Date: 15th January 2004

Oscar preview films end up online


Copies of Tom Cruise's new film have reportedly ended up on the internet after being sent to Oscars voters on video.

The BBC says preview tapes of Last Samurai, The (2003) and the Jack Nicholson comedy Something's Gotta Give (2003) are online despite a pledge by voters to ensure their videos were not copied.

All 5,803 Oscar voters have signed forms promising not make their copies of the encoded tapes, known as screeners, available over the internet.

The distribution of preview tapes had been banned by film studios in a bid to tackle piracy, but the rules have been relaxed for the Oscars.

Some film producers challenged the ban, which covered other award ceremonies, and the ruling was later overturned by a judge.

Oscars organisers are thought to have launched an investigation into the latest leaks. The preview tapes can be traced back to the person they were sent out to.

The academy says Warner Bros has not yet identified the intended recipient of the copy of The Last Samurai that ended up online.

Source: Press Release


 

 

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