The Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) has teamed up with the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) for an anti-piracy campaign that will includes thousands of video stores across the country.
According to VSDA President Bo Andersen, next month thousands of video retailers will begin playing the first of two 45-second long anti-piracy trailers on their in-store monitors, with a second trailer slated for January. The trailers will then alternate monthly on an indefinite basis.
Other measures planned as part of the anti-piracy campaign include displaying anti-piracy posters and counter cards in their stores.
"Home video is America's favorite way to view the latest movies, and as a result video retailers are threatened with significant losses from movie piracy," Andersen noted. "Video stores are in an excellent position to educate millions of consumers about the problem and consequences of movie piracy before the problem spins out of control."
Both trailers were first released in theaters. The trailer that will be distributed in December, "Street Vendor," takes a stand against physically pirated DVDs being sold on the street, whereas “Downloader,” the trailer that will be distributed in January, reminds computer users that downloading copyrighted material is another form of theft.
The posters and counter cards feature the "Parental Guidance Suggested" and "You Can Click But You Can't Hide" messages that the MPAA began using earlier this year.
Retailers that are members of the VSDA will be provided the materials at no cost to them. Retailers can obtain the materials, at no cost, by filling out an order form that is currently being mailed out to the VSDA’s entire membership. “We don’t want to ship out a bunch of stuff to retailers if they don’t want to use it. This way retailers can decide what to use in their store,” Sean Bersell, the VSDA’s vice president of public affairs, told AVN.com.
Bersell expects VSDA members should have the relevant order form by the end of the month.
Major and mid-sized chains and independent video retailers, representing almost 10,000 video stores in the U.S., will be participating in this program.
The trailers and collateral materials for the anti-piracy campaign can be seen at the MPAA’s Web site.
