“Netflix for Piracy” Popcorn Time Saved by Fans

Consumers can’t resist the lure of free entertainment. The film industry may want to shut down software development that provides easy sharing, but Popcorn Time may have the last laugh. The service that freely streams digital content as BitTorrent files, including movies, has been released as open-source software posted free online and already translated into 32 languages. “This means that anyone is now free to use, adapt and, crucially, host the software – making it more difficult to close down,” reports Dave Lee for BBC News. “Popcorn Time lists thousands of movies that can be viewed instantly.” The software is described as easy to use even for non-technical users – and warns those downloading the program that viewing movies in such a way may be illegal. The creators, based in Argentina, have not been identified, but in a blog they criticized the movie industry for restrictions, including long delays in releasing popular films in foreign markets. One analyst interviewed by Lee argues that content creators must prioritize the internet market – and regard online movie services as a “tier-one” entry point. – YaleGlobal