MPAA Under Investigation for Illegal NYPD Payoffs

An anonymous reader writes "The New York Post is reporting that two NYPD officers are being investigated for taking illegal payoffs from the MPAA for busting sellers of pirated DVDs. According to the article, MPAA investigators would tell the cops where pirated movies were being sold, which is perfectly legal, but, after the bust, they'd give them several hundred dollars in gratuities, which is illegal. Naturally, the MPAA denies all of this."

Comments

This wouldn't surprise me..

[Adult film producer]

Living in New York is an expensive lifestyle. But on the other hand, New York cops really seem to enjoy themselves when it comes to corruption. Take for example last year's Republican convention. New York Cops did their best to round up thousands of people, stick them in an asbestos contaminated concentration camp and then charge them with crimes they never committed.

The Banno Story - Corrupt nyc cops lie, the DA encourages and participates in the lies.. get caught red handed
Police Perjurers
another story related to the new york DA editing/manipulating video tapes

Google the story, hundreds of cases have been dropped because the Police were inventing stories that never happened and then having the DA charge innocent people with full knowledge.

Re:What's worse?

[Sparxter]

Maybe because some of the cops already break the law at home, away from work. Personally if I was a cop I wouldn't give 2 hoots about piracy. I'd care more about the person being mugged 2 streets away

As a cop I can tell you that this is indeed the case. As a small department with a lot of area to cover, piracy is the LAST concern any of us have. To put it in perspective I would rather write someone for J-walking...

Laws enforced only if officers tipped.

[AtariAmarok]

"What is the problem with underpaid law enforcers from accepting tips?"

Aside from the fact that they are not underpaid, there is this problem. If you have a "tip" system, pretty soon they only enforce laws to benefit those who tip them. Want that burglary investigated? Tip them, or they will "ignore it due to more pressing matters".

Criminal activity is normal for the RIAA

[bani]

It's not the first time the RIAA has been involved in criminal activity.

Law enforcement goes wild and imprisons students for sharing a few thousand dollars worth of mp3s. It's about time we start imprisoning music industry CEOs who steal $143 million from the public.

This is about the MPAA not the RIAA

[Andy_R]

Don't get the two mixed up.

The RIAA is a criminal cartel that buys their own cops
The MPAA is a criminal cartel that buys their own laws

(oh and if any lawyers representing either of those organisations are reading this, please sue me for sying that, I'd just love the chance see the expression on your faces when a judge agrees with me)

Re:What's worse?

[zotz]

"I don't know who's worse: people paying cops to enforce the law, or cops that won't enforce it unless you pay them extra."

Sure, if it were as simple as that. But could it be that you are buying a change in their priorities? For instance, they really should be dealing with the mugger that has been in Central Park recently, but because of your "tips" they ignore the threat of physical harm to citizens and instead help you enforce your copyrights.

Another thought just came to me. Haven't I seen something in the news recently about cities refusing to have local police enfore federal laws? So aren't copyright violations, violations of federal laws? Was this the FBI getting "tips" or city cops? Hmmmm. Anyone care to bat this thought around?

all the best,

drew