Copyrights Merit Badges

Boy Scouts in the Los Angeles area not only learn to “Be Prepared,” but “Respect Copyrights” thanks to a campaign by the Motion Picture Association of America that includes a program to award merit badges for Scouts learning about the evils of downloading movies and music.

The patch shows a film reel, a music CD and the international copyright symbol.

“Working with the Boy Scouts of Los Angeles, we have a real opportunity to educate a new generation about how movies are made, why they are valuable, and hopefully change attitudes about intellectual property theft,” MPAA Chairman Dan Glickman said in a statement.

Some 52,000 greater Los Angeles-area Scouts will have the opportunity to learn the basics of copyright law and how to identify five types of copyrighted works and three ways copyrighted materials may be stolen.

Scouts also must choose one activity from a list that includes visiting a movie studio to see how many people can be harmed by film piracy. They also can create public service announcements urging others not to steal movies or music.

The Boy Scouts program is part of a larger MPAA education initiative that includes awareness-raising through such media as Wired Kids and Weekly Reader.

“The Respect Copyrights patch is a fun way for young kids to learn more about what goes into making movies while garnering a deep appreciation for creative works and the importance of copyright protection,” said Victor Zuniga, Los Angeles Area Council public relations director for the Boy Scouts of America.