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Indie group wins screener ban battle

6 December 2003 8:57 by Jari Ketola | 6 comments

Federal Judge Michael Mukasey on Friday ruled that the MPAA can not stop their members from sending out screener copies of movies. MPAA immediately stated that it will appeal the injunction.

"We know, without dispute, that in the past screeners have been sources for pirated goods both domestically and overseas," MPAA president and CEO Jack Valenti said in a statement on Friday.

But the fact remained that small budget movies would have suffered from the ban the most. Critics simply don't have the time to go and see the number of movies they're seeing now in theatres. Smaller movies have received award nominations and press coverage mostly thanks to screener copies sent to critics.

"I believe people who received screeners will be much more careful [now]. Before people looked at them as Christmas gifts, and there was nothing to tell them they weren't...They came up all nice and wrapped," said producer Jeff Levy-Hinte.

L.A.Critics Association president Jean Oppenheimer was pleased about the ruling. She couldn't tell, however, if the organization would regroup and re-establish its awards. The association called off their awards in October in protest of the ban.

Source:
E! Online

Permalink to this article

Encrypted DVDs to solve the screener problem? (17 June 2004)

Warner and Columbia sued actor over leaked screeners (29 January 2004)

FBI investigates Oscar screener leak (19 January 2004)

MPAA plans to appeal the screener decision (9 December 2003)

DVD screener ruling on Friday (4 December 2003)

MPAA responds to screener lawsuit (27 November 2003)

MPAA sued over DVD screener ban (25 November 2003)

MPAA: No screeners for other than Academy members (17 November 2003)

MPAA and Academy make a deal over Oscar screeners (23 October 2003)

LA Critics call off their awards in protest (20 October 2003)

Writers Guild opposes screener ban (14 October 2003)

MPAA's decision to ban Oscar screeners stands (10 October 2003)

MPAA bans Oscar screeners (1 October 2003)

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Discuss this article!
loginasme (Newbie) 6 December 2003 9:28
This is excellent, it shows what small companys can do. the MPAA will have to think harder and produce a smarter way to stop piracy instead of banning screeners altogether. Thats was just cheating! [ + quote]
loginasme (Newbie) 6 December 2003 9:28
This is excellent, it shows what small companys can do. the MPAA will have to think harder and produce a smarter way to stop piracy instead of banning screeners altogether. Thats was just cheating! [ + quote]
Ghostdog (Senior Member) 7 December 2003 1:06
Glad to see the judge made the right decission. [ + quote]
Vular (Member) 7 December 2003 5:49
This is good news for a change. I just wish we were getting some other good news about the RIAA, because they're just out of control. [ + quote]
Toiletman (Senior Member) 7 December 2003 6:47
w00t!! Now, the indie groups can actually make money. You know what is really funny though, is that the MPAA are putting indie groups in their own anti-piracy commercials. (If they really are real indie groups) When you are on your deathbed, you will wonder, "Did I waste my life? Was it worth spending all that time on that?" Do not despair, no one has wasted their life. After all, you can only waste something if you throw it away. And you can't throw life away. [ + quote]
GrayArea (Member) 8 December 2003 8:00
If a movie does get pirated, it would be the STUDIO, mega OR indie that would potentally lose money, right? Not the MPAA. So how is it that the MPAA thought they could dictate what the studios did in the first place? The studios PAY the MPAA, not the other way around. I'm glad the judge put these bozos in their place. We mustn't lower ourselves to the level of those we loathe, lest we become loathsome ourselves. [ + quote]