Selling copies of a movie that you do not have the rights to is illegal. The only people who are allowed to sell movies are retail stores and companies that make agreements with the copyright holder. If you uncle produces the next Blood Diamond movie and you have access to it, that does not give you the right to sell it just because you can make copies of it on your home computer. There is a wide underground market around the country that is involved in the manufacturing, distribution and sales of pirated movies.
This may not be very important to many citizens. However, movie piracy is still wrong. It does not matter if the movie is copied and sold in high quantity or if it is copied from a friend for personal use. There are laws that confirm how copying movies without proper authorization is illegal. Those who copy and sell movies without proper licensing are performing an illegal act. Those who purchase pirated movies are contributing to illegal activity.
It takes money from motion picture studios and filmmakers. That creates indications of bad character in people who pirate movies. Those who copy movies illegally for the purpose of reselling them are stealing. They are stealing from all who have been a part of a particular production. It is no different than stealing other goods such as electronics, cars or jewels. All of these goods are products that are intended for sale.
Movie pirates know that they can make money off of a particular product. In this case, the product is movies. However, this product is often someone else’s movie. Instead of making their own movies or licensing one, movie pirates steal popular Hollywood and independent films. Consumers who buy pirated movies are contributing to theft.
Pirated movies are usually low in quality. Advances in technology have boosted the level of quality for pirated movies to some degree. A few years ago, pirated movies were offered on VHS, with black and white labels. Today, pirated movies are sold in DVD cases with color labels and plastic packaging. They resemble the covers of authentic Hollywood movies that they are imitating. Slim DVD cases are usually what makes pirated movies stand out from the real ones.
The shrink wrap packaging makes pirated movies look just as appealing to consumers as store bought movies. The advances in technology are not the only thing that has boosted the illegal movie business. Pirated movies have become so common among consumers that is has created an immeasurable marketplace for illicit distributors. It is somewhat like the illegal drug market. Anyone can get their hands on thousands of copies of Hollywood movies and profit from these DVD sales.
Many of these points have been covered in an upcoming documentary produced by Madlab Entertainment. Consumers should think twice about purchasing pirated movies. There is no reason to contribute to illegal activity. Those who are selling pirated movies should consider participating in a legalized business such as food or clothing vending franchises. There are tons of small business opportunities available for budding entrepreneurs.
Doing so will prevent many from going to jail or receiving fines when caught selling pirated movies. Starting a legal business is much more respectable than performing an illegal operation. The money from pirated movies may come easy. However, those who do sell unauthorized DVDs to the public will pay for it in the long run.
