Stop watching.
Marco Arment thinks we can beat the MPAA by not watching their member’s films:
Even if we don’t watch their movies in a theater or buy their plastic discs of hostility, we’re still supporting them. If we watch their movies on Netflix or other flat-rate streaming or rental services, the service effectively pays them on our behalf next time they negotiate the rights or buy another disc. And if we pirate their movies, we’re contributing to the statistics that help them convince Congress that these destructive laws are necessary.
So maybe, instead of waiting for the MPAA’s next law and changing our Twitter avatars for a few days in protest, it would be more productive to significantly reduce or eliminate our support of the MPAA member companies.
In principle—great idea. In practice? Well, here’s a test. Lean over to your girlfriend or husband tonight and tell them to turn off 30 Rock. Or Harry Potter. Or the million other filmed stories they watch. When they ask why, tell them it will help avoid shutting down the internet.
How’d that work for you?
That’s the effectiveness of using consumer purchasing to stop the MPAA.
The alternatives? Campaign finance reform. Play the game. Collaboration.
Or, just kill them.
