The National Post has a new story on piracy already spreading worldwide days before the release of the film:

Three days before it opens in cinemas, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones is under threat from real replicas - pirated video discs. Copies of the latest instalment in the Star Wars saga are on sale at roadside stalls in Kuala Lumpur, the movie's official distributor said Monday.

Video discs of top Hollywood movies sell for about $2 Cdn in Malaysia, where illegal copying is rampant and sellers operate openly.

Chow Will Pin, director of 20th Century Fox Malaysia, said the pirated versions of Attack of the Clones had poor picture and sound quality, and appeared to have originated from a video camera set up inside a cinema.

But many people in this Southeast Asian country might buy them anyway, he said.

"This will definitely affect our box-office earnings at the cinema," Chow told The Associated Press. "We hope the public will stay away from these copies, because this movie should be seen on the big screen."

Thanks to Lin for pointing this out.