Moviegoers with smart watches, smart glasses or any other kind of “wearable technology” must shut their devices off come showtime, according to the movie industry’s updated anti-piracy policies.
“We maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward using any recording device while movies are being shown,” reads the joint statement from the Motion Picture Association of America and the National Association of Theatre Owners. “As has been our long-standing policy, all phones must be silenced and other recording devices, including wearable devices, must be turned off and put away at show time.”
Individuals caught not following the rules may be asked to leave the theater — or worse.
“If theater managers have indications that illegal recording activity is taking place, they will alert law enforcement authorities when appropriate, who will determine what further action should be taken,” the statement says.
The updated zero-tolerance policy applies to 32,000 movie screens in the U.S. and comes at a time when technology like smartphones make it easier than ever to record and pirate films. It also follows developments in June, when groups like the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, an Austin, Tex.-based theater chain, moved to ban use of Google’s futuristic eyewear, Google Glass, during movies.
The inclusion of wearables on the list of banned products isn’t exactly surprising. Theater owners have been on the lookout for some time. But it does reflect the growing adoption of wearables. It could also make for some uncomfortable conversations between theater security guards and patrons engaging in harmless behavior like merely checking the time on their smartwatches.
Strict as the new policies seem, they pale next to the consequences: Under U.S. law, any movie faces up to three years in prison.
In other words: Shut down your wearable tech. Two hours untethered is nothing compared to time behind bars.
