A movie anti-piracy 
system with sensing and reporting is provided. A movie 
projector projects a light image to reflect off of a screen, while an 
infrared energy projection source generates an 
infrared energy pattern which is reflected off the screen (or otherwise projected) in the same 
field of view as the light images reflecting from the screen. 
Infrared energy sensors are positioned in the seating area of the theater. The 
infrared sensors provide sensed signals respectively to a sensor response controller. The controller is responsive to the sensor signals to provide an infrared status (and other data) 
signal output to a control center. The control center responds to the infrared status and other data signals, from one or a plurality of theaters, and provides for reporting of information (such as 
security compliance, attendance, etc.) to one or multiple reporting sites (such as movie distribution studios, etc.). In a preferred embodiment, the control center determines whether the infrared sensors or other data indicate violation of anti-piracy protection within a theater and provides reporting on the status and data. If a violation is indicated, then the control center sends a violation 
signal such as to the sensor response controller which can trigger an alarm and / or activate a violation inhibit output to 
shut down the movie 
projector. This 
shut down of the 
projector is an optional feature. In a preferred embodiment, the 
shut down can be overridden with the entry of an appropriate security code. A 
data entry subsystem permits entry of additional data, which is communicated as 
signal to the sensor response controller. The controller provides for 
processing the data from the 
data entry and communicating to the control center. The additional data can include 
ticket sales for one or more movies, attendance data, security code, etc. In a preferred embodiment, there are a plurality of theater systems, each of which has an equivalent anti-piracy 
system installed, each providing reporting back to the control center which provides overall 
system control.