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Arrest Under New NY Anti-Piracy Law

Posted by Zonk on from the next-time-don't-wear-an-eyepatch-to-the-movies dept.

AxminsterLeuven writes "The BBC is carrying a story on new tightened New York anti-piracy legislation: A man has been arrested, after smuggling video recording equipment into a theater showing the new Transformers movie. 'Kalidou Diallo, 48, has been charged with unauthorized use of a video camera in a cinema. Under upgraded legislation, he could face six months in jail and fines of up to $5,000 (£2,487) if found guilty,' the BBC reports."

15 of 275 comments (clear)

  1. Why? by blaster151 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I've never understood the appeal of these pirated works. I'm very skeptical that, as a consumer of such a bootleg, I could find the viewing experience enjoyable with the quality levels rendered by a homemade video of a movie--especially one that I could experience in a theater at a matinee showing for five to seven bucks. More than fifteen days of jail time seems excessive to me.

    1. Re:Why? by poot_rootbeer · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Columbia doesn't get it until the 20th of July, for example.

      That's bullshit. There's no reason that it should take THAT long for the movie to make it from the theaters of downtown Manhattan up to 110th Street!

    2. Re:Why? by Jurrasic · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It depends on the movie. Certain films, and/or certain moments in films (the destruction of the Death Stars at the ends of Star Wars and Return of the Jedi stand out in my childhood memories of films where people stood and cheered, this in more 'reserved' Canada) will elicit a response where people will cheer or react other then just laughing at a funny moment. There were a couple scenes in "Highlander II" where fans of the original (like me) stood and loudly booed, or threw popcorn at the screen, too. If you want to see something REALLY bizarre, go to a midnight screening of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show". That's the same wherever you are in the world.

      --
      Devil bunnies! I snort the nose! Lucifer! Banana! Banana!
  2. good by grapeape · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If your so desperate to see a movie that you will watch a crappy copy of something someone took with a camcorder complete with the Mystery Science Theatre 3000 audience view in the bottom of the screen then just pay for $7 or wait for the DVD like everyone else. I have a friend that does this and is always asking if I want to watch some crap movie I wouldnt have paid to see, then claims he is doing it because he is anti-mpaa. If your really anti-mpaa then you wont bother to see it at all, just the fact that someone wastes an hour downloading a poor quality bootleg proves that it has some value to them. Its hard to fight increasing restrictions on fair use when bozos like this continue to make the MPAA's point for them.

  3. Video player? by i_like_spam · · Score: 2, Insightful
    From the article:

    Mr Diallo was arrested after allegedly smuggling a video recorder, video player and remote control into a preview of the film in the Bronx. WTF would he need a video player? Don't most modern recorders have built-in LCDs?
  4. The cost to society... by ushering05401 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The reason it is wise to include jail time for violent offenders is that it is ultimately cheaper for society to pay for their room, board, and supervision than it is to potentially suffer another violent incident. Incarcerating violent offenders is one of the least controversial uses of tax money in modern America.

    What is the justification for using taxpayer money to incarcerate a non-violent offender? Worse yet, what is the justification for incarcerating an individual who only potentially damaged a private company's profits?

    Shouldn't a fine be sufficient considering only money was at stake?

    Bootleggers are closely related to white collar criminals. The only impact is financial. In the case of Enron, or some other fraud situations, I would much rather have seen the offenders be forced to work the rest of their lives to repay the retirement funds they looted etc.. rather than getting what amounts to a monetary slap on the wrist and jail time. I am pretty sure the people who ended up getting pennies on the dollar out of the settlements would probably agree with me, just as I would bet most people would rather see the money spent on jailing this bootlegger spent on something like... oh... I don't know... anything that actually benefits society.

    Regards.

    1. Re:The cost to society... by johnny+cashed · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Jail is just the stick to make sure The State gets paid. Unless he is a total loser (with no friends or family with any money), he should make bail in no time. I agree that prison is excessive for the violation, but more that likely, he won't see any prison, just some fines. Don't pay the fines? Then the big stick of jail is still there to ensure that the State gets paid. This is the big purpose for imprisonment for non-violent offenders.

  5. good law by scharkalvin · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I mean it's damn rude of the guy. If I paid good money
    for tickets to see a movie I don't want some bozo in the
    row ahead of me to stick his stupid movie camera in my view
    of the screen. Why that's only slightly less rude than leaving
    your damn cell phone on and I have to hear your stupid ring
    tones though out the picture.

  6. Re:$7 by Dog-Cow · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Metro-Detroit. I paid $5.75 to see Transformers two nights ago, at the Star John R.

  7. Ok.. by bytesex · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Am I the only one who thinks that he should have been escorted out of the building by the bouncer, after having erased his tape/static ramdisk, and be blacklisted ? I mean, that's how it used to go.

    --
    Religion is what happens when nature strikes and groupthink goes wrong.
  8. Crazy numbers! by kebes · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Hold on... TFA claims:

    The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) says more than 40% of bootlegged films in the US are secretly taped in New York cinemas.
    But previously they claimed:

    Canadian theatres were the source for nearly 50 per cent of illegal camcords across the globe
    So, in essence, they claim that New York and Canada account for 90% of the problem... These numbers sound totally made up to me.
    1. Re:Crazy numbers! by DerekLyons · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Try actually reading what you quote - it helps you avoid comparing apples to oranges;
       
        The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) says more than 40% of bootlegged films in the US are secretly taped in New York cinemas.
       
        Canadian theatres were the source for nearly 50 per cent of illegal camcords across the globe
       
      The two claims are not incompatible.
       
       

      So, in essence, they claim that New York and Canada account for 90% of the problem... These numbers sound totally made up to me.

      A person who take two different numbers, and then makes up numbers of his own... Well, let's just say that people who live in glass houses should be careful of the trajectory of the stones they are throwing.

  9. It's retribution. by KingSkippus · · Score: 5, Insightful

    what is the justification for incarcerating an individual who only potentially damaged a private company's profits?

    Because it's not only about reform, it's about retribution.

    It's the same reason we have the death penalty in this country. Sure, we can remove dangerous individuals from society. Hell, it's actually cheaper than killing them. No, the death penalty isn't a deterrent. Yes, we sometimes make mistakes. But it's not about what's best in the long run for society. It's about the sweet satisfaction you get from raw vengeance. It's not about the convict; nothing, and I mean nothing, is as cathartic for us as frying them in the chair.

    The same is true about locking up non-violent offenders. We don't have to, and a lot of the time (especially in cases like these), it's not the best way to reform an individual. But the industry must have its pound of flesh from the evildoers that skimmed a few pennies from their deep, deep pockets.

    sigh...

  10. Excessive? by shiba_mac · · Score: 2, Insightful

    More than fifteen days of jail time seems excessive? Anything more then being booted out of the cinema seems like a violation of human rights to me.

    Seriously, who is this guy harming that he deserves to spend time in jail? Who's being protected?

  11. The Law Is Wrong by aldheorte · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It should not be illegal to bring a camcorder into a movie theater.

    It should be legal for the theater owner to throw someone out for bringing a camcorder into their movie theater.

    Recording the movie with a camcorder should not be illegal.

    Showing the recording of the movie to friends without an exchange of money or physical property should not be illegal.

    Showing recordings of the movie to anyone for money or physical property to should be illegal.

    This is the way copyright law needs to go.