Pirated copies of Blu-Ray DVDs are creating huge profits for sellers. From the Wall Street Journal: Movie pirates are going after Blu-ray, using a technological twist that makes their illicit copies both cheap to make and tough for consumers to spot. Pirates are taking advantage of the fact that many viewers can’t tell the difference between Hollywood’s new [...]

A Calgary man is believed to be the first conviction under an anti-piracy law in Canada. From CBC News: A Calgary man is believed to be the first person convicted in Canada under new movie pirating legislation when he pleaded guilty to the unauthorized recording of the Johnny Depp movie Sweeney Todd. Richard Lissaman was arrested in a [...]

Warner Brothers will begin selling its movie as downloads in China in an attempt to stem piracy. From the LA Times: The studio struck a deal with Union Voole Technology in China to offer new movies, as well as those that have never been seen in Chinese theaters, at rental prices ranging from 60 cents to $1. [...]

France’s Senate has passed a three strikes law would cut off Internet access for people who continue to download unlicensed music. From the Hollywood Reporter: France is on a collision course with the EU after the French Senate overwhelmingly voted for an Internet piracy law that directly contradicts European Parliament legislation. The Senate’s “three strikes” or “graduated response” [...]

Myspace and MTV is attempting to allow owners of pirated content to profit from their works being display on their websites. From Hollywood Reporter (via Reuters): A new technology that essentially allows content owners to profit from piracy will get a high-profile test this month from MySpace and MTV Networks. Instead of triggering the usual take-down notices, copyright-infringing [...]

Private Universities are spending close to $500,000 in anti-piracy efforts to prevent students from utilizing file-sharing networks. From the Chronicle of Higher Education: Colleges are spending a good deal of money to prevent students from downloading copyrighted music and movies, says a report released today. And with new requirements recently imposed on institutions of higher education by [...]

President Bush signed a controversial bill aimed to stem piracy of music and movies.  From Reuters (via the Washington Post): President George W. Bush signed into law on Monday a controversial bill that would stiffen penalties for movie and music piracy at the federal level. The law creates an intellectual property czar who will report directly to the [...]

Hollywood studios are attempting to get DVD copying software off store shelves by filing a lawsuit in federal court.  From the LA Times: A legal fight erupted Tuesday over the ability of consumers to copy DVDs onto their computers, setting the stage for a new battle between Hollywood and a purveyor of technology that could alter how [...]

NBC is finding limited success in preventing its broadcasts to be shown without permission on sites like YouTube. From cnet: The company is seeing unprecedented success at removing unauthorized videos posted to the Web and cited last month’s Olympic Games and the recent SNL skit with actress Tina Fey as proof. More than 99 percent of all [...]

MPAA officials are targeting the Dallas-Fort Worth area in the state of Texas  for its huge bootleg movie trafficking. From the Houston Chronicle: The Motion Picture Association of America has opened an anti-piracy office in Irving using undercover agents to shut down one of the country’s largest hubs for illegal bootleg activity, officials said. So far this year, [...]