Watch films?
I preface this post with a caveat: I am not entirely sure about this site. It’s definitely questionable but so far no tragedy has befallen me (I just feel a little foolish for falling into this situation after all these years online).
Here’s the story.
I was informed, by someone I trust but who shall remain nameless in case this all blows up in my face, of a movie download site http://iwatchfilm.com that offered very cheap downloads. Now, I am usually wary of such offers, but as I said, I trusted the source and they reported they were happy with the service they had received so I signed up with iwatchfilm.
So far, so good.
I downloaded a few films, each in standard definition (or close enough) and played them on my home cinema system. They all looked and sounded indistinguishable from DVD playback on a 52" screen. I tried an HD film (which took an age to download but was otherwise okay) and it was similarly successful, very good quality.
Still looking good.
Only later did my ‘little grey cells’ kick in. I started to wonder how on earth they could offer new releases at $2.99 for DVD quality. Yeah, I know, “if it’s too good to be true…”. I decided to do a simple test (one I should have done before!), I searched for Avatar, and it came up! Avatar. You know, the one that is still showing in the cinema theatres. The one that is not yet available on DVD. Suspicious, no? So I did some digging.
A google search for iwatchfilm.com shows up confused results. One poster has put the same complaint on several sites claiming iwatchfilm defrauded him, but that’s the extent of the complaints so far as I can tell. This has put me on alert though, so I am checking my credit card statements more carefully than usual for the foreseeable future. Hopefully, this will be a false alarm raised by someone who confused themselves over some credit card charges because there is certainly not a flood of complaints one might reasonably expect for a real fraud/phishing site (also none of the usual fraud report sites, such as McAffee, are reporting any problems with iwatchfilm).
There is also a claim that iwatchfilm is associated with zml.com. The sites are essentially identical albeit with different window dressing so this is a credible claim. zml.com has garnered something of a reputation for making excessive charges, but I suspect this is as much stupid people not understanding ZML’s charge policy and once again many of the posts are identical so evidently submitted by the same person to several sites. ZML state that for 99cents you get one day’s downloading or 10 films, whichever comes first, but you are committing to monthly charges of $39.90 thereafter. The way the fees are presented (after you have signed up for a free account) and the fact that the $39.90 charge is taken on the second day not being highlighted (although it is mentioned) is disingenuous but not fraudulent. People complained about the monthly charge after taking the 99cent offer, believing they were victims of a bait-and-switch. I remain sceptical and think they simply misread or misunderstood the ZML charge model.
iwatchfilm works differently. You place a deposit in your account against which films are charged as you select and download them. No monthly fees. Simple.
So, there is some small indication that iwatchfilm and zml may not be all they claim but on balance I do not think there is enough credible evidence to suggest they are actually fraud sites.
Some people seem to have the idea these sites are run out of Russia because both sites are attempting the same trick that AllOfMp3 tried, using licensing from the Russian Organization for Multimedia and Digital Systems (ROMS) to avoid paying studios excessive (or any) royalties. This tactic did not work for AllOfMp3 and it probably won’t work for iwatchfilm either. Worse, if iwatchfilm is operating out of the US then they are probably not covered by ROMS.
Jeff Bardin has done the heavy lifting on tracking down ZML. It is clear in his piece that Jeff disapproves of the site and he implies heavily that it is a fraud while carefully avoiding a direct statement to that effect. iwatchfilm.com has a suspicious domain history with many relocations and changes. Suspicious, but my no means conclusive of purpose.
The fact that a company it registered in Cyprus, operated by someone in France, and the site served from the US may be no more sinister than an attempt to veil the operators, confuse jurisdiction, or simply be practicality (I have hosted websites in the US when the price was right). International operations like this are commonly used to exploit legal jurisdiction or, in this case, to make is difficult for organisation like the MPAA to pursue the company and its operators. This all makes iwatchfilm legally questionable but does not suggest any nefarious intent toward their customers.
On the flip side, Jacqui Chang reviewed zml.com for Ars Technica back in 2007. Although Jacqui raises the obvious question of legality there is no indication in the article, nor is there any follow up, that the site is engaged in fraud or phishing.
So where does all this leave us?
Firstly, I am wary but not overly concerned about these sites being outright fraud sites. The reports of ‘fraud’ are actually related to the monthly charge mix-up, not out and out fraud. There is simply not enough credible evidence to support the idea of these sites being used for fraud, but I will keep a closer watch on my credit card bills for a few months just to be sure. If it were not such a monumental hassle I would cancel my credit card but since I have no evidence of actual fraud this seems like a bit of an overreaction at the moment.
Contrary to a couple of claims on-line, the movies I have downloaded so far have been excellent quality. Download speeds seem to have improved since some people complained since I easily achieved 200-300kB/s, which is typical for my line.
As for the issue of legality. Jury is still out (probably literally given the very muddied water around this whole issue) with regard to the licensing, but there is absolutely no question that the newer releases are being obtained by questionable means.
My advice? Caveat emptor. If I knew at the beginning what I know now I would have played safe and avoid the sites iwatchfilm and zml. Since I’m involved now, I will keep you posted if anything happens.
Really interesting article – thankyou! I actually downloaded a couple of films from iwatchfilm yesterday. As you say – quality was excellent and although there are a few seeds of doubt in my mind i’ll keep with it till the police break down my door or my bank account is drained….!!
By the way, it is always a pleasure to have a measured view on the web which is backed by a bit of research and thought. I’m sick and tired of the hysterical bleatings that do the rounds and which only serve to panic rather than inform….particularly since the bad event that has befallen the writer is normally down to their own lack of thought in the first place!
Eztigrrrr: Thanks.
I agree and like you I dislike hysterical pieces. I suspect many such pieces are written this way, not because the author is particularly hysterical but because they know hysteria ‘sells’. Hysteria creates a sense of urgency, jeopardy and drama. It is also very, very annoying!
I also agree with those who says that IWatchFilm is OK. I am using it for some months , they have had some minor technical problems – like – server was not available for some days, but it did not prohibited to download movies, bacause there is some more that 10 days given for download. About low quality movies – well – there are some (I have seen only 2 titles), but there is clearly visible statement about less quality and the free excerpt is avaialble before purchase to help make decision to buy or not. I guess – this was marketing policty with film produceres – they are licencsing low quality recently relesaed film and after some time (half year or more – for recent hot movie) there will be available the full quality editions as well. I think – that prices are reasonable – they are in some range with Applec Inc and they are far more higher than can be expected if they would be fraudulent service. Another issues is – Apple Inc is not operating in many countries and there are really few options how to purchase legal movies and for me IWatchFilm is the only onlines service in my country to do this. And also – the IWatchFilme prices ar almost the same as if I would purchase that film DVD in supermarket store (and one should take into account that the price of material DVD includes that medium, transporation, retail sales expenses, so – the IWatchFilm prices are high enough to indicate that they should be legal service) And the last argument – I think that is more environmentally friendly to download movie from the inernet that to purchase the DVD in supermarket store.
Hero:
The site is most certainly fraudulent to the extent that at least some of the films it offers are acquired illegally. Look at almost any film in their catalogue that is not yet released on DVD or for rental. Films that are still in the cinema theatres are certainly obtained by dubious means. One I saw not so long ago (downloaded by someone other than me) was obviously filmed in a theatre because the camera was knocked some minutes before the end and for the remainder of the film the screen showed some of the cinema ceiling.
Well – but what are other options for me? One, that I am considering for some time is – to register with Apple ITunes as American and provide the fake billing address somewhere in US and try to use ITunes as US customer. Maybe it is fraudulent as well and maybe Apple makes some country coding for its movies and it can be technically impossible to play them in other countries. One other options is to use streaming, which is available on broader scale – but that is thing that I really, really hate and I will never use it; I have heard that at least another brand name is trying to establish downloadable movies service – but I wonder – is it so hard to eastblisth and operate one. IWatchFilms has done it – apparenlty – for years and it works. It is completely dusturbing that movie companies and lot of legal stuff is wasting so much resource to fight illegal downloads but they are not providing legal option. Sorry for offtopic a bit.
I am confused by this whole legality thing. It is almost impossible to check out and confirm.
I have been using Iwatchfilm and assumed it to be totally legal. I had no reason not to. I have had no problems with charges, quality of films and only minor download problems.
I was a little surprised to see Avatar on there but did not overly concern myself. Last week the site was down so I put the name into google to see what had happened and then found a number of posts about it being illegal, so now am concerned.
As an alternative I found an approved site in the UK and downloaded a film only to find that because of the rights protection on it, I cannot stream it to my TV. Very frustrating. Do I have to go back to visiting Blockbuster video store like it is the 1980s?
The thing I dont understand is why the movie companies dont just grab hold of this whole cake and have it for themselves. It is like the 1930s again when the movie industry thought TV would kill them off, before realising that it was actually an extra revenue stream. If the movie companies setup their own download site and made it clear that one year after release the movie would be available for download at $2 or $3 then they would probably make not much less margin than they do today, but on 90% of the pirate copies as well as the legit. The piracy would be more or less killed off, because what money is there in a pirate copy when you can buy the original from the movie company for $3?
There is absolute evidence for this in UK crime statistics. The figures for home burglary are massively down in the last 20 years. Who is going to break into a home to steal a DVD player, when its resale value is only 20 quid?
What are those people that previously would have stolen DVD players doing now? Let me guess….
IWATCH FILMS IS A SCAM:
SEE CONVERSTATION WITH THEIR TECH SUPPORT BELOW:
Nathan Winkler:
account
Welcome Nathan Winkler! Your request has been directed to the Customer Service department. Please wait for our operator to answer your call.
Call accepted by operator Alisa. Currently in room: Alisa, Nathan Winkler.
Alisa:
Hello
Alisa:
Could I help you?
Nathan Winkler:
Hi I was billed for 39EUR for an extension of the trial and I never approved that.
Nathan Winkler:
My order id is 575928868
Nathan Winkler:
I want the 39EUR trial canceled NOW
Nathan Winkler:
I will move all of my money at of that account to ensure that it is not paid unless you can verify the cancellation
Alisa:
Unfortunately, we can not cancel your order because the term of restoring money has expired. Please, read carefully all information before making an order.
We are glad to inform you that now you can download as many films as you want! We hope that you will enjoy our services.
Nathan Winkler:
I want you to take me out of your system immediately so that you can no longer access anything on my credit card and please send me a verification to that effect.
Nathan Winkler:
If I agreed to an order I don’t want then I don’t want this to be repeated.
Alisa:
If I cancel your subscription now you won’t be able to download movies from that moment.
Nathan Winkler:
That’s fine.
Alisa:
Please, tell me your email
Nathan Winkler:
Please cancel the subscrition and remove me from you system
Nathan Winkler:
Nathan Winkler:
Incidentally I sent an email to this effect 2 days ago to your customer support line and never received a respone
Nathan Winkler:
response*
Alisa:
Your subscription is canceled. Your account will disappear from our system when our database is updated.
Nathan Winkler:
I have a record of my email requesting a cancellation 2 days ago with my order number and it wasn’t honored. Why?
Alisa:
Our email does not work now. We work 24 hours here in chat.
Nathan Winkler:
So you advertised that I should contact you via email with the automatic emails sent to me 2 days ago, I contacted via email. And you’re not honoring your own communication system?
Nathan Winkler:
Sounds like a scam I’ll post this conversation on the web to try help others from the same treatment.
Don’t use iwatchfilm.com. It’s a scam. Eventually, they will screw you. I purchased a few movies last summer, but now they deny that I have an account and claim that they are now store.iwatchfilm.com, and they merely sell advertisements on the website. I plan on reporting the website to the Consumer Protection Division of the Local Attorney General’s Office and the FBI.
If you going to download movies please dont use IWatchFilm – they are a complete scam! I have lost a lot of money because I opened a subscription with them using my credit card. My intention is only to warm people about their tactics in hope that this doesnt happen to anyone else.
Last year I purcahsed an expensive subscription which IWatchFilm erased after a couple of months because their ‘billing structure’ changed and they couldn’t reinstate my credits due to their ‘system’.
I then decided not to kick up a fuss and bought another subscription. I really really regret the stupidity of that decision now. I got charged 50 times more than I signed up for…50 times more!!!!
When I contacted the customer care center to inform them about my situation this is the reply they sent back to me:
“We received your request. Unfortunately, we can not cancel your order because the term of restoring money has expired. Please, read carefully all information before making an order.We are glad to inform you that now you can download as many films as you want! We hope that you will enjoy our services.
Best regards from Customer Support Center”
This is twice that they have literally stolen from me and are no willing to refund me
My biggest regret is that they have my credit card details on file because now I’m stuck checking my bank statement every couple of days to make sure they dont debit my account with more things that I didnt sign up for.
Like I said in the beginning, I have taken the time to warn people only beacuse I dont want to see this happen to another person. If you work hard for your money and you dont like companies that misrepresent their marketing to get as much money off your credit card as possible – I urge you not to use them.
Anyway, their movies are recorded with a video camera in a movie theatre so they’re really bad quality – you see people getting up for toilet breakes throughout the whole film and the sound and picture quality is terrible. Trust me, you not missing much…and most of all you not missing money either.