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Eh. It takes more effort to regionally lock something on the Internet than not. Sony makes this sound like they'll go to every effort eventually to release this

Eh. It takes more effort to regionally lock something on the Internet than not. Sony makes this sound like they'll go to every effort eventually to release this movie across the globe - doing that would require so much less effort than they're currently expending. When you say "wait" you're asking people to assume Sony will get around to considering them equal members of the Internet society. Or they can just assert that power themselves. As much as I can't wait to see the movie (because I'm a fan of absurdist comedy) I'm tired of this conversation. Release it or don't, everyone who wants to see it will. Release it globally or don't, but quit acting like it takes some act of heroism to release a movie outside the U.S.

k-mcgrady 12y ago
I agree with everything you say - but it takes nothing away from my original point. The OP stated that he had 'no choice' but to pirate the movie. He does have a choice. He can wait for them to make it available to him - the cinema release was originally US only anyway. Or his other option is just to not watch it. I'm personally tired of the argument 'I had no option to pirate it'. It's rubbish. It's simply somebody's way of reliving themselves of any guilt or feeling of wrong doing from pirating. Pirate if I you want, just don't make bullshit excuses for it.
- themartorana 12y ago
  It's true, he has a choice. That said, I see pirating in this context as civil disobedience. It's not a new concept, and is used all the time to convey that the status quo is unacceptable to society at large. There is the "choice" to accept things as they are, whether or not you believe them to be good and proper. Or you can break the law on purpose, with purpose, with intent to disobey laws and rules that you see as counter to the greater good. Remember, this is copyright law we're talking about. Pirating is not thievery, and I personally see pirating in places where content is unavailable to be in the same wheel house as pirating as a voice against the absurdity of insanely extended copyright laws. For instance, see The Grey Album.
  - k-mcgrady 12y ago
    I'm highly conflicted on copyright law. I believe if they've made a movie they have the right to distribute it in whatever countries they want, whenever they want. They've put this together pretty damn quick too, I think they deserve a break. In fact they're hoping to expand the available countries to at least Canada in a day or two [1]. They probably already have distribution deals in place around the world (let's not forget the movie was only getting a US cinema release tomorrow originally) and those are probably limiting the VOD options. As for copyright in general - extended copyright laws are nuts. I personally think it's fair for someone to have copyright until they die (no passing it on to relatives etc.). Also, it's a unpopular opinion here, but I consider piracy theft. And I'm not saying that to be morally superior - I've pirated lots of stuff but I consider it theft and wrong. [1] https://twitter.com/Sethrogen/status/547826019390865408 https://twitter.com/Sethrogen/status/547826019390865408
azakai 12y ago
> Eh. It takes more effort to regionally lock something on the Internet than not. Not necessarily. To properly allow your product to be sold in multiple international markets, you need to have customer support in the local languages. You need to support the popular local payment systems. You need localized fraud detection (risks differ by area). You also need to comply with local laws (copyright law differs by country, and rights to show movies may need to be negotiated separately). It's true that you can just put something on YouTube for free and forget about it, and in that case, locking it to one region is just being mean. But when launching a paid and supported product, it's just not that easy. edit: you also need subtitles or dubbing in some areas
- themartorana 12y ago
  Except that it is on YouTube.
  - azakai 12y ago
    As a paid product. You need to buy it. edit: but I realize you do make a fair point, just being on YouTube means that it removes some of the technical difficulties in launching in multiple countries. It still leaves a lot of others, though.
- vsl 12y ago
  Nonsense. You need that stuff for localized releases. Allowing worldwide purchase of the English/US version (take it or leave it) is perfectly possible and is easier. Did you somehow miss how software or SaaS is sold these days? Worldwide? The real reason is probably something mentioned elsewhere here: distribution contracts already in place.

k-mcgrady 12y ago

I agree with everything you say - but it takes nothing away from my original point. The OP stated that he had 'no choice' but to pirate the movie. He does have a choice. He can wait for them to make it available to him - the cinema release was originally US only anyway. Or his other option is just to not watch it. I'm personally tired of the argument 'I had no option to pirate it'. It's rubbish. It's simply somebody's way of reliving themselves of any guilt or feeling of wrong doing from pirating. Pirate if I you want, just don't make bullshit excuses for it.

themartorana 12y ago
It's true, he has a choice. That said, I see pirating in this context as civil disobedience. It's not a new concept, and is used all the time to convey that the status quo is unacceptable to society at large. There is the "choice" to accept things as they are, whether or not you believe them to be good and proper. Or you can break the law on purpose, with purpose, with intent to disobey laws and rules that you see as counter to the greater good. Remember, this is copyright law we're talking about. Pirating is not thievery, and I personally see pirating in places where content is unavailable to be in the same wheel house as pirating as a voice against the absurdity of insanely extended copyright laws. For instance, see The Grey Album.
- k-mcgrady 12y ago
  I'm highly conflicted on copyright law. I believe if they've made a movie they have the right to distribute it in whatever countries they want, whenever they want. They've put this together pretty damn quick too, I think they deserve a break. In fact they're hoping to expand the available countries to at least Canada in a day or two [1]. They probably already have distribution deals in place around the world (let's not forget the movie was only getting a US cinema release tomorrow originally) and those are probably limiting the VOD options. As for copyright in general - extended copyright laws are nuts. I personally think it's fair for someone to have copyright until they die (no passing it on to relatives etc.). Also, it's a unpopular opinion here, but I consider piracy theft. And I'm not saying that to be morally superior - I've pirated lots of stuff but I consider it theft and wrong. [1] https://twitter.com/Sethrogen/status/547826019390865408 https://twitter.com/Sethrogen/status/547826019390865408

azakai 12y ago

> Eh. It takes more effort to regionally lock something on the Internet than not. Not necessarily. To properly allow your product to be sold in multiple international markets, you need to have customer support in the local languages. You need to support the popular local payment systems. You need localized fraud detection (risks differ by area). You also need to comply with local laws (copyright law differs by country, and rights to show movies may need to be negotiated separately). It's true that you can just put something on YouTube for free and forget about it, and in that case, locking it to one region is just being mean. But when launching a paid and supported product, it's just not that easy. edit: you also need subtitles or dubbing in some areas

themartorana 12y ago
Except that it is on YouTube.
- azakai 12y ago
  As a paid product. You need to buy it. edit: but I realize you do make a fair point, just being on YouTube means that it removes some of the technical difficulties in launching in multiple countries. It still leaves a lot of others, though.
vsl 12y ago
Nonsense. You need that stuff for localized releases. Allowing worldwide purchase of the English/US version (take it or leave it) is perfectly possible and is easier. Did you somehow miss how software or SaaS is sold these days? Worldwide? The real reason is probably something mentioned elsewhere here: distribution contracts already in place.