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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."

18 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 Chirs · · Score: 5, Informative


      The better recordings are made from the projection booth with the cooperation of the projector tech. The camera is on a stable tripod, sound is patched directly from the board.

      Having a reasonable quality electronic copy available while the movie is still in theaters could reasonably be expected to have an impact on both DVD sales and box office revenue...especially if the movie isn't all that great.

    2. Re:Why? by twistedcubic · · Score: 4, Informative

      I saw the transformers last night. There is NO WAY an audience cam is going to capture the effects. If you want to watch this particular movie, I think you have to go to the theater. People should stick to downloading movies that suck, so they won't have to waste money.

    3. 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!

    4. Re:Why? by FiveDollarYoBet · · Score: 4, Interesting

      We would get them sent to us when I was deployed to Iraq. Most of them were of laughable quality but it was the only way to see a new release.

    5. Re:Why? by notasheep · · Score: 5, Informative

      A cam is just what it sounds like, camcorder video and camcorder sound. A Telesync is camcorder video with an alternate audio source - usually plugged in to a audio output for the hearing impaired. Which is great since you won't hear the people talking in the next row. A Telecine is recorded directly from a projection source.

      --
      Your mind looks a little cramped. Why don't you stretch it a little?
    6. Re:Why? by db32 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I saw tons of new(ish) movies in Iraq. They were all being sold for $2-4 bucks for a DVD with 2-4 new(ish) releases by some random local in a wooden hut on the road near camp. In the meantime the MPAA and friends are chasing down 17yr olds to put them in jail...wonder why they don't go to Iraq and stop the piracy themselves. (Ignoring that Hillary Rosen was on the ground in Iraq in the very very early days begging the new Iraqi government to adopt her proposals on copyright...yeah...they need help with food, water, and security, and this psychotic bitch is going to go and talk to them about music downloads?)

      I'm a little disappointed with the Iraqi government for their lack of progress...they should have shot her ass on the spot for that nonsense.

      --
      The only change I can believe in is what I find in my couch cushions.
    7. Re:Why? by Alsee · · Score: 5, Funny

      could reasonably be expected to have an impact on both DVD sales and box office revenue...especially if the movie isn't all that great.

      Copy, cut, swap, paste:

      if the movie isn't all that great could reasonably be expected to have an impact on both DVD sales and box office revenue

      Eureka! I've made an ASTOUNDING discovery! Quick, someone e-mail that to all the Hollywood studio executives!

      -

      --
      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
  2. Re:Seems like a clean arrest by mulvane · · Score: 4, Funny

    You are SO right. I think he should be brought up on charges. People might actually view this bootleg and think "WOW! That movie shitty! You would think a movie studio could at least get rid of all the background noise! And did they film this thin on a boat?!?!?! What's with all the shaking of the movie not to mention the horrible grainy experience!! I won't spend a dime going to watch that movie or even think of renting it!"

  3. 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.

  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.

  5. At least this Diallo wasn't holding a wallet... by Wannabe+Code+Monkey · · Score: 4, Funny

    COP 1: He's got a gun!

    DIALLO: Wait! Wait! I swear it's just a video camera.

    COPS 1-4: Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

    COP 2: Why does his gun have a rewind button?

    COP 3: Crap... not again...

    --
    We always knew Comcast was corrupt, here's the proof: http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1909890&cid=34545432
  6. 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.

  7. Re:Seems like a clean arrest by mulvane · · Score: 4, Funny

    Its like that guy who had the sarcasm truck run him over, back up over him, and run over him again and he never got a look at it and was just left banged up and not knowing what the hell just happened to him.

  8. Re:Seems like a clean arrest by eln · · Score: 5, Funny

    Actually, everyone in the jury and the court room will be charged with piracy. In each of those trials, the tape will be shown again, and everyone in THOSE court rooms will have to be charged with piracy. Eventually, the entire country will be in prison for piracy because of this one videotape. This is why video piracy is so very, very bad.

  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. 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.