Timeline of copyright campaigns

Copyright campaigns have existed since videotapes first came out. One of the first ever ones was just a warning at the beginning talking abut how buying fake videos can ruin your enjoyment of the movie you are watching, and a number to call to report if you see any. This particular example was introduced in the 90's, however similar examples have been around since the 80's

This was followed by a ad campaign which is above, and it is about the fact that the man who bought the VHS from this person, and it wasn't good, but he is unable to return it, because the guy just doesn't care enough, and makes up excuses, to not give him the Money back for the VHS

This was followed in 2004 by a creepier ad campaign, at the beginning of VHS's/DVD's. The video is above, and it featured ominous music, and a bald guy who was incredibly creepy, branding stuff with an X. It also featured comparing pirates to terroists, and the phrase copyright is cool, so not being able to see it is not missing out on much. It was also much more creepy than any previous campaigns. The guy is not that much unlike the devil, and this also has connotations that people who pirate stuff are going to hell.

Another campaign that came out in 2004 is this one, arguably the most famous anti-piracy campaigns, comparing the act of stealing a film to that of stealing a handbag and a car, depending on what ad you are watching. This ad is incredibly in your face. It is also one of the most copied Ad campaigns in history, one famous example coming from the IT crowd.

This campaign was followed by a campaign called knock off nigel.The video is above, and this is one famous example which has an irish singer singing a song about how nigel is a massive cheapskate, ruining his date and everything.

Another example is devoted to downloading films, and is targeting nigel in his office, with all of his co-workers getting involved with the will ferrel lookalike song. This is basically calling everyone who copys films pathetic, and showing that they are alone, and looked down upon by people who legally get dvds

Another anti-piracy ad campaign was the last cinema, showing what would happen if everyone downloaded films- There would be no more films to pirate. It aims to scare the people who download films into going to the cinema to give money to the people involved, or the films they are able to download would shrink and shrink by the day

Lastly, there is moments worth paying for. They have plenty of adverts devoted to them. Some they just voice over a normal advert for the advert, and other examples, such as the one above, have the actual actors from the film, and still feature as an advert for the film, but also feature the actors trying to convince pirates to stop pirating their films. They also have posters which have the same basic idea as the adverts.