Don't Steal Movies, the Film Industry Tells Boy Scouts

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Digital Journal — The movie industry is so scared of piracy it’s reaching out to a demographic already bound by tight moral ethics: the Boy Scouts.

Young do-gooders in California can now earn an activity patch for learning about the evils of media piracy. The patch shows a film reel, a music CD and the international copyright “C” set in the middle of the statement “Respect Copyrights.”

In what sounds like a story out of The Onion, the Motion Picture Association of America plans to lead the Boy Scouts through tours of movie studios and help the kids create public service announcements about the dangers of stealing music or movies.

“Working with the Boy Scouts of Los Angeles, we have a real opportunity to educate a new generation about how movies are made, why they are valuable, and hopefully change attitudes about intellectual property theft,” said Dan Glickman, chairman and CEO of the MPAA, in a statement.

The program is available for 52,000 Scouts in the Los Angeles area, with more California-wide initiatives planned. The Scouts’ ages range from 6 to 21.

It seems almost absurd for the MPAA to exert their influence on these young’uns. Are they that worried about piracy they need to create a Boy Scouts badge about it? Then again, this is the same association that forces theatre-goers to endure sappy commercials about stuntmen losing their jobs because of BitTorrent frenzies. The more the MPAA piles on the treacle, the less credible they appear.

What is also troubling is the Boy Scouts’ involvement in this project. While the educational aspect is altruistic, it’s only a matter of time before product placements sneak itself into the traditional pastime of Boy Scout activities. “In order to advance to the next level, Bobby, you’re going to need to get a Pixar badge!”

If this brainwashing trend continues, expect the Boy Scouts to be the laughing stock of the world. If they aren’t already.