up to 17 years in jail...for camcorder pirate!

nibbles · 06-08-2005, 23:01

is it only me or is up 2 17 years in jail a bit much for taping a film with a camcorder even for the us this seems a little ott!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050805/film_nm/piracy_dc

**Russ B** · 06-08-2005, 23:03

Thread title edited to remove annoying 'txt spk' wording!

AndrewJ · 06-08-2005, 23:06

I agree it is over the top, but with the cost of pirating agaisnt the companies I can understand how angry they are.

I just wish sentences for rapists and murders etc was as harsh, but that is another topic alltogether.

**Stuart C** · 06-08-2005, 23:49

I'm not defending the court here, but they may be giving a high sentance for a couple of reasons. First, they may be trying to send a message to pirates (you *will* be sentanced harshly), and second, he was charged with pirating two films and multiple software programs, so it may be made up of a sentance for each.

AndrewJ · 06-08-2005, 23:57

Agreed there Stuart I heard rumors on MSN about someone hacking the new Vista Beta1 getting a harsh fine and his internet removed and banned for 24months.

Don't know if its true, but from what I have seen they are tightening the net on illegal activites online, and I do wonder how long it will be before your own OS grasses you upto the autorities.

07-08-2005, 00:00

It's not up to the judiciary to send example. Justice should be exercised on the merits of each case.

He's not got 17 years yet mind you.

Was he doing this for money?

AndrewJ · 07-08-2005, 00:04

I am not sure there Andyl, but likely just for mass downloading ( ie. uploading to torrent sites and hosting it himself, or some other form of mass distrubution ( spelling? )

cookie_365 · 07-08-2005, 00:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyl

It's not up to the judiciary to send example. Justice should be exercised on the merits of each case.

He's not got 17 years yet mind you.

Was he doing this for money?

He's not actually been convicted yet either.

**Stuart C** · 07-08-2005, 00:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyl

It's not up to the judiciary to send example. Justice should be exercised on the merits of each case.

True, it's not. However, I have heard there are cases where they have tried to. I mean, how many years did Ronnie Biggs get for what basically amounted to theft from the Post Office?

Graham · 07-08-2005, 01:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

how many years did Ronnie Biggs get for what basically amounted to theft from the Post Office?

Interfering with the Royal Mail is a very serious offence (it was originally punishable by death!)

And that's not to mention the guy on the train who got his skull cracked open...

mrlipring · 07-08-2005, 21:27

yes. movie pirates. Real criminals, eh?

Compare that sentence with paedophiles, murderers...

Gareth · 07-08-2005, 21:45

But the victims of paedophiles and murderers aren't multi-billion dollar corporations

Angua · 07-08-2005, 22:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyl

It's not up to the judiciary to send example. Justice should be exercised on the merits of each case.

He's not got 17 years yet mind you.

Was he doing this for money?

Quote:

Law enforcement officials say most participants in warez networks are generally not motivated by profit. In this instance, Salisbury sought payment for the movies he uploaded, the Justice Department said.

Seems he was, hence I suspect the longer potential sentence.

mrlipring · 08-08-2005, 13:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gareth

But the victims of paedophiles and murderers aren't multi-billion dollar corporations

indeed, it's the multi-billion dollar corporations (not necessarily movie studios and distributors, mind) that instigate a lot of rape, murder, and generally Bad Stuff around the world.