Helped by Technology, Piracy of DVD’s Runs Rampant in China

Few Chinese wait for the latest American film to open in local theatres to see it on big screen. Thanks to the internet and computer technology, pirated films are readily available throughout China long before their scheduled premiers. Small, locally owned pirate stores have emerged in cities and towns across the country, catering to China's growing market for pirated DVDs and costing the American film industry an estimated $168 million a year. These stores not only offer DVDs at a fraction of the price of movie tickets, but provide a selection that is unparalleled by any legitimate venue. Chinese movie-lovers can peruse collections that include everything from mainstream American movies and French classics to Japanese and Korean romances and gangster films. China's technology-savvy bootleggers easily evade an assortment of government laws and industry safeguards to supply this selection, and the quality is constantly improving, though it continues to vary. The rich, if illicit, offerings are meeting the need of an emerging generation of Chinese hungry for new cultural experience. – YaleGlobal