 Producers of independent films like 21 Grams are against the ban |
A contentious ban on sending videos and DVDs to film award judges will lead to a "great reduction" in piracy, one of Hollywood's leading figures has said. Jack Valenti, chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), told a court piracy was "a malignant fungus on the face of our industry".
A group of independent producers is suing the MPAA to get the ban lifted.
On Wednesday, they told federal court in Manhattan it would harm their chances of getting awards and funding.
Restraining order
The ban applies to all awards except the Oscars and means preview tapes and DVDs of films that could be in the running, known as "screeners", cannot be sent to voters.
"I believe there will be a great reduction in piracy from screeners as a result of this policy," Mr Valenti said.
US District Judge Michael Mukasey is expected to issue a ruling on a temporary restraining order on Friday.
One of the independent producers involved, Ted Hope, said awards were a strong factor when investors were thinking about giving money.
Mr Hope recently worked on acclaimed independent films American Splendor and 21 Grams, which have both been tipped as possible award contenders. "When I sit down with an investor, they invariably look at my track record - how my films have performed," he said.
"I can't say I've ever suffered piracy of my movies. The hardest thing is trying to get people to see my movies, not that they would steal them."
Voters of award ceremonies such as the Golden Globes and the Baftas will have to watch the possible contenders at special cinema screenings.
That is thought to be bad for independent films because the voters may be less inclined to watch them than they would if they had a video or DVD in their home.
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The hardest thing is trying to get people to see my movies, not that they would steal them 
