# What's the right thing to do here? \[Reporting bootleggers at the movie theater\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 22, 2002, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465 "2002-03-22T01:15:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465/21 "2002-03-24T00:40:34Z")
What about reporting people who sneak their own food into the theater? They’re almost literally taking money out of the theater’s pocket - since the theater makes its profit from concession sales - instead of the mere potential harm expressed by “well, maybe he’s going to duplicate it and then maybe some people will buy his bootleg instead of the DVD”. On the other hand, my mother has been known to hide a soda in her purse, because it costs 25c at the store instead of $3.00 at the theater. If she didn’t bring it herself, maybe she would spend $3 at the concession stand, generating a hefty profit… or maybe she’d ask for a free cup of water, costing the theater money. Maybe she wouldn’t spend $5 on popcorn if she didn’t have soda to drink with it. I wouldn’t report my mother for bringing in a soda, so why should I report someone else for doing the same thing? And why should I report someone for taping the movie, which has less potential for harm, and can only harm “big evil corporations” instead of the friendly local theater? ---
**Author:** ![Protesilaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Protesilaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Protesilaus)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465/22 "2002-03-24T03:55:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > **What about reporting people who sneak their own food into the theater?** FTR, not all theaters care about outside food. I worked in one of the big chain theaters for a couple of summers, and never heard anything about stopping people from bringing in outside food. Often, our patrons would carry food openly, and nothing ever happened. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465/23 "2002-03-24T04:05:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > \*\*And why should I report someone for taping the movie, which has less potential for harm, and can only harm “big evil corporations” instead of the friendly local theater? \*\* Reread my initial post. The opposite is true. Studios make money from video/dvd sales and rentals, merchandising, cable and broadcast rights. The friendly, local, theater makes money when, and only when, you buy tickets or those many treats in the lobby. Re-Bootleg Sales In The US As a resident of Philadelphia, I have seen numerous places selling bootleg tapes. Many of the flea markets in the area have bootleggers who can be relied on to be there every week at the same table. People buy these tapes. ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465/24 "2002-03-24T04:10:46Z")
8mm tape ?! Is THAT still in use? could the perp POSSIBLY have recorded the movie in it’s entirety? if not, can you say ‘fair use’? ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465/25 "2002-03-24T04:12:28Z")
**Moderator’s Note:** Modified the thread title to show which of life’s many ethical dilemmas is being discussed here. ---
**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465/26 "2002-03-24T04:29:02Z")
> [@](#): > > Assuming the fellow with the cam at the show is necessarily shooting for the purpose of mass distribution is one heck of a leap. Personal use (or even just curiosity) is far more probable. I’m not sure what world you live in, **muffin** , but I have seen bootleg videos hawked on streetcorners in several major US cities, and I have seen more than one report on the glut of hand-shot bootlegs in China and other Asian markets. I have never known or heard of a single American citizen who snuck a video camera into a movie in order to tape it for personal use or curiosity (and just what the hell is he supposed to be curious about anyway?) I don’t think it takes much of a leap at all to conclude that the guy is most likely bootlegging. Certainly I cannot imagine any American moviegoer imagining that videotaping the movie is an accepted or expected practice. ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465/27 "2002-03-24T05:36:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SuaSponte \* > \*\*Yes! Our very way of life is dependent upon the actions of the Goo Men! Support the Goo Men, and encourage them to Do the Right Thing!Sua \*\* But by no means support the Harlow Men, for they are too aged, even while their taste is purile! 😃 So sue me. I couldn’t resist. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465/28 "2002-03-24T06:28:16Z")
> [@](#): > > How many times has your purchase/download/viewing of a bootleg movie influenced your decision to go to the theater and view said same or possibly different movie? It’s never influenced mine because I’ve never bought a bootleg movie. Aside from the ethical problem, I’ve known too many people who thought they were getting a good deal on a videotape and instead get a good view of the person sitting in front of the person filming. But if I did buy a bootleg tape \*the same week the movie is released in theaters{/i] (which is how quickly they’re on the street here, why would I pay again to see it in a theater? Doreen ---
**Author:** ![Kirkland1244](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kirkland1244](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kirkland1244)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465/29 "2002-03-24T08:02:14Z")
I would not only report them, I would make sure the manager took care of the situation. If he didn’t make them leave, I’d go pester him again. And again. Intellectual property rights are the foundation of everything I hope to do for a living. No one has the right to a bootleg movie, or free music, or any other stolen entertainment. That man is a theif and should be punished as such. At the very least thrown out without a refund. And a swift kick to the head would be good, too. Kirk ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465/30 "2002-03-24T08:13:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chula \* > \*\*Screw them - they can afford it. Intellectual property laws suck. \*\* I agree. Laws that protect the rights of people to profit from their ideas suck. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465/31 "2002-03-24T08:49:38Z")
> [@](#): > > Who was the victim? One assumes that the videographer had paid to be adimitted, and that there would be no resale value of the video. Paying grants you the privilege of viewing the film on the theater’s property, under their terms, not the right to record the film. Look around a little bit when you buy your ticket. You’re likely to see a sign announcing that bringing recording equipment into the theater is forbidden. The theater I frequent most often has it printed on the tickets themselves. Buying a ticket to see a movie is a contract, and not recording the movie is one of the terms of that contract. > [@](#): > > And why should I report someone for taping the movie, which has less potential for harm, and can only harm “big evil corporations” instead of the friendly local theater? The local theater is being harmed. The person buying a copy of “The Rookie” on the street is highly unlikely to be viewing said movie at the local theater. > [@](#): > > The people buying these cheap bootlegs would be unlikely to spend the money on the official copy. They’re also unlikely to go to the theater to see the movie. Movie theaters, and the people who work there, depend upon exclusivity of their product for their income. > [@](#): > > The only “victim” if this crime is the movie studio that lost a few hypothetical cents. So it’s ok to steal from the rich? > [@](#): > > Intellectual property laws suck. Without laws protecting intellectual property, profits from publication in any media would either be non-existent or greatly diminished. Without profit to be made, production and publication would be greatly curtailed. The movies that the bootleggers are stealing exist because intellectual property laws create a profit motive for making them in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465/32 "2002-03-24T10:59:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MGibson \* > **I agree. Laws that protect the rights of people to profit from their ideas suck.** People? If _people_ were profiting, that would be another story. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Number Six_ > **So it’s ok to steal from the rich?** Rich, non-human, corporate entities - hell yes! > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Number Six_ > **The movies that the bootleggers are stealing exist because intellectual property laws create a profit motive for making them in the first place.** Myth. _Movie studios_ would cease to exist by making money off of artists were it not for the profit motive. Do you think that the great artists are driven by money? Do you believe that Van Gogh was considering what his intellectual property rights were while he was painting? Artists are not driven by a profit motive, but corporations are. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465/33 "2002-03-24T11:38:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chula \* > \*\*People? If _people_ were profiting, that would be another story. > > Rich, non-human, corporate entities - hell yes! \*\* Hold on to your hat because I’ve got some shocking news. Corporations are run by human beings. Seriously, you can read about it in a book and everything. Now hold on to your socks because I don’t want them knocked off. Millions of people are employed corporations. Where do you think all those people will go if they’re not employed? > [@](#): > > \*\* > Myth. _Movie studios_ would cease to exist by making money off of artists were it not for the profit motive. Do you think that the great artists are driven by money? Do you believe that Van Gogh was considering what his intellectual property rights were while he was painting? Artists are not driven by a profit motive, but corporations are. \*\* They probably weren’t driven by money. However if they were unable to profit from their art they’d probably have been less prolific. You think Leonardo would have had time to create all those great works of art if there was no profit in it? Marc ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465/34 "2002-03-24T11:40:51Z")
No, you don’t have any obligation to ensure that others don’t record the movie. The theater should have ushers that see to it that people aren’t violating any of their rules. It is their responsibility not yours. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465/35 "2002-03-24T13:06:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MGibson \* > \*\*No, you don’t have any obligation to ensure that others don’t record the movie. The theater should have ushers that see to it that people aren’t violating any of their rules. It is their responsibility not yours. \*\* I’m a burgler and I’m coming around to burgler your house. But first I’m going to tell your neighbours what I’m doing. I’m sure they won’t have a problem with that, as it is your responsibility to see to it that people don’t steal from you. Next week I’m going to break into their houses. Make sure you return the compliment, thanks. My occupation sure would be a hell of a lot easier if everyone felt the same as you. [SIZE=1](Er, this is sarcasm, by the way)SIZE] ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465/36 "2002-03-24T15:07:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > **What about reporting people who sneak their own food into the theater? They’re almost literally taking money out of the theater’s pocket - since the theater makes its profit from concession sales - instead of the mere potential harm expressed by “well, maybe he’s going to duplicate it and then maybe some people will buy his bootleg instead of the DVD”.** I ask, and have never in my life had a theatre (and I used to go to the movies every week…sigh) tell me I could not bring whatever I wanted to eat of drink into it. This is _especially_ important where the theatre has decided to go “Pepsi Only”, and I absolutely refuse to drink Diet Pepsi (except in the UK, where it tastes a lot better). So I walk up to the theatre manager and put it in terms (very politely) of “I want to see your movie, but I will not drink Pepsi. Can I bring my Coke in, or should I go to the Coke-serving theatre down the street?” At one large theatre here, I even have the Manager’s business card, which I keep with me, that has written on the back that I can bring whatever I want into the theatre. All because I just asked politely. As to the OP of reporting the person illegally bootlegging the film - I really don’t see the conflict in whether to report a blatant crime like that. Plus, there’s a certain visceral pleasure in seeing jerks evicted forcibly from establishments. Like kids and their “kewlies” laser pointers in theatres (who I always report as well). **happyheathen** - I think the OP meant Hi-8, which is extremely common and quite good for camcorders. And you can get 2-3 hours depending on the tape. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465/37 "2002-03-24T15:52:34Z")
If you want to report a movie pirate, call the Motion Picture Association of America at 1-800-668-6797. That’s **1-800-NOCOPYS** ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465/38 "2002-03-24T16:19:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Spiritus Mundi \* > **I’m not sure what world you live in, muffin** Look to the left. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465/39 "2002-03-24T16:26:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Futile Gesture \* > **I’m a burgler and I’m coming around to burgler your house.** Home buglary is not analagous to video piracy. ---
**Author:** ![tadc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f07891/32.png) [@tadc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tadc)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465/40 "2002-03-24T16:29:53Z")
A point about the use of the word “steal” in conjunction with this sort of crime… I think this is a misapplication of the word. Stealing is bad because something that is rightfully yours is being taken from you, so you are no longer able to enjoy it/use it/profit from it. That’s not what happens in the case of piracy. What is happening here is your [something] is being duplicated, thereby creating two of [something]. You are still able to use/enjoy/profit from your [something] and it’s still yours. How is it that it’s been stolen from you? Or maybe it’s the profit that’s being stolen? In order to have something stolen from you, don’t you have to have it (be in possession of it) to begin with? What’s being lost here is POSSIBLE, POTENTIAL profit… how can you steal something that doesn’t exist yet? The system we have in place right now allows huge corporations to syphon off most of the money being paid for the art (depriving most artists of a decent living BTW) and prevents most art from being seen by most people; instead we get Brittney Spears and N’Sync crammed down our throats 24/7. Maybe if our intellectual property laws changed there would be a lot of artists making a decent living from their art rather than a very few artists (and a lot of producers) making obscene amounts of money from their (manufactured synthetic) “art”. And another thing… it’s a logical fallacy to assume that viewing a bootleg=not going to the theater. Seeing the movie in a theater (in dolby digital widescreen blahblahblah) adds a considerable level of quality over seeing the movie taped on a camcorder with some guy’s head in the way the whole time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-right-thing-to-do-here-reporting-bootleggers-at-the-movie-theater/99465.md?page=3)