until you expected it? Opinions are immunities to being told we're wrong. [ + quote]
Norm9 (Inactive) 6 November 2007 20:39
*Quote:* More than a week before its theatrical release, the movie American Gangster has shown up on P2P networks, Hmm! its getting a release here on the 16th Nov, probably the same in UK? I remember the release of X-Men2, wasnt it released in about 90 countries to eliminate piracy? Do you think they'll do that again! [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 6 November 2007 20:46