--- title: "Movie Studios, Theaters Take Hard Line on Wearable Tech" id: "25849" type: "post" slug: "movie-studios-theaters-take-hard-line-on-wearable-tech" published_at: "2014-10-31T19:30:28+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T12:59:46+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/10/31/movie-studios-theaters-take-hard-line-on-wearable-tech/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/10/31/movie-studios-theaters-take-hard-line-on-wearable-tech.md" excerpt: "Planning to wear Google Glass or a smartwatch to the movies? Better make sure it's off once you're inside. Two movie-industry groups took a formal stance on wearable tech this week." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "film piracy" - "Media" - "theater policies" - "wearable tech" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Executive Team" - "For-Profit CEO / President / Owner / Partner" taxonomy_persona: - "Industry Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Movie Studios, Theaters Take Hard Line on Wearable Tech What time is it? If you’re in a movie theater, it’s time to turn off your wearables. That’s the stance of the Motion Picture Association of America and the National Association of Theater Owners, [according to a statement released Wednesday (opens in a new tab)](http://www.mpaa.org/mpaa-and-nato-announce-updated-theatrical-anti-theft-policy/#.VFPcBWemVCK) . > Individuals who fail or refuse to put the recording devices away may be asked to leave. “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,” the associations said. “Individuals who fail or refuse to put the recording devices away may be asked to leave.” The groups described the approach as a “zero tolerance” policy on the matter, adding that theater owners may choose to involve law enforcement. The move [follows a similar mandate](http://associationsnow.com/2014/07/uk-movie-theaters-throw-shade-google-glass/) by Britain’s Cinema Exhibitors’ Association this past summer. At the moment, Google Glass doesn’t pose a significant threat to theaters, because it lights up while recording and has limited battery life. But Apple’s forthcoming smartwatch, although it does not include a camera, could prove challenging because of its direct integration with the iPhone camera. Users could use the watch to remotely control their phones, making the two devices, in tandem, a double threat. The move is another tactic in the industry’s long fight against in-theater piracy. Last year, [Wired acquired a copy (opens in a new tab)](http://www.wired.com/2013/11/mpaa-theater-security/) of “Best Practices to Prevent Film Theft,” an MPAA document that recommends theaters conduct random bag checks and hire private security firms to assist in preventing piracy. “Movie theft causes economic harm to everyone in the industry, from film makers to theater employees,” [the document states (opens in a new tab)](http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/threatlevel/2013/11/mpaaprotocol.pdf) [PDF]. “Furthermore, it jeopardizes the future of movie making.” (lawrencegs/Flickr) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#film piracy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/film-piracy/) [#Media](https://associationsnow.com/tag/media/) [#theater policies](https://associationsnow.com/tag/theater-policies/) [#wearable tech](https://associationsnow.com/tag/wearable-tech/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoUrban Land Institute- Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles After the January 2025 WildfiresSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/urban-land-institute-project-recovery-rebuilding-los-angeles-after-the-january-2025-wildfires/) - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) - [VideoNCRA: Safeguarding Cancer Surveillance: An Advocacy Response to FY26 Budget ThreatsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/ncra-safeguarding-cancer-surveillance-an-advocacy-response-to-fy26-budget-threats/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: All for the Love of Chicago: Rethinking the Destination ExperienceSeptember 10, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/10/associations-now-presents-all-for-the-love-of-chicago-rethinking-the-destination-experience/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2014%2F10%2F31%2Fmovie-studios-theaters-take-hard-line-on-wearable-tech%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !