Watermarks target pirates of the multiplexes

May 02, 2007 The threat of video piracy that all distributors face in the Internet era is heightened when they're releasing new episodes from mega-franchises like the big three that are arriving in theaters this month. The ongoing potential for such films to be digitally pirated and sold on street corners around the world before they even open theatrically is a burden that all distributors must cope with. The degree of fear Hollywood feels in the face of relentless global piracy was evident last week, for example, at Sony's all-media screening in Westwood of "Spider-Man 3" at which all electronic devices -- even including basic cell phones without built-in cameras -- had to be checked in the lobby before people were admitted.

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