Interesting anti-piracy approach...

... being tested by Dave Chappelle:

"Attendees at any of Chappelle's 13 sold-out Thalia Hall performances will be greeted by staffers handing out gray smartphone sleeves, available in three sizes. They are then instructed to place their phones inside the sleeves and fasten them, at which point they are welcome to carry them inside the venue.

As soon as they enter the "no-phone zone," however, the pouches will have locked shut via wireless signal, preventing anyone from firing off so much as a winking emoji. Need to make a call or send an email? No problem. Simply leave the designated zone (and head, say, to the lobby bar) and the pouches can now magically be unlocked."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-dave-chappelle-is-creating-844886

Beyond anti-piracy, it also prevents phones from accidentally ringing, vibrating, etc., during the performances. Sounds good!

Updated On: 12/2/15 at 12:12 PM

Everything makes sense now. My life purpose is to make these available to every theater in the world. Brilliant.

Nice reading comprehension! Let me try again: "As soon as they enter the "no-phone zone," however, the pouches will have locked shut via wireless signal, preventing anyone from firing off so much as a winking emoji."

"

Been busy at work and missed that, my bad.

Updated On: 12/2/15 at 12:21 PM

This method came to light at least a year ago: http://www.techtimes.com/articles/17891/20141014/yondr-locks-up-your-smartphone-at-an-event-so-you-cant-use-it-frees-it-when-you-leave.htm

Unfortunately it hadn't gotten much traction, but I remember Chappelle was one of the people mentioned in the articles last year about bootlegging performances, and this method came to light.

I cannot see theater landlords ponying up the cash for this technology, unless it somehow becomes more affordable to the consumer. I am skeptical.

It's an interesting idea but seems more anti-phones than anti-piracy.

Piracy doesn't necessarily require phone service or wi-fi. You can take photos or video or audio without that. By blocking that, and by locking up the phones in the pouch, however, you are blocking (silent) text messages or missed calls (because they can't see the screen) which people will no doubt raise hell about if it was to be implemented.

Forget it. Today a camera lens can fit inside the top button of your shirt.

Yeah, this is a waste of money. Really easy to just say "I don't have a phone on me" or whatever. Best thing to do is have ushers watching out for it and kicking out patrons who are using there phones during the performance. Then again, that would disrupt the show for others. There are too many factors to phone usage in shows to effectively stop it.

I wish people could just use proper theater etiquette so that such measures wouldn't be necessary. But smart idea.

I assume the pouch is a faraday cage, some sort of metallic layer that blocks the signals.

I don't think it prevents signal--the pouch just locks. You still receive calls/signals, but you just can't see or hear the phone/screen from inside the pouch.

I love it. It won't prevent bootlegging, but it may at least deter casual texters.

MyLife said: "What if a cell phone goes off on ring and the patron can't open the pouch to silence it?!"

The proper procedure is to watch them put it in plane mode or turn it off, or do it for them and then put it in the pouch. Obviously this is a whole lot of manpower, though. (And it's not a Faraday cage.) As for preventing recording completely, this solution isn't really intended for that, but rather preventing distraction for the actors and other patrons. This additional layer could provide a simple in-your-face contractual agreement: If you don't use this pouch and are caught using your phone during a performance, you agree that you will be thrown out without a refund. (That's what SHOULD be happening these days anyway, but no one does.)

So this technology only wirelessly locks your phone? It doesn't block cell service? If so, it seems they've found a legal loophole. I just think it opens up a whole can of worms and will not catch on. Too costly, too burdensome, etc., for theater landlords/owners. There is no way they invest in these.