(Also, in a few rare cases, bootlegs have brought attention to something great that would have been otherwise forgotten. I would have never gotten to see the amazing pilot for Lookwell if there hadn’t been bootleg copies floating around and eventually getting screened by somebody who could purchase the right to air it on cable.)

It doesn’t help, either, that some copyright holders have acted like total bad guys, as well. I remember when one of the anti-piracy measures for CDs was to make them unreadable to a CD-ROM drive, which was the only way I listen to legitimately-purchased CDs nowadays (y’know what Alton Brown says about monotaskers…) Or a major music label initially claiming disinterest when their anti-piracy measure made their customers’ machines vulnerable to hackers and only caring when it affected their bottom line.

Piracy is one of those issues where I mostly see both sides being represented by bad guys and people who try to be ethical get stomped on, one way or another.

[...] Following up on the rumorsI’d heard, Comics Buyer’s Guide has details on the anti-bootleg bust at the Motor City Comic Con. Around 5 p.m., Michigan State Police, assisted by members of the Novi, Mich., police, raided an estimated 14 different booths in the hall, according to Con Promoter Michael Goldman. Novi officers were seen leading four dealers from the floor in handcuffs, and police said 10 additional dealers were escorted to police headquarters. [...]

I can undestaand you and Johanna’s views, and I’m not throwing any stones, I would probably buy bootleg copies of certain items if I had more access. After all many people speed even though it is against the law

Ultimately, we all have to draw our own lines, and as you point out, what people choose to do isn’t always the same as what’s legal.

Seriously though, as a guy who has bought resold promotional CDs at music stores since the mid 1980s, I hesitate to stand clearly on either side, because I’d be throwing a stone while standing in my own glass house. I respect the creators who see things crystal clear and clearly have an important horse in this race (and strong legs to stand on [god what mixed metaphors], but as a consumer I see the convenient grays (note I said convenient, I didn’t say right).

And, oh my god, the attitude of some of the people pushing it. Belligerent assholes.

Jane, I hope he’s having a good show!

[...] Jeepers! It’s the cops! http://www.comicsworthreading.com/2006/05/19/motor-city-crackdown/#comments”>Johanna Draper Carlson says “It’s a raid!” [...]

I agree that the room turned very quiet. The remaining dealers on Saturday and Sunday may experience increased business because of the lack of dvds for customers to buy.

This part I don’t know for certain, but it looked to me that some of the bootleg dealers were being allowed to continue to operate their booths. (Only the dvds were confiscated?)

Alan Coil

I always kind of wondered how they got by with all of those bootleg copies at cons. Even family friendly ones like Heroes.