Variety says that 20th Century Fox's unprecedented security for X2 prevented videos circulating before its theatrical release. Poor quality copies surfaced in Malaysia and Hong Kong the day after the film bowed in those territories, probably taped in a cinema in Taiwan or Hong Kong.
"We see it as a small victory that no pirated copy hit the market prior to opening and that the only pirated copy so far is a poor camcorder version," Fox International theatrical president Scott Neeson told the trade.
The studio covered every stage of each print's journey from labs and dubbing facilities to theaters. Also, Fox tightly monitored previews and press screenings. "The fact that the print was unavailable until very close to the release also worked to our favor," Neeson added.
"The amazing fact is there are no locally produced VCD/DVD versions (of the film) in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, or Taiwan," said Bob Girard, Fox's Asian supervisor.