Film theft

Updated: February 21, 2011

 

In 2009, financial losses to the cinema industry due to copyright theft were estimated to be around £144m. That equates to over 15 per cent of box office, or some 26 million attendances.

 

Film piracy - whether through the illegal recording of films in cinema theatres, the trade in illicit DVDs or through illegal downloading - is theft. It means that those whose talents and efforts went into making the film go unrewarded and therefore has a direct impact on the quality and quantity of films likely to be produced in the future.

 

There is also now strong evidence linking traffic in illegal DVDs with those involved in organised crime – including drug-dealing, people trafficking and pornography.

 

The cinema exhibition sector is already doing a great deal the tackle the issue of IP theft, ensuring that theatre staff are provided with training on what to look for and what to do if they find someone illegally recording a film in a theatre.

 

Recent prosecutions under the Fraud Act 2006 have seen several individuals receive heavy sentences, including imprisonment. 

 

The CEA also supports the work of a range of partner organizations in tackling the wider issues of IP theft, whether they impact on cinema or the home entertainment market. Key strands include:

  • helping to fund FACT, which employs experienced professionals to gather intelligence and undertake investigations, working closely alongside HM Revenue and Customs, the Police, Trading Standards and other anti-piracy organizations;

  • working with FACT to provide training and guidance to staff on tackling illegal recording activity. Revised versions of the FACT Practice Guides on how to tackle such problems, originally launched in 2006, were recently distributed to every cinema in the UK. FACT/the Film Distributors’ Association (FDA) and cinema operators give awards to staff involved in the successful prevention of camcording; and

  • supporting the drive by the Industry Trust for IP Awareness to raise awareness of the impact of illegal downloading and camcording on the film industry, through for example the You Make the Movies campaign.

 

The CEA strongly encourages anyone who witnesses film IP theft or has suspicions that it is taking place to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

 

Further information on those involved in the fight against film theft can be found through the links page.

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