Google Glass gets banned in Alamo Drafthouse theaters

By Staff Writer | Jun 11, 2014 09:23 PM EDT

Google would need to count out Alamo Drafthouse from the list of businesses who welcome its controversial wearable. The cinema theater chain has imposed a ban on Google Glass in its theaters, and will require moviegoers to take off their Google gadgets once the lights go dim and the trailers start, Tech Times said in a report.

Alamo Drafthouse Chief Executive Officer Tim League said that his company has been mulling over the ban on Google Glass for around a year. According to League, he personally tried wearing the gadget at demos in Austin, but realized that the futuristic wearable could pose risks of films getting pirated by enterprising individuals. He said that the ban was a necessary things for the company to do and it had to be implemented. The decision on imposing a ban on Google reportedly started when moviegoers were spotted wearing Google Glass inside Alamo Drafthouse theaters.

He told Deadline, "I realize that technology may change and this type of device may eventually become widely adopted and even replace traditional glasses. Down the road our policies may have to morph. Given the technology that exists today, however, I decided that banning the device while movies are playing is the best decision for us right now."

Film piracy has been an issue in the movie industry, and the act itself is a criminal offense, Tech Times said. For the makers of Google Glass, it could expect more bans to be issued on the gadget in the near future as Google Glass has a built-in camera that allows a user take advantage and film parts or the entire film itself.

Alamo Drafthouse is not the first cinema chain in the US that has barred the controversial gadget in its cinemas. AMC, who operates theaters in several locations including New York, Texas, Colorado and Virginia, also has a similar ban on the wearable.

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