Does anyone know where to report movie piracy to here?
It is regarding a rental company who were using films which looked like they were bought for home use and marked not for reselling, rental etc on them. ie I don't think they had the proper licenses for their films.
I have found the Stop Piracy website but can't actually find anything on there about where to report to.
Many thanks.
The following 3 users groan at Mairi for this post:
Wrong is wrong, but every rental shop I've gotten movies from has had "home use only" DVD's. Whatever. I wouldn't report it, Christ, the cops rent movies there!
If the shop are renting films that are intended for home use then I don't think this is classed as piracy. If I were you I would speak to the shop owner direct before you report them. If you report them it is likely to end with a slap on the wrist but usually no further action is taken by the authorities.
Yes, we had a dispute with them about a payment which was very badly handled.
If this is a 'get them back' situation then it seems more along the lines of Superglue in the locks rather than getting them possibly shut down or worse.
No, they made a mistake with our account and then later changed their minds and decided they wanted money from us which we had no idea we owed.
I just think it is wrong that there are some companies out there who are renting legitimate films and getting the right permits for them and others who don't bother. So they pay less for their DVDs and make more profit. What is right in that?
If the shop are renting films that are intended for home use then I don't think this is classed as piracy. If I were you I would speak to the shop owner direct before you report them. If you report them it is likely to end with a slap on the wrist but usually no further action is taken by the authorities.
Thanks
Chris
Its copyright infringment or something. In the UK, you can't say take it to a pub and play it for everyone or club etc....
Last edited by kevlegs; 22.10.2009 at 12:58.
Reason: ediiiitt
... and in this case you might land straight on your face:
"12. Darf ich eine gekaufte DVD ausleihen (unentgeltlich) oder (gegen Entgelt) vermieten?
Ja, dies ist grundsätzlich zulässig. Wer allerdings Werkexemplare „vermietet oder sonst wie gegen Entgelt zur Verfügung stellt, schuldet dem Urheber oder der Urheberin hierfür eine Vergütung“ (Art. 13 URG), welche im Gemeinsamen Tarif 5 festgelegt ist und durch Verwertungsgesellschaften eingezogen und an die Berechtigten verteilt wird."
In short: It does not matter according to Swiss law what the print on the DVD says... the shop might still pay his duties. Maybe this is why all the movie rentals here have the private copies...
The following 11 users would like to thank Treverus for this useful post:
If you want to "get back at them" then the best thing you can do is close your account. They need customers in order to do business.
If they have only treated you badly then it may just be a one off and the business will survive. However if they treat a lot of people badly then eventually word gets around not to go there and they lose customers thus having to close down.
I am afraid that if you report them then the worst that can happen is that they may get a fine. It is probably a small fine as well but it will have very little impact. It's certainly not as big an impact as losing customers though.
If it makes you feel better then video rental stores are on a time bomb anyway. With most people having internet access it and iTunes already offering movie rentals then it is only a matter of time before they go bust. I bet you they won't be there in 10 years time (possibly 5).
Cheers
Chris
This user would like to thank Chriswelshman for this useful post:
for all you know they may have the original hire version tucked away and are just supplying the retail version, when I was in the trade the hire versions cost at least 10x more then the retail version, so a lot of money to lose if someone scratches the disc. Hire shops are hardly a gold mine nowadays, I can't remember the last time I used one, and in the uk they have just about vanished (apart from blockbuster, god knows how they are still in business)
Live and let live, take your business elsewhere, if they are that bad they'll soon put themselves out of business and you wont have to worry about someone coming looking for you.
This user would like to thank bigblue2 for this useful post:
Thank you Chriswelshman and Treverus for the useful information.
We have asked for our account to be closed.
We had always been uneasy when we received a DVD which looked like it was for home use. Perhaps they do have the correct licenses, I don't know. And it is probably difficult to find out by the looks of things. But they didn't all look like home DVDs which is strange.
I don't mean to be vindictive although probably some bad feeling does creep in whether I consciously want it to or not. I just feel that if they are using DVDs illegally then that is wrong.
I know a lot of people download films and music now and don't see anything wrong in it but I have a problem with that and it is not something I want to be part of.
I don't know what I will do next. Possibly write to them first and ask for their explanation. I might also write to one of the agencies names I have now and ask if it looks like there is a problem before naming names.
Thanks for your help.
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You are right about customer service here. In the UK I am sure the other company would have backed down by now and absorbed the cost and learned from their mistake.
Yes, it was a piddling amount. Yes I complained. Yes it wasn't handled well.
I'm sorry but I don't think this is typical of the Swiss. You seem to think I am attacking the Swiss. It has nothing to do with that. It was one company with appalling customer service. I don't think I have had any other occasion to complain about a company while I have been here.