News Section Logo NEWS - Return to news section

 

MPAA Wants 'Zero Tolerance' Approach to Phones, Recording Devices At Movie Theaters

Posted by: , 19:47 AEDT, Fri November 22, 2013

Permanent Link     Add Comments
submit to reddit
The MPAA updates guidelines that call for increased scrutiny of people with walking canes, long coats and people who pull out their phones during movie screenings
News story feature image
Image/Photo Credit: m4tik @ Flickr

The MPAA has published an updated set of guidelines for movie theaters that urges the adoption of a zero tolerance policy for recording devices, including phones.

The guidelines cover not only the recording of video footage, but also audio and even still pictures of "any portion of a movie". In addition, the guidelines urge theater staff to assume a "guilty until proven innocent" stance, and report all suspicions to the law enforcement.

"Theater managers should immediately alert law enforcement authorities whenever they suspect prohibited activity is taking place ... Let the proper authorities determine what laws may have been violated and what enforcement action should be taken," the updated guidelines state.

The guidelines to be vigilant and suspicious when it comes to cinemagoers, asking theater staff to observe patrons and look for any "unusual" signs, such as people wearing long and heavy coats. Theater owners are also asked to be suspicious of innocent looking equipment, such as walking canes, or the placement or phones in cup holders, as signs of a possible movie pirate. Even the theater staff themselves, and any friends they invite to showings, should be put under increased scrutiny.

For pre-release screenings, the MPAA urges even more drastic steps to curb pre-release recordings. Bag searches, night vision equipment are all recommended, and MPAA investigators may join security teams for the screening as well.

You can read the full guidelines here (courtesy of TorrentFreak).


Comments:

Related News:

News Icon MPAA Comes Out Swinging Against Brief That Shows Piracy is not Harmful

posted by: Sean F, 22:45 AEDT, Thu October 10, 2013

News Icon MPAA Updates 'Notorious Pirates' List

posted by: Sean F, 15:28 AEDT, Sun October 27, 2013

News Icon White House Pushes Forward With New Anti-Piracy Initiatives

posted by: Sean F, 16:52 AEST, Sat June 22, 2013

News Icon Netflix's Warning to Theater Owners, Owners Fight Back

posted by: Sean F, 22:10 AEDT, Thu October 31, 2013

News Icon Piracy Won't Kill Entertainment Industry

posted by: Sean F, 21:47 AEST, Fri October 4, 2013