MUMBAI: On 11 June the Optical Media Board (OMB) and the Motion Picture Association (MPA) launched a new anti-piracy movie trailer at the new Ayala Trinoma Cinema at Quezon City, Manila, in conjunction with the preview screening of Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

Presiding at the launch of the MPA-produced trailer, which will be screened prior to feature film presentations in more than 150 cinemas nationwide, Optical Media Board chairman Eduardo Manzano said, “By maintaining constant pressure on pirate strongholds, the Optical Media Board are determined to send a powerful message to the criminal gangs that damage the Philippines’ creative industries and investment climate. This new Anti-Piracy Trailer complements our enforcement efforts and highlights to the Philippine public that the full weight of the law will be brought to bear against anyone attempting to manufacture or distribute pirate movies in the Philippines.”

The trailer, which features Filipino actors and a voice over by Manzano, was produced to make moviegoers aware of the laws protecting copyright and to encourage the public to reject pirated movies found online or on DVDs.

“The Optical Media Board has done a sterling job in enforcing the law, but Filipinos must recognize they too have an important role to play in the fight against copyright theft,” said Motion Picture Association senior vice president and regional director, Asia-Pacific Mike Ellis.

“Movie piracy hurts every film studio, cinema and home entertainment company, including Filipino establishments. Local jobs are lost and economies suffer when governments are unable to collect taxes. The trailer released today is aimed at reminding consumers that piracy is a crime that harms the creative industry and society as a whole,” he said.

The trailer launch comes during a two month long region-wide MPA anti-piracy enforcement campaign, code named Operation Tripod, running in 13 countries and territories across the Asia-Pacific region. While targeting the production, distribution, export and sale of pirated movies throughout the region and around the world, Operation Tripod will also focus on the illegal camcording of newly released titles in cinemas.

By cracking down on the availability of illegally pirated movies in retail shops, markets and street vendors during this peak summer period, when major blockbusters are released, the MPA aims to protect sales of cinema tickets and legitimate DVDs, and VCDs in the Philippines and throughout Asia Pacific.

Operation Tripod operations will be conducted in Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.