In June the Trend Exchange got federal approval to trade on box office returns — with the Cantor Exchange following close behind. What this means is that people will essentially be able to invest on the box office acting as a stock market; purchasing “contracts” (shares) before movies open.

Howard Gantman of the MPAA believes that it doesn’t really serve a public purpose, and that it’s open for manipulation that could potentially damage films. According to the MPAA, this is only a form of gambling. Congress can still intervene with the approval.

I’m on the fence with the issue — I can see where Gantman is coming from, but with that worry; film productions would have more incentive to produce quality work. There would be more at stake.