“Oh man, did you see the new Batman movie? I heard it was the best so far.”

For most expatriates living in Beijing, this question is moot. Theatrical movies are often granted a delayed release in China for many complicated reasons. Usually this does not stop your average expat from getting his or her hands on an illegal, bootleg DVD of the newest blockbuster to hit the theaters. The many DVD shops and street vendors selling these illegal copies have become a staple to those looking for cheap, albeit not always quality, entertainment. They used to be everywhere; some well known and others not so much. Most expats had their favorite shops, either due to the wide selection of their movies or the close proximity to their homes. It was not uncommon for some street vendors to literally come out of the bushes to offer their merchandise at more than reasonable prices.

This summer is drastically different though with the advent of the Olympics upon Beijing and China. Those looking for their entertainment fix have had to either look elsewhere or give up hope altogether. With China’s image at stake, these shops and individuals have been wiped off the face of Beijing. The problems with copyright infringement and creative thievery have been hot issues in China, but the government has shown that it can take the necessary steps to control it. All that reamins to be seen is if these changes take hold or if they, like the Olympics, are only short-lived.