244 DEAR HACKER

244 DEAR HACKER

the courts and the public by claiming this was about piracy when that was not the issue at all. Either they don’t understand their own case or they realized just how far they would get by telling the truth.

Dear 2600:

I used to work for one of the “major” Hollywood studios. Let me say this. Illegal distribution of copyrighted material is rampant within these companies. Distribution also occurs between companies of films in media formats different than their current release.

I wish you well on 2600.com ’s fight against the MPAA. The guidance of this organization is very much blinded. A hard look at the internal policy and procedures of each studio should be conducted before at- tacking outside sources for providing these materials.

I do not deny that piracy occurs outside of the studios by third parties. However, two of the recent major occurrences of films being available for distribution on the Internet were the result of internal control weakness within the “studio system.” The first was a copy of The World Is Not Enough becoming available because a film critic re- leased a screening copy. The second was when an Academy screening copy of a particular film (I do not remember the title) in VHS format was available on eBay. For years now, being able to find an Academy- only screening copy on VHS has been extremely easy. It is because these copies are mailed to Academy members during the Oscar voting period so they can be viewed at home. To easily avoid illegal distribu- tion the Academy should change the policy to force member to visit movie theaters to analyze Oscar nominated films. It is that simple. However, “simple” is not in their vocabulary.

Matt

Dear 2600: You know, ever since these whole CorporateConglomorateSucks.com

parody sites got to be such a big deal (thanks to corporate America’s lack of a sense of humor), I’ve begun thinking about the overbearing, buy ’em all out and make ’em part of us, Monopoly Inc. corporation

T H E M A G I C O F T H E C O R P O R AT E W O R L D

known as Time Warner (or, as I like to call them, Slime Warner). It wasn’t until the whole ABC vs. Time Warner dispute that I started thinking about just how much TW owns. Internet: AOL; Television: TBS, CNN, TNT, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, HBO, Cinemax, the WB Network; Sports: all of Atlanta’s sports teams; Stores: Warner Bros. Studios stores; etc. It wouldn’t shock me if I were to hear that TW’s next move was to buy Micro$oft. Where does the greed (and the insanity) end? And these greedy, power hungry, mega- corp giants actually wonder why people would want to start up sites claiming they suck? Not to mention the BS they claim about copyright and trademark infringement when they’re seeking to shut down all “offending sites.” Personally, I call all sites of this nature “defending sites.” You know, as in defending the right of free speech. When will these parasites learn that until they clean up their acts when it comes to all this crap, they’ll always have a hard time making friends with those of us who know about their slimy tactics and greedy, overbear- ing ways? Keep up the good work at trying to provide something of a wake-up call to these leeches.

7h3 31337 pHr34k4z0id Thanks, except it’s not them we’re trying to wake up. As long as individuals get the

wake-up call and are willing to stand up to these giants, there is hope. Incidentally, as of right now the Time Warner/AOL deal has not been finalized.

Dear 2600:

I have listened to your radio program for years now on the net. I have downloaded the entire archive at this point. The reason I’m writing you today is pretty simple: to give you a good example.

On April 16 of this year, my home burned to the ground. With no insurance, I was left to pick up the pieces as best I could. I’ve had the help of many friends and my family. And so far, I’ve pulled through reasonably well. But, the fire took most of what I owned. Thank god for mp3s! My music collection was hanging in racks with my software on one wall by my computer desk. The racks and jewel cases melted