Underground Internet file-swapping circles were buzzing Wednesday with rumors that a copy of "The Matrix Reloaded" had been released online, a day before its theatrical opening date.
Information posted on several widely read hacker sites described a two-CD release of the Warner Bros. film by a group that had earlier claimed to have posted the "X-Men" sequel, "X2." The news sparked a frenzy of activity in Internet Relay Chat (IRC) channels and other forums dedicated to movie swapping.
Some individuals claimed in chat sessions that they had seen copies of the movie, a sequel to the blockbuster "The Matrix," as early as Wednesday morning. CNET News.com could not confirm the complete accuracy of the information. However, still shots that appeared to be taken from the movie had been posted online.
A one-minute sample file obtained by CNET News.com also appeared to be genuine. The video file was of medium quality, providing watchable but somewhat blurry resolution at full-screen size, but had a dark picture that occasionally made it difficult to make out details.
Tom Temple, director of worldwide Internet enforcement for the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), said he had no information indicating that the movie had been released early online.
"We have seen a lot of files named 'Matrix,'" Temple said. "We have not seen that one actually was (the sequel)."
The prerelease online of big-budget movies has become a growing concern for Hollywood studios, even if to date the trend has shown little sign of undermining box office revenue. The MPAA, in tandem with the Recording Industry Association of America, has sued file-swapping companies whose software provides potential access to pirated films to millions of people at a time.
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Information posted on several widely read hacker sites described a two-CD release of the Warner Bros. film by a group that had earlier claimed to have posted the "X-Men" sequel, "X2." The news sparked a frenzy of activity in Internet Relay Chat (IRC) channels and other forums dedicated to movie swapping.
Some individuals claimed in chat sessions that they had seen copies of the movie, a sequel to the blockbuster "The Matrix," as early as Wednesday morning. CNET News.com could not confirm the complete accuracy of the information. However, still shots that appeared to be taken from the movie had been posted online.
A one-minute sample file obtained by CNET News.com also appeared to be genuine. The video file was of medium quality, providing watchable but somewhat blurry resolution at full-screen size, but had a dark picture that occasionally made it difficult to make out details.
Tom Temple, director of worldwide Internet enforcement for the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), said he had no information indicating that the movie had been released early online.
"We have seen a lot of files named 'Matrix,'" Temple said. "We have not seen that one actually was (the sequel)."
The prerelease online of big-budget movies has become a growing concern for Hollywood studios, even if to date the trend has shown little sign of undermining box office revenue. The MPAA, in tandem with the Recording Industry Association of America, has sued file-swapping companies whose software provides potential access to pirated films to millions of people at a time.
Want to learn more?
http://msnbc-cnet.com.com/2100-1026...&part=msnbc&tag=alert&form=feed&subj=cnetnews