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© 2015 AFP'The Interview' DVDs dropped into North Korea by balloon
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© 2015 AFP
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Harry_Gatto
Distributing copies of a DVD movie is illegal isn't it? Usually says so at the beginning of the movie.
ReformedBasher
Might want to send some DVD players too. Portable ones, with batteries.
My initial reaction is the whole thing is some feel-good drivel, but it may serve as "proof" to an underground few (?) that the country's leadership is ridiculed overseas. Revolutions thrive on emotion.
KnowBetter
I was laughing so hard at that statement that I was in tears.
harvey pekar
"North Koreans are paying as much as £30 for copies of the film (The Interview), around ten times as much as South Korean TV shows usually cost on the country’s black market, according to Free North Korea Radio, an online radio network made by defectors from North Korea."
http://www.independent.co.uk/
Dropping copies of the DVD for free? The North Koreans are probably grateful!
Jalapeno
Wouldn't be surprised if Kim Jong Eun has anyone caught with the DVD to be beheaded.
theFu
Are each of these copies legal? If not, the MPAA needs to get a ruling against Lee Min-Bok for the $4K/incident.
Or did Seth provide these excess copies for free to clear out the warehouse of this terrible movie?
nath
The MPAA is an USA Organisation with limited powers outside the country.
CrazyJoe
I hope they have a TV set?
Heckleberry
Many North Korean households apparently have a small portable DVD player they use to watch forbidden contraband South Korean movies/drama. Many of them would be aware of the lies of their dictator. It's no longer the 1980s and more and more North Koreans are realising they are being lied to.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/27/us-northkorea-change-insight-idUSKBN0MM2UZ20150327
GW
Hey Lee-san please send some balloons with dvds towards Japan too as I want to watch this flick but its no where to be seen LOL!! Can you give us some copies when the winds are blowing over towards Chiba!!!!!
YeahRight
Seems to me that as long as the DVDs were purchased legally and weren't being resold that the purchaser has every right to do with those copies what said purchaser wants to do with them.
I find nothing in this article to smack of illegality.
CoconutE3
Does average North Korean family even own a DVD machine or even computer to watch it?
M3M3M3
They are not legit purchased copies. The movie hasn't been released in South Korea but these copies are apparently being distributed with Korean subtitles included. That said, I don't know what the law in South Korea says... maybe copyright infringement is not a criminal offence?
FrancescoB
That is because you are expected to do the math yourself. It is highly unlikely those are all legally purchased copies.
But, given all the trouble with distribution the movie faced, the copyrights might have been waved. Maybe.
Anyway, everyone seems to be merely questioning the legality (even providing question marks) not demanding an arrest, so chill.
Anyway, you have seen all those dire warnings for copyright infringement haven't you? You have heard of how Disney, Sony and friends have been increasing penalties and forcing new laws through legislatures right?
B-man
I am still waiting for Unbroken to be released here in Japan. Maybe China will send some balloons with DVD's this way.
gubijin
Wonder if N Koreans will understand the dialogue in this slapstick comedy. If Mr. Lee was going to take the trouble to make copies, and distribute from a balloon, he should've used something more meaningful, and a story that would appeal to the masses.
FizzBit
I'd launch a few profanities is some tried giving me a Seth Rogan movie.
toshiko
DVD published by Sony Picture Entertainmen, USA prohibit copying and distributing. Warning statement shows on screen. But if you copy and keep copy and keep mouth shut, Sony can not find. However, if you have a big mouth and tell that you copied and distributed, Sony will do something. Like sueing, You never can tell what it uses to catch culpit. Not necessarily Keishicho or FBI as culpits are in Korea. To be sued is peaceful but ....... BTW, a majority of Korean houses use fire used lamps in the evening. TV ? A majority of people don;t know what it is.
inshikoku
I wonder if they will send copies of Myeongryang dvds by balloon here. Shouldn't be necessary, but, hey, the movie has to get to Japan somehow.
I don't think that the JT item from August last year (http://www.japantoday.com/category/entertainment/view/film-on-1597-victory-over-japan-breaks-korean-box-office-records since 'expired') was enough to make the movie's existence widely known.
bpsitrep
That's as awesome as the movie! But N.Korea has the best adjective statement writers though.... “merciless retaliatory strikes”. or the 'die in overflowing seas of fire and ash'. When the NK's see the movie and how hot actress Diana Bang is compared to the recent photo of Un's 'comfort women'.......that's going to cause a major problem.
ReformedBasher
@Heckleberry
Thanks for the link.
Interesting but not so surprising. Other despotic regimes had/have citizens who have similar things. Maybe not DVDs, but radio, television, newspapers, etc.
Yeah, one would want to give the ordinary folk a little credit.
Here's hoping that the day the current dynasty falls is coming soon, and it's replaced with something that does not treat it citizens worse than dirt.
Pandabelle
I find it really hard to believe that anyone in North Korea would want to watch, let alone would care about, some crappy, overhyped Hollywood comedy.
Of all the ways to try change the situation in North Korea, airlifting DVDs of this pile of junk is about the stupidest.
patty cake champion
With all the hype over their noble intentions, did anyone think about the trouble it would cause for some random North Korean person who has enough hardships as it is and wants to be left alone but accidentally comes across this package?
Aaron Lloyd Brummett
Unfortunate that each DVD has a region 1 code... so they will be unplayable on all North Korean DVD players. BTW, Believe it or not, DVDs are considered old skool in North Korea. Be nice if the rest of the world could catch up!
toshiko
N Korea and S Korea have been in movement of unification. I doubt S Korean Govt approve this action. I don;t know what is dropped in N Korea. It is (I don;t have) not advertised so my guess is Blue Ray + DVD + digital HD. If someone has DVD player, need TV or Screen monitor to watch. And a good utility connection. Can not use on fire lamp utility. these balloning people could be sabotaging unification. VUDU version, maybe. Anyway, I think they are sabotaging unification.
Wc626
Region-free dvd players are a dime a dozen. Lol- those are the ones NK prob use too.
Serrano
@Heckleberry
Thanks for the informative link.
toshiko
If they ballooned original they are safe from copyright infringement but if they copied original to DVD disk by using /dvr and ballooned, Sony can sue.
Paul Bryan Spain
TheFu: It's leagal..the U.S. State Dept. was involved with this film and hoped to use it for the purpose of enticing the people in North Korea to revolt, Though I think it's gonna take more than a movie..Now if we can find armed sleeper cells there and send them some high grade weaponry to storm and attack the army with that would help.