Cam (movie copyright infringement)
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Cam (also "CAM" and meaning simply, Camera) is a specific method of motion picture copying, usually infringing upon a copyrighted work. Unlike the more common DVD rip or screener recording methods which involve the duplication of officially distributed media, "cam" versions are original clandestine recordings made in movie theaters.
Typically, the person filming the movie will smuggle a compact digital camcorder into the theater by hiding it in their clothing or in a bag such as a purse or backpack. For this reason, some establishments now ban customers from carrying bags or other containers into theaters. The filmer then records the movie using the camcorder as unobtrusively as possible. They may try to pick a seat as far back in the theater as possible to avoid the attention of other patrons or may choose sparsely attended showtimes. The filmer may also know employees of the cinema who deliberately overlook infringement activity.
A cam uses audio recorded via the camera's microphone. Because of the nature of the audiovisual recording method, the audience can often be heard laughing, or silhouettes as people head for the lavatory or popcorn stall.
The overall quality of cam bootlegs is highly dependent upon the quality of camera used, the skill of the operator in framing the screen, minimizing camera movement, and the method of encoding used before distribution (Which is most commonly XviD). Cams are generally considered to be the lowest fidelity method for duplicating video and film content, somewhat behind Telesync and markedly worse than DVD rips or screeners. For newly released films, however, cams are often the only copies available. One can often find these DVDs available from street vendors for prices equivalent to US$1-$2 in the developing world.
Bootlegged copies of movies, normally taken in a cam method, can be found, literally, on the streets of almost any big city. New York is one of the biggest places where bootleg CAM copies can be found.
See also
External links
- [The Prince of Darknet] - feature story in Legal Affairs regarding movie copyright infringement, May/June 2005
- [Information for cinema employees on how to fight CAM piracy]
| Forms of pirated movie releases |
|---|
| Cam | Telesync (TS) | Telecine (TC) | Workprint (WP) | Screener (SCR) | DVD-Rip | DVDR Image | HDTV-Rip |
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