Once upon a time there was a writer named Roger Friedman who wrote for a subsidiary of Fox’ news program Fox 411. He performed this duty with the consistency that would allow him to keep this job for a decade.
Then he figured that he would do the world a favour and write a review for X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Oh, did I mention his employers didn’t offer him a copy of the film? Nope, part of his review was to talk about how easy it was to get a copy of the leaked workprint online, and despite the positive review that he gave, Fox couldn’t allow that to go on. Fox condemned his actions, and disowned him before giving him his walking papers.
Fox was publicly adamant about their position on the illegal status of their work print being uploaded, and had brought in the FBI to pursue the issue.
When Fox discovered what Friedman wrote, his bosses felt his article was a blatant promotion of piracy.
Seeing as how a Fox employee is promoting the very thing that they deemed harmful to their technological property, they took swift action. Friedman’s article was removed and he was let go from his position of 10 years.
I coudln’t see any way this could have turned out differently.
Perhaps he thought that being a good little boy for the subsidiary for so long, that his positive review of the leaked workprint would garner him some favour. Seems he is not the most respected in the Fox bullpen. Perhaps he figured he was bullet proof.
This guy WORKS for a news network. He has to be aware of what the legal ramifications would be in REPORTING that he downloaded an illegal stolen workprint, and bragged about other movies he downloaded as well. Did he really think that the positive review might save him?
Worse, is that he WORKS for them. If he wanted to review the film, he could have asked his superiors to arrange a copy for him. If they agreed, then he would have been able to offer his opinion piece without having to admit his illegal actions against his employers. Granted a review by a Fox employee might not have endured much credibility online, but at least he would be employed.
I honestly don’t know what this guy was thinking. He got what he deserved.
Friendly Reminder Links to downloads, comments endorsing downloads or offering reviews on the film will be removed. Please keep on the discussion, and not encourage piracy.
EDIT: Apparently people didn’t get the message. Discussing illegal downloads and encouraging it as less than the simple illegal act it is will get the off topic comment removed. As a result a fair number of comments had to be removed. Kindly keep on topic people.
