If there’s one thing that pisses me off it’s movie piracy. And I’m not sticking up for the avaricious studios and suits. I’m sticking up for the key grips, the electricians and the general crew who doesn’t get paid obscene amounts of money to make movies the greatest art form there is.

I’m also sticking up for quality visuals and audio, which I happen to find important. What’s the point in watching an inferior product?

Warner Bros. plan to come down like a tonne of bricks and get medieval on the asses of whoever put the first thirty-six minutes of Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 1 online for download via BitTorrent. Thirty-six minutes of poor quality sound and vision. Hope they find it was worth it when you’re doing time and sharing a cell with a seven foot tall bruiser who’s feeling a little lonesome tonight. Either that or they get a big fine and end up washing their parents car for two hundred years.

Warner Bros. released a quick statement:

“This week, a portion of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 was stolen and illegally posted on the Internet. This constitutes a serious breach of copyright violation and theft of Warner Bros. property. We are working actively to restrict and/or remove copies that may be available. Also, we are vigorously investigation this matter and will prosecute those involved to the full extent of the law.

It’s just not cool. Film-making isn’t a free service, it’s an art based on an economic model – and it’s not cheap! So wait for the release date and go along and watch a superior product. Of course not all films are great and wonderful – and sometimes I even feel ripped off – but theft is theft.