SIIA’s new music video “Don’t Copy That 2,” the sequel to its 1992 classic “Don’t Copy That Floppy,” has had a dramatic, worldwide impact on anti-piracy awareness.  Since its September 9th release, SIIA’s “Don’t Copy That 2” music video has been viewed more than 255,000 times on YouTube, where more than a thousand people have posted comments about the video and its message, “It’s not just a copy. It’s a crime.”  The video has also been a favorite of bloggers and Twitter users around the world, who have made it the subject of hundreds of tweets and postings over the last two weeks.

People either love it or hate it, but either way Don’t Copy that 2 is having a powerful impact.  And that is exactly our goal – to deliver our anti-piracy message to audiences around the world. The criminal consequences of piracy are significant, but we can’t expect to deliver that message simply through reports, press releases and run-of-the-mill educational materials.  Don’t Copy that 2 is reaching young and engaged audiences that need to understand that pirating copyrighted works is a serious crime.”

People have called it ‘hysterical,’ ‘genius,’ ‘contemporary drama at its finest,’ and my favorite – ‘the worst anti-piracy ad ever.’  Whatever you want to say about it, one thing is clear:  ‘Don’t Copy That 2’ has gained the attention of both those who obey – and those who violate – copyright laws.  The video is fun to watch, and perhaps even more fun to critique, but it has unquestionably been a successful means for delivering a serious message.