Glickman stressed that such legislation would severely harm anti-piracy efforts, a matter of concern to everyone in the film industry. MPAA chief: Net neutrality just a 'clever name'

Marking the trade group’s strongest stance ever on the subject, Motion Picture Association of America chief Dan Glickman blasted potential government interference with the Internet, referring to Net neutrality as “a clever name” but also a practice that would interfere with broadband providers’ efforts to curb movie piracy.

Speaking at a convention of movie theater owners in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Glickman came out strongly against federal Internet regulations that he sees harming his association’s membership.


Studios are concerned that so-called net neutrality laws might someday interfere with using the web as a major distribution channel. “This is a high-stakes debate,” Glickman said. “Do we take a stand for intellectual property rights or cast them aside in the digital environment? Are we permitted to respond to consumers, innovate on their behalf and compete with the world, or are we told by our government to stand down? Today, the MPAA and all of our studios are standing up in opposition to broad-based government regulation of the Internet.”

During his speech, Glickman stressed that such legislation would severely harm anti-piracy efforts, a matter of concern to everyone in the film industry. “No one here needs a lecture on what happens when one illegal copy makes its way to the Internet — God forbid on opening weekend — and is instantly available,” Glickman told the movie theater owners, studio execs and others.

“Today, new tools are emerging that allow us to work with Internet service providers to prevent illegal activity. [But] new efforts are emerging in Washington to stop this essential progress. This effort is being called by its proponents ‘Net neutrality.’ It’s a clever name,” Glickman continued, “but there’s nothing neutral about this for our customers or for our ability to make great movies in the future.”

Glickman went on to say explain how such regs would “impede our ability to respond to consumers in innovative ways, and impair the ability of broadband providers to address the serious, rampant piracy problems occurring over their networks today. “

He also touted the health of the overall film business, urging exhibitors to keep up with new technologies as more moviegoers “pimp their living room” to provide a theater-like experience.

Glickman said the industry was experiencing something of an economic boomlet, with about “5 percent growth in the domestic and worldwide box office — all-time highs for both…” Though international distribution accounts for twice the returns of the U.S. box office, Glickman noted that approximately 1.4 billion movie tickets were sold in the U.S. last year.

If an MPAA survey is any indication, most moviegoers don’t mind what they pay for the entertainment, Glickman said. More than three-quarters of the survey respondents said that going to movies was “time and money well spent.”

The growth of independent films may also have fueled the industry’s boomlet. In 2002, about 450 films were released, while last year saw 600 hit theaters. Six years ago, the big MPAA-member studios accounted for half of all movies distributed, but last year the figure was down to around 30 percent, meaning indie operators were on the rise.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, however, Glickman said that while consumers are tricking out their dens and living rooms with massive flat screens and surround sound systems, it’s those same high-tech devotees who head to the multiplex most often.

“High-tech consumers go to the movies 50 percent more often than their lower-tech counterparts — an extra four trips each year,” he reported. “And, overwhelmingly, consumers say the ultimate movie experience is going to the movies.”

Still, he warned theater owners to keep abreast of technological change, perhaps by selling DVDs at the box office or pre-selling digital downloads when films are still fresh and timely. “We can deliver on new consumer choices, figure out how to make them work and enhance the value chain,” he offered, “or we continue to lose customers, as too often we already do, to lawlessness.”

Referring to several movies during his speech, Glickman praised “Charlie Wilson’s War” for personal reasons, since he and the former Texas congressman served together in the House.

“As you saw in the film, he was an unrepentant ladies’ man. I hoped to have him join us for our screening in Washington, but Charlie was recovering from a heart transplant,” Glickman said. “On his behalf, I made a point of sharing with our guests that all of Charlie’s organs are now in full working condition.”