EFA lists movies pirates can't obtain legally

Follows content owners' launch of Digital Content Guide

Seven out of the 10 most pirated films this week are not legally available for digital purchase in Australia, according to a new website by Electronic Frontiers Australia.

The website, Can I Watch It?, reports whether the top 10 most pirated movies of the week can be rented or purchased on digital video services including Apple iTunes, Google Play, Quickflix, Presto and Netflix.

The federal government has proposed major changes to copyright law to crack down on online piracy, including a process whereby rights holders can apply for court orders that would force ISPs to block access to websites.

While rights holders and copyright organisations supported the government's proposals, they have raised red flags with ISPs and consumer advocates. The government explicitly seeks to undo the victory of iiNet in a case brought against the ISP by movie studios.

EFA launched its website 10 days after content owners including the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and the Australian Screen Association (ASA) launched the Digital Content Guide, a website listing services where consumers can legally obtain music, movies, video games and other digital material.

On the “Can I Watch It?” website, EFA said of the Digital Content Guide: “It’s got lots of pretty logos.”

EFA said only three of the top pirated movies this week were legally available in Australia:

  • Captain America: The Winter Soldier
  • The Amazing Spider-Man 2
  • Need for Speed

Seven were not legally available over digital services:

  • Divergent
  • 22 Jump Street
  • The Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
  • The Expendables 3
  • Hercules
  • Guardians of the Galaxy
  • The Other Woman

Several of above movies are still in theatres.

Netflix is not technically in Australia, but EFA said they included it because so many Australians circumvent geo-blocking to pay for and use the US subscription service.

EFA said it left out Fetch TV and other services that require special hardware, as well as Mubi and Foxtel Play because you must be a member to search their selection.

While not all the most sought content is legally available, the prices of what is available have been falling.

Foxtel announced today that it will cut in half the price of its Presto subscription service to $9.99 per month. Quickflix has also recently cut its subscription streaming service to the same price.

Adam Bender covers telco and enterprise tech issues for Computerworld and is the author of dystopian sci-fi novels We, The Watched and Divided We Fall. Follow him on Twitter: @WatchAdam

Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAU, or take part in the Computerworld conversation on LinkedIn: Computerworld Australia

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