“Rick Is Really Upset”

“The Woman He Loves Is Pirating DVDs”

“No Matter How You Say It . . .”

“Pirating Is Stealing”

“Rick’s Feelings Tell Him Piracy Is Wrong”

“Deep Down Ilsa Feels It Too”

“Making Time With Victor’s Girl: Good”

“Pirating DVDs: Bad”

Look, I suppose I’m against rampant copying, too, but there’s something so heavy handed and Orwellian about the film and music industries’ efforts to curb piracy.  These people have brought us the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (which tries to eviscerate fair use rights that are the bedrock of copyright law), have repeatedly sued low income individuals (without even proving that they actually pirated anything), force onerous licensing agreements and contracts on consumers, and wield tremendous political pressure to enlist our nation’s law enforcement officers and trade negotiators in their cause (when many other businesses that suffer from wrongdoing can’t even get the time of day from the government).  Even the Obama Administration recently came out in support of the $150,000 per infringement penalty.

Hearts and minds, Mr. Selznick, hearts and minds.

Click here to see it in all its glory.

If you enjoy this content, add me at twitter.com/JasonAnderman, thank you.

Keep up on Mr. Crowell’s latest updates on entertainment and intellectual property law by becoming a fan at his Facebook Page for his acclaimed book, The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers.

If you enjoy this content, add me at twitter.com/JasonAnderman, thank you.