December 8, 2005
Film Industry Wants Tougher Penalties For Piracy In New York
In a campaign against pirated films, the film industry wants stiffer penalties for people caught smuggling a camcorder into movie theaters in New York, reports Fox23.news.com.
"New York is a key target because it has the country's worst bootlegging problem and some of the weakest penalties for those caught doing it. Currently under state law, people caught videotaping in a movie theater in New York face a maximum fine of $250.
The Motion Picture Association of America is pushing a bill to make video piracy a criminal misdemeanor and raise the maximum fine to $1,000 with a year in jail. Making the crime a misdemeanor also lets police arrest violators on the spot instead of issuing them summonses. People caught for a second time would be charged with a felony.
One defense attorney says it could catch teenagers who use camera phones to take a picture during previews."
Picture from Inmagine.
Related articles on the crackdown on cinemas in the last few years.
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