IP Democracy: MPAA Proposes New, Tough Law in NY for Bootleggers

The MPAA has developed a proposed new law for New York state that would crack down on film bootleggers. Legislators, film industry executives and lawyers met in NYC yesterday to hash out the details of draft legislation would make operating recording equipment inside a theater a criminal misdemeanor, raising the maxium punishment to a $1,000 fine (up from a $250 fine) and a year in jail.

According to press reports, making the crime a misdemeanor would give police the authority to arrest violators on the spot rather than just issue a summons. Violators caught a second time would be subject to felony prosecution. New York is supposedly the origin of about half of the world’s bootlegged films.

I hope this doesn’t lead to the round-up of dozens of teenagers with their video cell phones taking photos and short videos of their latest screen crushes.

Posted by Cynthia Brumfield on December 8, 2005 12:24 PM to IP Democracy