'Netflix for piracy' Popcorn Time saved by fans

[DVTimes]

A service that offers a Netflix-like interface for accessing pirated films has resurfaced after being closed over the weekend.

Popcorn Time allows free access to movies by streaming content shared illegally as BitTorrent files.

Its makers said they were closing the "experimental" service, but other developers have begun working on it.

One analyst described the software as a "nightmare scenario" for the movie industry.

The software, which launched last week, has been made open-source and posted on a popular code-sharing website.

This means that anyone is now free to use, adapt and, crucially, host the software - making it more difficult to close down.

It also means that while the original Popcorn Time makers decided to "close" the service at the end of last week, it has now essentially taken on a life of its own. It has been translated into 32 different languages.

'Decentralised model'
Popcorn Time lists thousands of movies that can be viewed instantly.

It is powered by BitTorrent files - a typical way of downloading movies - but with an interface that makes it far easier for non-technically-minded people to navigate.

Mark Mulligan, an analyst and co-founder of Midia Consulting, said this should give content creators great cause of concern.

"The next stage of piracy, and one rights holders need to be really worried about, is when the pirates start behaving like the rest of the internet and start making great user experiences."

Read more:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25949340

[Harmon]

You should make your own board and randomly post news articles. You're a fucking moron.

[Rochard]

This is a good post already. This might have huge implications.

We had this issue with music a while back, but honestly not everyone can stream stuff from their computer to their TV. Now it's a lot easier with Chromecast and other such devices, and thanks in part to Netflix doing it legally more and more people are going this route (myself included).

If this becomes common place it could have a huge effect on the movie industry.

[mikesouth]

Popcorn time is getting all the attention but it isnt the only one out there or even the most popular....as I noted in a previous thread XBMC and videomix both do the same thing essentially and both run on android devices.

the only difference being they stream from file lockers instead of bit torrents but a quick look at videomix or 1channel or mashup under XBMC will quickly give you the movie poster, a synopsis a cast list and a one click watch this movie/tv show ability.

most of these dont even bother with porn because thats already all over the tube sites



if you want to see what I am talking about



http://www.thinstallsoft.com/videomix-app/

http://www.xbmchub.com/blog/

http://addons.xbmc.org/category/video/

[mikesinner]

What is the quality like? Most file lockers have shitty quality streams.

[mikesouth]

it largely depends on the file locker most are pretty much SD DVD but many are very high HD quality it appears. if you look at the popular add ons for XBMC most claim to have very high quality HD content, ditto videomix which doesnt run under xbmc but is a direct android app

[JuicyBunny]

Saw the same thing the other day for a site infringing on imdb trademark except made for Japanese content in several languages.
Same logo and everything.

[candyflip]

Quality of the one title I actually managed to stream was on par with Netflix HD.

Escape Plan was a pretty good flick.

[mikesouth]

For the record I have been quietly watching this issue for quite a while most people arenot using it via a pc or a desktop look at home theater PCs that run android...thats the big threat without a doubt stream anything, anytime at netflix quality for free...

On one hand its a market response to the comcast and time warners IRON grip on TV content delivery but that doesnt make it right its still theft.

[SmutHammer]

I thought these industries had heavy mafia ties, why is it so easy for all these pirates to walk fee without worry... Everybody must truly be keyboard warriors!

[DamianJ]

Originally Posted by Rochard

This is a good post already. This might have huge implications.

We had this issue with music a while back, but honestly not everyone can stream stuff from their computer to their TV. Now it's a lot easier with Chromecast and other such devices, and thanks in part to Netflix doing it legally more and more people are going this route (myself included).

If this becomes common place it could have a huge effect on the movie industry.

We didn't have this issue at all a while back. There was never a service that would allow you to 'stream' a torrent.

So, in other news, do you still believe your country didn't break any laws with it's illegal NSA antics?