Monty Python Videos on Youtube Lead to 23,000% DVD Increase

[RoyGBiv]

Subtitle: The MPAA can bite me.

Following up on our previous news regarding Monty Python material on iTunes, Mashable is now reporting on a staggering increase of Monty Python DVDs sold on Amazon soon after the Python crew made some of their their more popular material free on Youtube. And by staggering, I mean 23,000% worth. Mashable notes that Monty Python’s DVDs climbed to the #2 spot on Amazon’s Movie’s and TV Bestseller List, and you don’t have to be a genius to follow that the sales were probably influenced by the Amazon links found on all of their Youtube clips.

When launching their massive Youtube effort, Monty Python made their intentions fairly clear:

“We’re letting you see absolutely everything for free. So there! But we want something in return. None of your driveling, mindless comments. Instead, we want you to click on the links, buy our movies & TV shows and soften our pain and disgust at being ripped off all these years.”

http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/01/23/free-monty-python-videos-on-youtube-lead-to-23000-dvd-sale-increase/

For those that don't know, Monty Python clips have been available on YouTube as long as YouTube has been around, but the quality has generally sucked, and many of those clips have been subjected to take-down notices. Well, the Pythons, who have had the good fortune to maintain control over much of their catalog, got a new idea. Let's offer it for free, in our typically Python-esque way, and see what happens.

Well, this is what happened.

The MPAA/RIAA, et al can bite my multi-hued ass.