FILM DOWNLOADS TRIPLE BUT INDUSTRY IS CIRCUMSPECT

The BBC reports that illegal downloading of films and TV programmes has tripled in the past year, from 570,000 to 1.67 million. While the industry has pointed out that the impact on its sales could be enormous, it is not overly worried because visual downloads tend to be of inferior quality and are very slow to carry out. However, the growth of broadband internet connections could lead to more downloads as downloading becomes faster. Nonetheless, DVD sales increased in 2003. Lavinia Carey, director of the British Video Association has said "The film, TV and video industries are working closely to pre-empt the threat from online piracy…As long as we can continue to make our traditional product attractive and future online offers affordable and easy, we hope to avoid the worst of the damage."

The IPKat welcomes this refreshing attitude and is glad that the BVA is looking to improve its own product as a proactive way of combating downloading. He hopes that the BVA will continue to subscribe to this approach.

Legal film downloads here and here