Simpsons Movie arrest shows rise of mobile-based cinema piracy

The movie industry is already paranoid about piracy, with good reason judging by the ease with which you can download brand new films if you know your way around peer-to-peer file-sharing technology. We always imagined the original pirates were sitting in cinemas with hidden camcorders.

That could be changing. A 21-year-old Australian has been arrested after uploading a pirated copy of The Simpsons Movie, shot using his mobile phone. According to the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft, he's not the only pirate switching DVcams for mobile handsets either.

It's interesting that just as more powerful phones are enabling companies like Nokia to forge new partnerships with Hollywood studios, so they're also opening up more opportunity for piracy. Although we have to say, we'd rather wait for the DVD than watch a pixelly mobile-shot version of most films.

(via Engadget Mobile)