Staff members from cinemas across the UK have been recognised for intervening to prevent the illegal recording, or ‘camming’, of films. The Film Distributors’ Association (FDA) and Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) provide cash rewards to cinema employees who identify those illegally recording a movie in a UK cinema.
An enhanced reward period, doubling the maximum reward from £500 to £1000 for cinema staff who prevent and report illegal recording between April and June 30, has been announced.
The 11 members of staff, including employees from Cineworld, Odeon, Vue and for the first time Showcase cinemas, were each presented with a certificate and cash reward at a ceremony hosted by Universal Pictures. Collectively, they represented 11 incidents, all of which police attended, with four leading to formal cautions and three leading to arrests.
Since its establishment in 2006, the programme has rewarded 134 members of cinema staff for helping to protect such popular films as The Hunger Games – Mockingjay Part One, Fifty Shades of Grey and The Theory of Everything.
Mark Batey, FDA Chief Executive, said: “The perpetual vigilance of colleagues in cinema exhibition across the UK is crucial in the fight against film theft. As we enter a summer packed with fantastic new releases, their great work in preventing and reporting illegal recording is more important than ever, and we are pleased to double the maximum reward available during this peak period to ensure the UK remains as secure a market in which to release all kinds of movies as possible”.
Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, added: “FACT’s strategy, funded by the film distributors and put into action by cinema staff across the UK, seeks to identify and prevent the initial recording that seeds piracy globally. We continue to work together with UK cinema operators to support the success of the cinema experience and to allow continued investment by FACT’s members in exciting entertainment for all audiences.”
FDA also provides extra resources for FACT to support cinema staff training and online scanning, as well as a supply of night vision devices to help staff deter recording attempts in situ. Film theft from cinemas worldwide remains the single biggest source of illegal copies online and counterfeit DVDs, according to FACT.
