Tag: Senator Chris Dodd

MPAA & Donuts ink partnership to curb online piracy

MUMBAI: The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and Donuts, the operator of new domain name extensions have inked a partnership help ensure that websites using domains registered with Donuts are not engaged in large-scale piracy.

Under the terms of the agreement, the MPAA will be treated as a “Trusted Notifier” for the purpose of reporting large-scale pirate websites that are registered in a domain extension operated by Donuts. The agreement imposes strict standards for such referrals, including that they be accompanied by clear evidence of pervasive copyright infringement and a representation that the MPAA has first attempted to contact the registrar and hosting provider for resolution.

The agreement specifies that Donuts will work with registrar partners to contact the website operator and seek additional evidence. If Donuts or its registrar partner determines that the website is engaged in illegal activity and thereby violates Donuts’ Acceptable Use and Anti-Abuse Policy, then they, in their discretion, may act within their already established authority to put the infringing domain on hold or suspend it.

Overall, the new program is a voluntary best practice designed to help promote a healthier Internet by mitigating blatantly illegal online activity.

“This is a groundbreaking partnership and one we’re proud to undertake. Donuts, as the operator of .MOVIE, .THEATER, .COMPANY and almost 200 other domain extensions, is committed to a healthy domain name environment and this is another step toward a safe and secure namespace,” said Donuts co-founder and executive vice president Jon Nevett.

“I want to thank Donuts for their leadership. This agreement demonstrates that the tech community and content creators can work together on voluntary initiatives to help ensure vibrant, legal digital marketplaces that benefit all members of the online ecosystem. Filmmakers and distributers are already using the Internet to offer more options than ever before for accessing online legal content, including over 115 such sites in the U.S. alone. But sites engaged in large-scale piracy threaten this continued growth and creativity, as well as the livelihoods of the 1.9 million Americans whose jobs depend on our industry,” said MPAA chairman and CEO Senator Chris Dodd.

“Nobody questions that the Internet has made possible dramatic technology innovations both for legal and illegal purposes. We need responsible parties to take voluntary, cooperative action against illegal activities online. I see programs like Trusted Notifier as an ideal step toward making the Internet safer,” said Farsight Security CEO and longtime member of the Internet and open source technical communities Paul Vixie.

“While this agreement is geared specifically to film and television piracy, it can also be adapted to address other illegal activity online,” Nevett said. “Hopefully, it will become a model for similar agreements that can be reached with operators in the domain name ecosystem and other Internet intermediaries.”

The announcement immediately precedes the first Healthy Domains Initiative summit, an event organized by The Domain Name Association, which will convene domain name industry leaders who are focused on issues such as this, including the safe and healthy evolution of the namespace.

February 10, 2016
MPAA & Donuts ink partnership to curb online piracy

MUMBAI: The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and Donuts, the operator of new domain name extensions have inked a partnership help ensure that websites using domains registered with Donuts are not engaged in large-scale piracy.

Under the terms of the agreement, the MPAA will be treated as a “Trusted Notifier” for the purpose of reporting large-scale pirate websites that are registered in a domain extension operated by Donuts. The agreement imposes strict standards for such referrals, including that they be accompanied by clear evidence of pervasive copyright infringement and a representation that the MPAA has first attempted to contact the registrar and hosting provider for resolution.

The agreement specifies that Donuts will work with registrar partners to contact the website operator and seek additional evidence. If Donuts or its registrar partner determines that the website is engaged in illegal activity and thereby violates Donuts’ Acceptable Use and Anti-Abuse Policy, then they, in their discretion, may act within their already established authority to put the infringing domain on hold or suspend it.

Overall, the new program is a voluntary best practice designed to help promote a healthier Internet by mitigating blatantly illegal online activity.

“This is a groundbreaking partnership and one we’re proud to undertake. Donuts, as the operator of .MOVIE, .THEATER, .COMPANY and almost 200 other domain extensions, is committed to a healthy domain name environment and this is another step toward a safe and secure namespace,” said Donuts co-founder and executive vice president Jon Nevett.

“I want to thank Donuts for their leadership. This agreement demonstrates that the tech community and content creators can work together on voluntary initiatives to help ensure vibrant, legal digital marketplaces that benefit all members of the online ecosystem. Filmmakers and distributers are already using the Internet to offer more options than ever before for accessing online legal content, including over 115 such sites in the U.S. alone. But sites engaged in large-scale piracy threaten this continued growth and creativity, as well as the livelihoods of the 1.9 million Americans whose jobs depend on our industry,” said MPAA chairman and CEO Senator Chris Dodd.

“Nobody questions that the Internet has made possible dramatic technology innovations both for legal and illegal purposes. We need responsible parties to take voluntary, cooperative action against illegal activities online. I see programs like Trusted Notifier as an ideal step toward making the Internet safer,” said Farsight Security CEO and longtime member of the Internet and open source technical communities Paul Vixie.

“While this agreement is geared specifically to film and television piracy, it can also be adapted to address other illegal activity online,” Nevett said. “Hopefully, it will become a model for similar agreements that can be reached with operators in the domain name ecosystem and other Internet intermediaries.”

The announcement immediately precedes the first Healthy Domains Initiative summit, an event organized by The Domain Name Association, which will convene domain name industry leaders who are focused on issues such as this, including the safe and healthy evolution of the namespace.

February 10, 2016
‘Furious 7’ production generated $47 million for Georgia’s economy

MUMBAI: The production of Universal Pictures’ Furious 7 contributed over $47 million to Georgia’s economy in payments to local businesses and workers, according to new data released.

The movie opened in theaters on 3 April. The economic impact figures also detail that the production hired 7,500 local Georgians.

Universal Pictures’ Furious 7 is the latest high-profile film to call Georgia home during production, benefiting a wide-array of local businesses across a number economic sectors. The overall spend for Furious 7 includes over $15 million for hotels and nearly $5 million for hardware and lumber supplies. In particular, the production built a number of interior sets along with exterior green-screen sets in Norcross, Georgia. This includes sets used to shoot scenes taking place at an opulent Abu Dhabi penthouse, a cement factory, federal law enforcement headquarters, and even scenes featuring a stealth helicopter.

“The entertainment industry in Georgia has experienced exceptional growth, which in turn has created a sustainable environment for the industry to continue to thrive here. Offering a pro-business environment with competitive incentives and investing in our workforce are just two of the ways that Governor Deal and the Georgia legislature have committed to the growth of the entertainment industry,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Chris Carr.

“The highly-skilled local crew and competitive production climate make Georgia an attractive filming location, allowing the local businesses and workers to reap significant economic benefits. The continued support and leadership of Governor Deal and the state’s lawmakers on this issue has truly enabled Georgia’s motion picture and TV industry to flourish,” said MPAA chairman and CEO Senator Chris Dodd.

Key economic impact figures from the production of Furious 7 in Georgia:

– Spent over $47 million dollars towards local businesses and wages

– Hired over 7,500 local Georgians

– Paid over $15 million on hotels and nearly $5 million on hardware and lumber supplies.

April 6, 2015
China fuels record global box-office revenue in 2014: MPAA

MUMBAI: China’s fillip in ticket sales saw the Hollywood box office touching a new high in 2014.

The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) released its annual Theatrical Market Statistics Report for 2014, which shows that global box office receipts for all films released around the world reached $36.4 billion in 2014, an increase of one per cent over the previous record in 2013.

Growth continued to be driven by a dramatic expansion in the Asia Pacific region, which was up by 12 per cent overall, including China, which jumped 34 per cent and became the first international market to exceed $4 billion in box office ($4.8 billion total). The global growth occurred despite a drop in the US/Canada box office, which at $10.4 billion was down five per cent.

“In the past few years, more people than ever before around the world are going to their local cinemas to see movies made by filmmakers in the United States and all around the globe. This is not just an American story of success, but a worldwide story about the value of craft, creativity and the importance of a story well told. We tell stories that transcend borders and transform individual experiences into shared ones. 2014 was a strong year, and 2015 is starting out tremendously, with box office in the US/Canada up 11 per cent in the first two months of this year,” said MPAA chairman and CEO Senator Chris Dodd.

Additionally, the report showed that films released in the US/Canada by MPAA member studios increased for the first time in five years, reaching 136 in 2014. Total films and total films released by non- MPAA member studios also increased from 2013 (up seven per cent and five per cent, respectively).

In the US and Canadian marketplace, more than two-thirds of the population (68 per cent) – or 229.7 million people – went to a cinema at least once in 2014, comparable to the previous year. Frequent moviegoers who go to the cinema once a month or more continue to drive the movie industry, accounting for 51 per cent of all tickets sold.

March 13, 2015
Global box office receipts reached $34.7 billion in 2012: MPAA

MUMBAI: The Motion Picture Association of America‘s (MPAA) annual Theatrical Market Statistics Report for 2012 shows that global box office receipts for all films released around the world reached $34.7 billion in 2012, an increase of 6 per cent over 2011.
U.S./Canada box office was up 6 per cent over last year to $10.8 billion, due to a 6 per cent increase in admissions to 1.36 billion. Domestic ticket prices remained flat in 2012.
"I am happy to report that in 2012, both global and domestic box office was up and so were domestic admissions," said MPAA Chairman and CEO Senator Chris Dodd.
"Great storytelling, memorable characters and an ever-innovating theater experience brought more people around the world to the movie theater in 2012 than ever before. It‘s a powerful reminder of just how much movies matter – not just to our culture, but also to our economy. Our industry supports 2.1 million jobs in the United States and more than 120,000 of those jobs are in movie theaters. So as you‘re looking at this report, it‘s important to remember the real economic impact these numbers have."
International box office was also up in 2012, driven by growing markets like Russia, Brazil and China, which grew by 36 per cent in 2012 to become the largest international market, surpassing Japan. 2012 also marked the first year that digital screens surpassed analog screens in international market share. Over two-thirds of the world‘s nearly 130,000 cinema screens are now digital.
"The cinema industry serves an increasingly diverse audience, by age, gender and ethnicity," said National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) President and CEO John Fithian. "The record box office, here and abroad, shows that when we meet that diversity with a broad range of movies and amenities, cutting edge technologies and viewing options our industry thrives."
In the US and Canada, 3D box office was comparable to 2011 levels at $1.8 billion, despite fewer 3D film releases.
More than two-thirds of the U.S./Canada population – 225 million people – went to the movies at least once in 2012, consistent with prior years. Cinema ticket sales continue to be driven by frequent moviegoers – those who go to the movies once a month or more. Frequent moviegoers represent 13 per cent of the population but purchased 57 per cent of all tickets sold in 2012.

March 22, 2013