How to Report Bootleg Movie Copies
Reeling from widespread bootlegging and piracy of its product, the movie industry--like its counterparts in the recorded music business--is fighting to protect its creative property. Short of finding some unique anti-piracy method, however, film companies must rely on complaints to track down the people profiting off these illicit efforts. Here are some resources to accomplish that goal.
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Things You'll Need
- Copy of pirated movie
- Details of bootlegging (pirate's name, identity and number of copies made)
- Filmmaker contact information
- Internet access
- Law enforcement contact information
- Online complaint form
- Your own personal contact information
Instructions
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Note all the facts. If you're approached directly, such as by a street vendor selling pirated movies, note as many details about them as possible--including their name, physical description and where they're operating. If you find a copy in a secondhand store, document where you bought the movie. Without the details, the relevant police agency can't pursue your complaint.
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Determine the scope of the piracy, which will likely begin with your local Federal Bureau of Investigation field office. Authorities are more inclined to pursue someone running an organized piracy business, rather than an individual selling single copies, so make sure to confirm those facts before filing a report.
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File an online complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center. This organization is a partnership of the FBI, National White Collar Crime Center and Bureau of Justice Assistance, and is set up as a "one-stop shop" to combat cybercrime. Fill out the form as completely as possible, including your contact information and details of the bootlegged film.
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Consider filling out an online piracy form with the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), which serves as its own watchdog on intellectual property issues and works closely with agencies like the FBI. Visit the "Content Protection" portion of the MPAA website and click on the "Report Piracy" section to access the form.
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Alert the filmmakers about the piracy of their product. Bootlegged copies will have wrong or nonexistent contact information, but you can track down those details through an online search. Write or email the filmmaker and their production company, giving the same information that you filled out on the other forms. Otherwise, the filmmaker is unlikely to pursue a complaint of their own.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't worry about having to turn over the bootlegged copy, unless the FBI or relevant law enforcement agency requests it. If the agency is pursuing an investigation, they will contact you.
Always provide a phone number so that the investigator from the relevant agency can reach you. While the agency will do its best to follow up, it cannot guarantee your complaint will be investigated, nor what kind of action may result.
