Will new anti-piracy campaign work?

A new anti-piracy campaign is to abandon the blunt message that illegally downloading films and TV shows is a crime, and instead ask people to think a little more about the issue.

Instead of putting 'piracy is a crime' messages in cinema and DVD trailers, the new campaign will use well-known faces to show that acquiring films legally supports favourite actors and actresses.

Putting it simply, the message is that by staying legal you keep people in work and support your favourite programmes.

This new approach was announced in the same week that the Government set out new plans to either cut or slow down the internet conections of those found to be illegally file sharing.

The Government wants to cut illegal filesharing by up to 80 per cent, according to The Guardian.

At the moment it is very easy to go online, find a website and download the latest songs, TV programmes or films. You've possibly done it yourself.

It's also very easy to copy CDs and DVDs, and youngsters may even think they are being cool when they do so.

However, there's nothing "cool" about taking money out of people's pockets, and that's exactly what is being done every time a film is downloaded illegally or sold as a pirate DVD.

The trouble is a lot of people, particularly the young 'uns, don't consider film or music piracy to be a crime. There is an assumption that everything on the internet, be it film, music or information, should be free. It's going to be hard to change that attitude.

But, let's hope this is a step in the right direction. If you explain why piracy hurts the entertainment industry, perhaps people will think twice about it.