NBC sent us a little something in the mail.

CupNoodle · Post by **CupNoodle** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 12:14 am

It was a letter telling us to stop pirating their shows. Namely, The Office. They only tracked one episode to one roommates computer, but I think we'll hold off on the illegal downloading of television programs for a good while. Adelphia also told us to stop and gave us some helpful hints on how to stop pirating!

I'm not sure if this constitutes as discussion and/or advocation of warez.

SuperMegatron · Post by **SuperMegatron** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 1:00 am

I honestly dont think its illegal to download tv shows. How can you steal something that they give away.

djray · Post by **djray** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 1:00 am

rant: the american version of "The Office" pales in comparison to its British originator and predecessor.

/end rant!

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 1:20 am

The American version of The Office has nothing on the UK's

Im suprised they went through all that effort, for ONE episode. It's not like you were distrubting DVD's of them, which happens quite a lot

MKE · Post by **MKE** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 1:35 am

ive never gotten a letter like that, but ive only dl'ed a few shows that i missed a couple of nights, mainly prison break.

about the only thing ive ever gotten from a tv comp. was a couple pilot video tapes to watch and review.

Wagh · Post by **Wagh** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 1:36 am

MGM sent a friend of mine a letter for seeding TMNT 2. They kicked him off the network at school for a day. The next day he was back at seeding. Never heard back from them.

MulletMan13 · Post by **MulletMan13** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 2:11 am

The US Version has really taken off in Season 2 and become a LOT different than the UK version. It really is pretty damn funny, and the actors are excellent in it. I'd venture to say I even prefer the Second season of the US to the second season of the UK.... first season is all about UK though.

Edit: I guess its regional for me, as I can relate to the people in the US version more-- I know the person types, and although they are (more or less) the same in the UK version, there are some differences that make it feel less real.

Nyarlathotep · Post by **Nyarlathotep** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 2:42 am

Extras > The Office

Patrick Stewart: You've never seen Star trek?
Ricky Gervais: No, I really haven't
Patrick Stewart: Ah, your wife doesn't let you watch it
Ricky Gervais: I'm not married
Patrick Stewart: Your girlfriend then?
Ricky Gervais: I'm not seeing anyone
Patrick Stewart: You're a single man and you've never seen Star trek?
Ricky Gervais: No
Patrick Stewart: Un - believable.

Luriden · Post by **Luriden** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 3:07 am

SuperMegatron wrote:I honestly dont think its illegal to download tv shows. How can you steal something that they give away.

Oh yeah, I forgot that they "give away" DVDs of The Office at Target.

Skynet · Post by **Skynet** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 4:19 am

I got one about King Kong.

Oh well, I own it on DVD anyway.

mink03 · Post by **mink03** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:02 am

if you wanna compare us vs. uk versions of shows just watch coupling... just proof brits are far funnier than us americans...we suck!

Prophet][ · Post by **Prophet][** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:34 am

Skynet wrote:I got one about King Kong. Oh well, I own it on DVD anyway.

you serious? i didn't relize they sent them out here.

Ex-Cyber · Post by **Ex-Cyber** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:44 am

SuperMegatron wrote:I honestly dont think its illegal to download tv shows. How can you steal something that they give away.

There's probably an argument to be made that downloading a TV show for personal one-time viewing is fair use (see the guidelines in 17 USC 107), but I doubt any US court would buy it...

SuperMegatron · Post by **SuperMegatron** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 12:56 pm

Ex-Cyber wrote:
SuperMegatron wrote:I honestly dont think its illegal to download tv shows. How can you steal something that they give away.
There's probably an argument to be made that downloading a TV show for personal one-time viewing is fair use (see the guidelines in 17 USC 107), but I doubt any US court would buy it...

Here is my point if they broadcast the show free over the airwaves and users can freely record it why others who missed the show get it from a friend. There is no difference in downloading a show and taping it with a vcr. The content is the same

Veggita2099 · Post by **Veggita2099** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 1:21 pm

When they broadcast it free on the airwaves you are actually paying them by watching the commercials. Granted you can leave the commercials in a downloaded tv show, however then they are obsolete and no longer really advertise the product nor help the company. Im sure they also say they lose $50 everytime a person downloads a tv show just so they can make up a big figure and claim piracy is costing them that much money.

Egotistical EvilN · Post by **Egotistical EvilN** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 1:22 pm

SuperMegatron wrote: Here is my point if they broadcast the show free over the airwaves and users can freely record it why others who missed the show get it from a friend. There is no difference in downloading a show and taping it with a vcr. The content is the same

If they could track what you record on your VCR, they would be busting people for using them, too.

Egotistical EvilN · Post by **Egotistical EvilN** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 2:15 pm

You can hit pause with a vcr, then unpause it when the commercial is over. Point?

Caboose · Post by **Caboose** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 2:25 pm

When recording with a TV tuner, some programs even have options that automatically cut out the commercials (I'm not sure how well it works, but I know Snapstream Beyond TV has this feature).

butters · Post by **butters** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 3:07 pm

Crazy Caboose wrote:When recording with a TV tuner, some programs even have options that automatically cut out the commercials (I'm not sure how well it works, but I know Snapstream Beyond TV has this feature).

A commercial usually is louder than a TV show, so it wouldn't be hard to filter out.