The
BBC reports that one of the defendants, Californian Albert Valente,
28, has been charged with copyright infringement for removing a
copy of the film from the post-production facility where he
worked.
Fellow Californian Marc Hoaglin, 36, has been charged with
uploading the film onto the internet – a felony that may net him
three years in prison if found guilty; while the six other
defendants face copyright and distribution charges that may result
in 12 months' jail-time.
The charges came the on the same day that prosecutors achieved
their first conviction under a new US copyright Act that targets
the unauthorised recording of films in movie theatres, and the
distribution of pre-release copyrighted material.
Curtis Salisbury, 19, of St Charles, Missouri, pleaded guilty on
Tuesday to two charges in connection with using a camcorder to make
copies of the movies The Perfect Man and
Bewitched. Copies of the films were then distributed on a
computer network through warez sites, sites that offer pirated
movies, games and software.
According to Reuters, Salisbury will be sentenced in
February.
