CineBUZZ REPORT - 31 January 2013

CHINA MAY LIFT BAN ON VIDEO CONSOLES

X-box, Wii, and PlayStations are ban in China

It is a little known fact, but China has had a ban on the sale of video gaming consoles for over a decade.  You can not purchase an Xbox, Wii, or PlayStation console in China.  This ban was initially instituted because of the government's "fears of the potential harm to the physical and mental development of the young" .

Seven Chinese ministries collectively ban the manufacture, sale, and import of gaming consoles for and by the Chinese public since 2000.  Now there are signs that the ban may finally be lifted.

Microsoft introduced its Kinect console (a controller-free game console) to the Chinese mainland last October.  This put a crack in the game console ban as the Kinect system was not used for playing games but for other purposes, such as medical treatment and education. "We hope to launch the X-box into China as soon as possible, we are awaiting government approval", says Zhang Yaqin, Microsoft's Head of Asia-Pacific R&D, "I think the government will lift the sale ban sooner than later."

It is ironic that China has a ban on the sale of gaming consoles as it is the world's largest manufacturer of  the X-Box and other consoles.


THE MOUSE THAT ROARED : TINY ANTIGUA TO ALLOW PIRACY OF U.S. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

On Monday, the U.S. Trade Commission warned the tiny Caribbean countries of Antigua and Barbuda that there suspension of U.S. copyright and patents would not be tolerated by the U.S. government as the suspension would authorize the "theft of intellectual property like movies and music."

The strong statement came after Antigua announced it would enact the suspension unless the United States took its demands for compensation more seriously in a ruling Antigua won at the World Trade Organization (WTO).    Antigua, a former British colony, with few natural resources has been at odds with the U.S. since the late 1990's when it began building an internet gambling industry.  The U.S. has ban on-line gambling.  Antigua argued that the U.S. laws banning internet gambling violated global trade rules and won a key victory on this matter in 2005 when the WTO ruled that the U.S. laws discriminated against foreign companies.  When the U.S. failed to repeal the law, the WTO in 2007, gave Antigua the right to retaliate by waiving intellectual property rights protections.

Mark Mendel, an attorney for Antigua, said "The Americans never negotiated with us. That's the thing about what they say that makes us so upset."  For its part, Nkenge Harmon, U.S. Trade Representative, stated "Antigua would be unwise to proceed with the plan to authorized the theft of intellectual property. Government authorized piracy would undermine chances for a settlement.  It also would serve as a major impediment to foreign investment in the Antiguan economy, particularly in high-tech industries."

My guess is that Antigua will not move forward with its threat and the U.S. will find ways to assist Antigua in replacing lost income for on-line gambling. Trip to the Caribbean anyone?

STAR WARS SAGA LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

Last year, the release of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace 3D was a box-office bomb.  It only generated $43 million in its 16 week run.  Possibly due to this lackluster gross, the other two prequels to the saga - Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith will not be released in 3D versions.  In fact, the scheduled September and October release dates for these two movies has been postponed.

Disney, which now owns the Star Wars franchise, has a new 7th episode in production and may not want to muddy the waters by releasing older, over viewed episodes. In addition to the new 7th movie in the saga, Disney has plans for #8 and #9 episodes.



Best and Happy Movie Going!
Jim Lavorato
Comments Welcomed